Compressor Guide Vane Actuator Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustment systems for compressor guide vanes in gas turbines, particularly in aircraft gas turbines, experience high wear due to exposure to high loads from the flow channel, leading to constant, small movements that cause wear on the bearings.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment system with a locking device that hydraulically fixes the actuator device, forming a master-slave system with two actuators, where the first actuator is the master, and includes a locking valve to separate and fix the actuator from the hydraulic system, reducing movement and wear by preventing constant feedback and re-adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control valve is used to hydraulically actuate the first actuator for adjusting guide vanes, then the guide vanes can be positioned and adjusted, but the control valve may not be completely tight in the zero position, causing continuous small movements and wear on the guide vane bearings
Solution Approach 1:
A locking device is introduced as an intermediary between the control valve and the first actuator. This locking device includes a locking valve that can hydraulically lock the actuator in position, preventing continuous small movements caused by control valve leakage. The locking device acts as a mediator that blocks the hydraulic line when the actuator reaches the desired position, eliminating the harmful feedback loop that causes bearing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted as a separate device from the control valve system. The locking valve is independently controlled and can be activated to lock the hydraulic line, separating the positioning function (control valve) from the holding function (locking device). This extraction allows the system to maintain position stability without relying solely on the control valve's sealing capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a locking device is added to hydraulically lock the actuator device, then movement and wear are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to work within the existing hydraulic system architecture, using the same hydraulic fluid and control mechanisms. The locking valve can be integrated into the existing hydraulic line between the control valve and actuator, allowing a single hydraulic system to perform both control and locking functions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for entirely separate locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is controlled by the existing control unit that already manages the control valve. The control unit can automatically activate the locking valve when the actuator reaches the desired position, eliminating the need for separate locking controls. The system serves itself by using the same control intelligence for both positioning and locking operations.
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
The solution effectively reduces wear on the bearings by preventing constant movement and re-adjustment of the guide vanes, enhancing the durability and precision of the adjustment system.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device can hydraulically lock and release the actuator device, in particular the first actuator
Implementation Method 2
an adjusting device with a first control valve for hydraulically actuating the first actuator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustment system (3) for a compressor (2) in a gas turbine (1), in particular in an aircraft gas turbine, for adjusting adjustable guide vanes (4), comprising an actuator device (10) with a first actuator (11) for adjusting the guide vanes (4), an actuating device (20) with a first control valve (21) for hydraulic actuation of the first actuator (11), and wherein the actuating device (20) can adjust and lock the first actuator (11) by means of hydraulic actuation, characterized in that the actuator device (10) is assigned a locking device (30) for additional fixing and can be fixed in a position by the locking device (30).