Compressor Screen for Gas Turbine Airflow Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbines experience performance degradation due to air leaks caused by pressure differences during compression, leading to unstable airflow in compressors.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design incorporating a compressor screen with an annular plate featuring obliquely formed openings that increase in size, a flow guide, and segmented structure, mounted between compressor blades and vanes to regulate and stabilize airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If air is compressed in the compressor, then the pressure increases, but air leaks occur due to pressure difference
Solution Approach 1:
A compressor screen is introduced as an intermediary component between the compressor blades and vanes. The screen includes an annular plate with selectively positioned openings that allow controlled airflow while preventing harmful leaks. This mediator structure separates the high-pressure and low-pressure zones, allowing only desired air passage while blocking unintended leakage paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor screen employs local quality by having openings of different sizes at different locations on the annular plate. The openings are strategically positioned and sized to match the specific airflow requirements at each location, allowing precise control over where and how air flows through the compressor while preventing leaks in critical areas.
2Productivity
If compressor blades and vanes are arranged closely, then compression efficiency improves, but airflow stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor screen acts as a mediator between closely spaced compressor blades and vanes. It stabilizes the airflow by providing a structured pattern of openings that guide air smoothly through the narrow passages, preventing turbulence and flow instability that would otherwise occur in the closely spaced configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen changes the airflow parameters by introducing a controlled pattern of openings with varying sizes. This transforms the airflow characteristics, converting potentially unstable flow between closely spaced blades into a more stable, controlled flow pattern while maintaining compression efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a compressor screen with many openings is added, then airflow regulation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor screen utilizes a porous-like structure in the form of an annular plate with multiple openings. This single component with patterned openings provides airflow regulation functionality without requiring multiple separate control mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation while limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 compressor screen effectively prevents air leaks by ensuring smooth airflow and maintaining compressor performance, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the gas turbine.
Implementation Method 1
air introduced to a compressor may increase in pressure while flowing in the compressor, such that leaks may occur due to a difference in pressure
Implementation Method 2
a flow guide formed on a downstream side of the compressor screen, the flow guide extending from an edge of each opening to direct a flow of compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes a compressor screen mounted on the outer circumferential surface of a compressor disk or the inner wall of a compressor casing. The compressor screen is positioned between a row of compressor blades and a row of compressor vanes to stabilize airflow by regulating the amount of air flowing in the compressor. The compressor screen is formed of annular plate having openings through which the compressed air flows, arranged in a pattern to smoothly regulate the flow of air. The compressor screen may be variously configured, for example, to facilitate installation or to guide the flow of air using a tapered surface or a directionality of the openings or a flow guide. A gas turbine includes a combustor, a turbine, and a compressor employing the compressor screen.