Concentric Diffuser Muffling Device for Gas Turbine Bleed Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face noise generation issues due to high-pressure and high-temperature excess bleed air being exhausted into bypass flows, which existing muffling devices fail to adequately address, leading to increased noise levels and potential weight and cost inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A muffling device comprising three concentric diffusers is used to exhaust multiple bleed air sources at a single location within the bypass duct, inducing pressure drops and desirable flow properties to reduce noise, weight, and drag, while maintaining engine performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate muffling devices are used for each bleed air source, then each individual exhaust flow can be controlled, but the overall system weight, drag, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate muffling devices into a single integrated muffling device that handles multiple bleed air sources. The device includes a common housing with multiple exhaust outlets, allowing separate control of each bleed air source while sharing common structural components, thereby reducing overall weight and drag compared to multiple separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The muffling device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple bleed air sources simultaneously. The housing incorporates multiple exhaust outlets and diffuser sections that can process different bleed air flows through a single unified structure, providing both noise reduction and flow management functions in one component.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple separate muffling devices are used for each bleed air source, then each individual exhaust flow can be controlled, but the overall system complexity and part costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate muffling devices into a single integrated unit with a common housing and shared structural components. This consolidation reduces the number of parts, simplifies assembly, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to control individual exhaust flows through separate outlets and diffusers within the unified structure.
3Ease of operation
If high-pressure bleed air is exhausted directly into bypass flow, then the exhaust process is simple, but noise levels increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The muffling device incorporates diffuser sections that perform preliminary action by gradually expanding and conditioning the high-pressure bleed air flows before they are discharged into the bypass flow. This preliminary diffusion process reduces the pressure differential and velocity of the exhaust gases, thereby significantly reducing noise levels while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Productivity
If excess bleed air is routed through the bleed air system and exhausted into bypass flow, then engine operability is managed, but noise is generated due to high pressure and temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser sections within the muffling device perform preliminary action by gradually expanding and conditioning the high-pressure, high-temperature bleed air before discharge. This preliminary diffusion reduces the pressure and velocity of the exhaust gases, thereby reducing noise generation while maintaining the ability to manage engine operability through controlled bleed air extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The muffling device acts as an intermediary between the bleed air system and the bypass flow. It provides a transition zone where the high-pressure bleed air is gradually expanded and conditioned through diffuser sections before being discharged, mediating the interaction between the two flows to reduce noise while maintaining engine performance.
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 bleed air exhaust noise, decreases overall system weight, minimizes bypass air flow drag, and lowers part costs by exhausting multiple bleed air sources at a single location, enhancing the operational efficiency of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
A muffling device and system allow for multiple bleed air sources to be exhausted at a single location... The diffusers are configured to induce high pressure drops and desirable flow properties
Implementation Method 2
The diffusers are configured to induce high pressure drops and desirable flow properties in the exhausted bleed air
Data Source
AI summary
A muffling device for exhausting at least one fluid flow in a gas turbine engine includes a first diffuser coupled in flow communication with a first conduit. The first diffuser is configured to exhaust a first fluid flow. The device further includes a second diffuser disposed adjacent the first diffuser. The second diffuser is coupled in flow communication with a second conduit. The second diffuser is configured to exhaust a second fluid flow. The device also includes a third diffuser at least partially surrounding the first diffuser and the second diffuser. The third diffuser is coupled in flow communication with the first diffuser and the second diffuser. The third diffuser includes a body with apertures and is configured to exhaust a third fluid flow. The third fluid flow includes at least one of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow.