Compressor Bleed Slot With Supplemental Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bleed air extraction in gas turbine engines is costly, increasing fuel burn and specific fuel consumption, and can cause adverse structural and thermomechanical effects due to pressure losses and inefficient aerodynamic configurations.
Innovation Solution
A low-angle bleed slot with a supplemental flange is used in the compressor casing to reduce pressure losses and control thermal response, incorporating an annular array of struts and a pseudo-flange to maintain structural stiffness and aerodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If bleed air is extracted from higher compressor stages to satisfy pressure requirements, then pressure losses in the bleed system are reduced, but fuel burn and specific fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the bleed slot, specifically using a low angle configuration rather than traditional radial or high-angle slots. This parameter change allows the bleed slot to extract air from lower compressor stages with sufficient pressure, reducing the energy penalty associated with extracting air from higher stages while meeting the pressure requirements of the bleed system
2Loss of energy
If bleed slots are configured for best aerodynamic efficiency, then pressure losses are reduced, but adverse structural and thermomechanical effects occur on the compressor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding reinforcement features specifically at the bleed slot location rather than reinforcing the entire compressor structure. The low-angle configuration itself provides local structural support, and additional ribs or strengthening elements can be added only in the immediate vicinity of the bleed slot to maintain overall structural integrity while enabling the aerodynamically efficient low-angle geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent may employ composite material approaches by combining the bleed slot structure with reinforcing ribs or support elements made from materials optimized for different properties - the slot itself for aerodynamic efficiency and the reinforcement elements for structural strength and thermomechanical resistance
3Use of energy by moving object
If bleed air is extracted from lower compressor stages to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel burn decreases, but pressure losses in the bleed system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the bleed slot, specifically using a low angle configuration rather than traditional radial or high-angle slots. This parameter change allows the bleed slot to extract air from lower compressor stages with sufficient pressure, reducing the energy penalty associated with extracting air from higher stages while meeting the pressure requirements of the bleed system
Data Source
AI summary
An example compressor bleed slot apparatus includes an annular compressor casing, a blade row mounted for rotation about a centerline axis inside the compressor casing, a bleed slot passing through the forward section of the compressor casing, wherein the bleed slot is bounded by inboard and outboard walls defined within the compressor casing, the bleed slot extending along a slot axis, at least a portion of the bleed slot lying within an axial extent of the blade row, an array of struts interconnecting the inboard and outboard walls, and an annular supplemental flange extending radially outward from the forward section of the compressor casing, wherein at least a portion of the supplemental flange is axially positioned within an axial extent of the bleed slot, wherein the supplemental flange includes a necked-down portion adjacent the forward section of the compressor casing, the necked-down portion positioned axially between an inlet of the bleed slot and an outlet of the bleed slot.