Diffuser Pipe Alignment for Uniform Combustor Thermal Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Misalignment of diffuser pipes in centrifugal compressors of aircraft engines leads to inconsistent thermal patterns in the combustor, affecting temperature distribution and engine performance.
Innovation Solution
An alignment tool is used to precisely position the diffuser pipes relative to the engine casing, ensuring uniform orientation of pipe outlets and reducing variability in temperature distribution across the combustor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If diffuser pipes are assembled without alignment tool, then assembly process is simple and fast, but misalignment occurs leading to inconsistent thermal patterns in combustor
Solution Approach 1:
An alignment tool is introduced as an intermediary device between the diffuser pipes and the engine casing during assembly. The tool includes alignment features that interface with both the diffuser pipe outlets and the combustor inlet, ensuring precise positional and angular alignment without requiring complex measurement and adjustment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tool is designed to pre-establish the correct geometric relationship between diffuser pipes and combustor before final assembly. By incorporating predetermined alignment features and positioning elements, the tool performs the alignment action in advance, eliminating the need for post-assembly adjustments and ensuring consistent thermal patterns.
2Temperature
If diffuser pipes are misaligned, then assembly is faster and easier, but temperature distribution in combustor becomes non-uniform affecting engine performance
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool serves as a mediator that guides the diffuser pipes into the correct position relative to the combustor. The tool's alignment features physically constrain the diffuser pipe outlets to achieve the desired angular and positional orientation, ensuring uniform temperature distribution while maintaining simple assembly operations.
3Reliability
If alignment tool is used to position diffuser pipes, then temperature uniformity improves, but assembly time and tool manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool is designed to perform all necessary alignment actions in a single setup operation. The predetermined alignment features and positioning elements are configured to achieve precise diffuser pipe orientation in one operation, eliminating the need for multiple adjustment steps and reducing overall assembly time while ensuring reliable thermal patterns.
Data Source
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AI summary
An alignment tool (40) for aligning a plurality of diffuser pipes of a centrifugal compressor relative to a casing of an aircraft engine. The alignment tool (40) includes a body (46) defining a center axis (11, 41) and having at least one tool datum (42) configured for abutting against the casing. A plurality of alignment members (44) are fixed to the body (46) and extend radially from the body (46) relative to the center axis (11, 41). Each alignment member (44) of the plurality of alignment members (44) has a respective fixed position relative to the at least one tool datum (42). The plurality of alignment members (44) are configured to abut the plurality of diffuser pipes (20).