Gas Turbine Compressor Casing Corrosion Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas turbine compressors face corrosion and rust issues on the inner surfaces of the compressor casing due to exposure to compressed air, leading to performance degradation and reduced component lifetimes, with existing solutions increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The compressor design features seal rings and outer flanges of stator blade wheels that cover the inner surface of the casing, preventing exposure to compressed air and using leaf springs to radially inwardly support the stator blades, ensuring accurate assembly and preventing corrosion without additional components or assembly processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-corrosion coating is applied on the inner surface of the compressor casing, then corrosion and rust are prevented, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the compressor casing inner surface from the harmful compressed air environment by using seal rings and stator blade wheel flanges to cover and isolate the surface, eliminating the need for anti-corrosion coating while preventing rust formation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal rings and stator blade wheel flanges act as intermediary components that physically separate the compressed air from the compressor casing inner surface, preventing direct contact and subsequent corrosion without requiring chemical coatings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the inner surface of the compressor casing is exposed to compressed air, then the compressor structure is simple, but corrosion and rust occur leading to performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcompressor performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potentially harmful exposure of the compressor casing inner surface to compressed air into a beneficial sealed structure, where the same components (seal rings and flanges) that define the air passage also provide corrosion protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If flanged portions and seal rings are enlarged in the axial direction to cover the inner surface, then corrosion is prevented, but component size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrosion protectionVSAvoidaxial dimension
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The seal rings and stator blade wheel flanges perform dual functions: they define the compressed air passage boundaries and simultaneously cover the compressor casing inner surface to prevent corrosion, eliminating the need for separate protective components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively prevents corrosion and rust on the compressor's inner surfaces, maintaining performance and extending component lifetimes without increasing manufacturing complexity or costs.

Implementation Method 1

the stator blade wheels (17) are spring-forced radially inwardly by leaf springs (32)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2554851B1Compressor of gas turbine engine
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK
  • EP2554851B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2554851B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2554851B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a compressor for use in a gas turbine engine, capable of preventing a creation of rust on an inner surface of the compressor casing, without complicating assembling process. The casing 15 of the compressor 3 accommodated rotor and stator blade wheels 13 and 17. The stator blade wheels 17 are supported on the inner surface of the casing 15 through outer flanges 30 thereof. Seal rings 52 are provided at inner surface portions of the casing 15 opposing the radially outward ends of the rotor blade wheels 13. The inner surface of the casing 15 is covered by the seal rings 52 and the outer flanges 30 of the stator blade wheels 17.