Gas Turbine Diffuser Liner Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas turbine diffusers with overlapping liner segments suffer from vibration-induced hammering wear and gap opening due to thermal expansion and structural excitations, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A diffuser design where overlapping liner segments are clamped and slidingly connected to holders with concave holding elements and transversal plates, allowing for thermal expansion adaptation and preventing relative vibration between segments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If overlapping borders are not fixed together to allow thermal expansion, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but vibration and hammering wear occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion adaptationVSAvoidvibration resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A holder acts as an intermediary element between the liner segments and the support structure. The holder includes a first holding element connected to the first liner segment and a second holding element connected to the second liner segment, mediating the connection to allow both thermal expansion and vibration prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between holding elements and liner segments is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid. The holding elements can slide relative to each other and the liner segments, providing adaptability to thermal expansion while maintaining connection to prevent harmful vibrations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If segments are supported via holders without fixing overlapping borders, then thermal expansion is permitted, but gaps open and liner pieces are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansion freedomVSAvoidsegment alignment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The holder serves as a mediating structure that connects multiple liner segments to the support structure. This intermediary connection provides stability to segment alignment while allowing thermal expansion through the sliding capability of the holding elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The liner is divided into multiple segments that can independently expand and contract. Each segment is connected to holders that provide individual support, allowing segmented thermal adaptation while maintaining overall structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 design significantly reduces hammering wear by ensuring the overlapping borders cannot vibrate relative to each other, maintaining segment alignment and enhancing the durability and operational efficiency of the gas turbine diffuser.

Implementation Method 1

thermal expansion is not prevented

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

hot gas pulsations or other gas turbine excitation (e.g. vibration of the structure of the gas turbine) can cause vibration of the liner segments

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3006681B1Diffuser for a gas turbine
Publication Date: 2020.12.09 ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
  • EP3006681B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3006681B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3006681B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The diffuser (5) for a gas turbine (1) comprises a support structure (15) and a liner (16) connected by holders (17). The liner (16) comprises a plurality of adjacent segments with overlapping borders (16a, 16b). The overlapping borders (16a, 16b) are clamped to one another and slidingly rest one above the other.