Counter-Rotating Compressor Section for Gas Turbine Weight Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine engines with non-counter-rotating compressor sections are large and heavy due to the combination of variable geometry upstream and fixed geometry downstream sections, which affects fuel efficiency and operational performance.

Innovation Solution

A compressor section configuration with a variable pitch stator blade-row upstream portion combined with a downstream portion featuring counter-rotating blade-rows, allowing for a more compact and efficient operation by reducing size and weight while maintaining or improving performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a variable geometry upstream section is combined with a fixed geometry downstream section in a non-counter-rotating configuration, then the compressor can maintain operational flexibility, but the compressor becomes large and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidcompressor weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The compressor is divided into two distinct sections: an upstream portion with variable geometry and a downstream portion with counter-rotating blades. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the upstream section provides operational flexibility through variable stator vanes, while the downstream section reduces weight through counter-rotation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic counter-rotation in the downstream portion where the rotor rotates in one direction and the stator rotates in the opposite direction. This dynamic configuration reduces the overall size and weight of the compressor while maintaining the ability to control airflow, thus reducing compressor weight without completely sacrificing operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a variable geometry upstream section is combined with a fixed geometry downstream section in a non-counter-rotating configuration, then the compressor can maintain operational flexibility, but the compressor becomes large and heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidcompressor size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The compressor is divided into two distinct sections: an upstream portion with variable geometry and a downstream portion with counter-rotating blades. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the upstream section provides operational flexibility through variable stator vanes, while the downstream section reduces weight through counter-rotation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic counter-rotation in the downstream portion where the rotor rotates in one direction and the stator rotates in the opposite direction. This dynamic configuration reduces the overall size and weight of the compressor while maintaining the ability to control airflow, thus reducing compressor weight without completely sacrificing operational flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Weight of moving object

If counter-rotating blade rows are used in the downstream portion, then the compressor size and weight are reduced, but the complexity of the compressor increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor weightVSAvoidcompressor complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compressor is divided into two distinct sections: an upstream portion with variable geometry and a downstream portion with counter-rotating blades. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the upstream section provides operational flexibility through variable stator vanes, while the downstream section reduces weight through counter-rotation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Counter-rotation is applied locally only to the downstream portion of the compressor, not the entire machine. This localized application of counter-rotation reduces weight where it is most beneficial while keeping the upstream portion simpler with traditional variable geometry, thus managing overall complexity while achieving weight reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12196129B2Compressor with counter-rotating blade rows

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 GENERAL ELECTRIC DEUT HLDG GMBH

AI summary

A compressor section of a gas turbine engine includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion includes at least one stage of stator vanes and at least one stage of blades configured to rotate about an axial centerline of the compressor section. The at least one stage of stator vanes and the at least one stage of blades are in an alternating arrangement along an axial direction of the gas turbine engine. The downstream portion is disposed immediately adjacent to and downstream along the axial direction from the upstream portion. The downstream portion includes a first set of rotating blade rows and a second set of rotating blade rows. The first and second sets of rotating blade rows are in an alternating arrangement along the axial direction of the gas turbine engine. The first and second sets of rotating blade rows are in a counter-rotating arrangement.