Concentric Rotor Assembly with Reinforcement Wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbines face challenges in achieving high power density and compact engine designs, particularly in compensating for centrifugal forces and managing heat and stress within rotating components.
Innovation Solution
A rotor assembly with a concentric arrangement of a turbine portion, a cooling channel, and an annular reinforcement wall, where the rotating turbine and compressor portions are encircled by an annular reinforcement wall, and a stator assembly with static components positioned upstream and downstream, facilitating a supersonic gas turbine engine configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a compact engine design is implemented to increase power density, then the engine size is reduced, but the ability to compensate for centrifugal forces and manage heat stress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the turbine portion is positioned within the compressor portion, which is in turn enclosed by the reinforcement wall. This concentric arrangement allows multiple functional components to occupy the same spatial envelope, achieving compactness while maintaining structural integrity through the outer reinforcement wall that compensates for centrifugal forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining different materials with complementary properties: the reinforcement wall uses carbon composite materials to resist centrifugal forces, while the turbine and compressor portions use materials suitable for their specific thermal and mechanical functions. This allows the compact design to maintain reliability under high stress.
2Power
If the turbine portion is exposed to high temperature flow, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but heat stress on the reinforcement wall increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor portion serves as a thermal intermediary barrier between the high-temperature turbine portion and the reinforcement wall. It protects the reinforcement wall from direct exposure to high temperatures while allowing the turbine to operate efficiently at high temperatures. This intermediary structure enables the system to achieve both high energy conversion efficiency and reduced heat stress on the reinforcement wall.
3Strength
If rotating components are made larger to handle stress, then structural strength is improved, but the compact engine design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement wall is designed as an outer enclosure that contains the turbine and compressor portions within its structure. This nested configuration allows the reinforcement wall to be optimized for strength and centrifugal force compensation without requiring the entire rotor assembly to be larger. The inner components are positioned efficiently within the reinforcement wall's volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement wall utilizes advanced carbon composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the wall to compensate for centrifugal forces effectively without requiring excessive thickness or size. This enables compact dimensions while maintaining the necessary structural strength.
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 configuration enhances power density, manages heat effectively by shielding the reinforcement wall from high temperatures, and reduces stress through a protective layer, enabling efficient energy conversion and thrust generation while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
manages heat effectively by shielding the reinforcement wall from high temperatures
Implementation Method 2
compensating centrifugal forces generated by rotating components of the ramjet engine
Implementation Method 3
These shock waves compress and decelerate the air to subsonic speeds while, at the same time, dramatically raising working flow pressure and temperature
Implementation Method 4
the products are accelerated by outlet blades at a high tangential speed to generate shaft power
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure introduces a rotor assembly having a concentric arrangement comprising a rotating turbine portion, a cooling channel and an annular reinforcement wall. The concentric arrangement is configured to rotate around a common axis. Also introduced is a rotary engine comprising the rotor assembly, in which the cooling channel further functions as a rotating compressor portion. The rotary engine also comprises a stator assembly that itself comprises a static turbine portion positioned upstream of the rotating turbine portion, a static compressor portion positioned downstream of the rotating compressor portion, and a combustion chamber positioned downstream of the static compressor portion and upstream of the static turbine portion.