Compressor Outer Shell Assembly for Gas Turbine Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engines face challenges in being lightweight and compact due to the space constraints outside the engine outer shell, as flange fastening increases the load on stationary blades, limiting the space available for mounting accessories.
Innovation Solution
The proposed assembling structure includes a first and second outer shell with flanges and a stationary blade unit, where the stationary blade unit's engaging portions slide into the shells' engaged portions, and a projection integrated with the outer tube interferes with a stopper, allowing for axial, radial, and rotational positioning without additional flanges, reducing parts and enhancing seal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If flange fastening is used to support load on stationary blades, then the stationary blade can support rotational direction load, but the space outside the engine outer shell narrows
Solution Approach 1:
The stationary blade assembly is segmented into modular components: stationary blades mounted on a disk, which is then mounted on the rotating shaft. This segmentation allows the load support function to be distributed across multiple components rather than requiring a large external flange structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary blade unit is nested within the compressor structure, with the disk containing stationary blades being mounted on the rotating shaft inside the compressor housing. This nesting arrangement integrates the load-supporting function within the existing structure, eliminating the need for external flange fastening and preserving external space.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional flanges are added for positioning stationary blade unit, then the stationary blade can be positioned, but the number of parts increases and space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple positioning functions are merged into a single integrated structure. The disk serves both as the mounting surface for stationary blades and as the component that mounts to the rotating shaft. The compressor housing itself provides both structural support and positioning features, eliminating the need for separate positioning flanges and reducing part count.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating shaft and compressor housing perform multiple functions: they provide mechanical support, positioning, and load transmission. The rotating shaft serves as both the rotation axis and the mounting surface for the stationary blade disk, while the housing provides both containment and positioning features, reducing the need for dedicated positioning components.
Data Source
AI summary
A stationary blade unit including a first engaging portion projecting from an outer tube toward a first side in an axial direction; and a second engaging portion projecting from the outer tube toward a second side in the axial direction. A first outer shell includes a first flange and a first engaged portion into which the first engaging portion is slidingly inserted in the axial direction. A second outer shell includes: a second flange fastened to the first flange by a fastener; and a second engaged portion into which the second engaging portion is slidingly inserted in the axial direction. The stationary blade unit includes a projection projecting outward in a radial direction from the outer tube. One of the first outer shell and the second outer shell includes an integrated stopper arranged on a rotation trajectory of the projection around an axis.