Gas Turbine Diffuser Pipe Stiffener Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diffuser pipes in gas turbine engines are prone to vibratory stresses due to engine operation, leading to potential early fractures and failure.
Innovation Solution
A diffuser pipe design featuring a hollow pipe body with a flattened area and a unitary formed ring at the outlet, along with stiffeners on the flattened areas, reduces vibratory stresses by distributing and absorbing vibration forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If diffuser pipes are made from sheet metal, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but vibratory stress resistance and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining sheet metal with stiffening elements (ribs, rings, or other structural reinforcements) to create a composite structure. The sheet metal provides ease of manufacture and formability, while the added stiffening elements provide vibratory stress resistance and structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If diffuser pipes are made from sheet metal, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but susceptibility to early fractures worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite construction by integrating stiffening elements with the sheet metal diffuser pipe. This composite structure maintains the manufacturing simplicity of sheet metal fabrication while significantly improving fracture resistance through the added structural reinforcement that prevents stress concentration and crack propagation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by adding stiffening elements at specific locations where vibratory stresses and fracture risks are highest. Rather than uniformly thickening the entire pipe, the stiffeners are strategically placed to provide localized reinforcement exactly where needed, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving fracture resistance at critical points.
3Reliability
If stiffening elements are added to reduce vibratory stresses, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by applying stiffening elements only at specific locations where they are most needed, rather than uniformly throughout the structure. This localized approach provides the necessary vibratory stress resistance while minimizing the overall structural complexity and number of components required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the stiffening function with the diffuser pipe structure itself by integrating the stiffening elements as part of the pipe's overall design. Rather than adding separate, independent stiffening components, the stiffeners are combined with the pipe structure in a unified design that reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability improvements.
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 combination of a unitary formed ring and stiffeners on the diffuser pipe significantly reduces vibratory stresses, enhancing the pipe's resistance to high-frequency vibrations and preventing early fractures, thereby improving the durability of the diffuser pipes during engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
the ring and the at least one stiffener reducing vibratory stresses at the second end of the pipe body
Data Source
AI summary
A diffuser pipe for a gas turbine engine comprises a hollow pipe body including a first end, a second end fluidly connected to the first end, and at least one flattened area proximate to the second end. A ring is connected to the second end. The ring is an outlet of the diffuser pipe. At least one stiffener is disposed on the at least one flattened area. The ring and the at least one stiffener reduce vibratory stresses at the second end of the pipe body. A method of manufacturing a diffuser pipe of a gas turbine engine is also presented.