Diffuser Case Strut Direct Air Feed Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased T3 temperature in turbine engines due to higher bypass ratios leads to elevated temperatures beyond typical capabilities, reducing the lifespan of compressor components, and existing cooled air systems suffer from air losses and complex mixing issues.
Innovation Solution
A diffuser case strut with a direct air feed passage that intersects with a cavity, receiving cooled air from a heat exchanger and delivering it directly to the compressor hub, spacer arm, and aftmost compressor stage via a compressor on-board injection system, minimizing air losses and optimizing cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a higher bypass ratio is used to increase fan air delivery, then the volume of air delivered into the bypass duct increases, but the temperature at the exit of the high pressure compressor (T3) increases beyond typical capabilities, reducing compressor component lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air delivery system into two distinct pathways: a bypass duct for unconditioned air and a direct feed air passage for cooled air. This segmentation allows the system to deliver large volumes of air while selectively cooling critical components, resolving the contradiction between high bypass ratio operation and compressor temperature management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device between the compressed air source and the compressor components. The heat exchanger conditions the air by removing excess heat before delivery, enabling high bypass ratio operation without subjecting compressor components to excessive temperatures
2Reliability
If a cooled air system with heat exchanger and COBI system is used to cool compressor components, then the lifespan of compressor components increases, but air losses occur due to circuitous flow routes and complex mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the complex mixed system and creates a separate direct feed air passage that delivers cooled air directly to compressor components. This eliminates the circuitous flow routes and mixing losses associated with integrated cooled air systems, maintaining component reliability while reducing air losses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary cooling action by conditioning the air in the heat exchanger before it enters the direct feed air passage. This pre-conditioning ensures that the air reaches compressor components at the appropriate temperature without requiring complex in-situ cooling mechanisms, thereby reducing overall system complexity and air losses
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 solution provides efficient cooling to the compressor components, reducing temperature-related stress and extending their lifespan by delivering conditioned air directly to critical areas, thereby improving the utilization of air and reducing thermal issues.
Implementation Method 1
receives cooled air from a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
direct air feed passage that intersects with a cavity, receiving cooled air from a heat exchanger and delivering it directly
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
An inner diffuser case for a turbine engine includes a fore gas path edge and an aft gas path edge defining a strut, wherein each of the fore gas path edge and the aft gas path edge include a gas path opening, a support cone structure extending radially outward from the strut, wherein the support cone structure is operable to structurally connect the strut to a turbine engine case, a diffuser case skirt structure extending radially inward from the strut, wherein the diffuser case skirt structure is operable to structurally connect the diffuser case strut to an inner support structure of the turbine engine, and at least one direct feed air passage passing radially through the strut including a radially outward upper mixing chamber opening and a radially inward direct air feed opening, the direct air feed opening is connected to a direct air feed.