Gas Turbine Disk Assembly Cooling Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk assemblies for gas turbines face challenges in efficiently delivering cooling air due to rapid rotation of air between disks, which interrupts air introduction and requires difficult disk processing for opening formation.
Innovation Solution
The disk assembly features grooves on hirth parts and partition walls extending from the root to the hirth parts to prevent air rotation, allowing smooth air flow and eliminating the need for separate opening processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is introduced between disk rims to cool the turbine section, then the turbine section is cooled effectively, but the cooling air rapidly rotates in the space between disks which interrupts the introduction of air into each disk
Solution Approach 1:
The space between disks is segmented into multiple independent flow paths by forming partition walls that extend from the root part toward the hirth part. This segmentation prevents the cooling air from rotating rapidly as a single mass, instead guiding it through multiple controlled pathways that maintain better airflow stability and introduction efficiency while still achieving effective turbine section cooling.
2Productivity
If an opening is formed in the disk to form a passage of cooling air, then cooling air can be delivered to the turbine section, but the processing is very difficult when performed using a drill according to the position or direction of the opening
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming openings in the disk plane, the invention utilizes the radial dimension by forming grooves on the hirth part surface and extending partition walls from the root part toward the hirth part. This dimensional approach allows cooling air passages to be created through surface features and structural extensions that are more amenable to manufacturing processes than drilling through the entire disk thickness at various angles.
3Ease of operation
If hirth parts are coupled to each other with grooves for air introduction, then cooling air can be introduced smoothly, but air rotation still occurs in the space between disks
Solution Approach 1:
Partition walls are introduced as intermediary structures that extend from the root part toward the hirth part, acting as flow guides that mediate between the grooves on hirth parts and the cooling air flow. These partition walls prevent the air from rotating by providing directional guidance through the space between disks, maintaining smooth air introduction while stabilizing the airflow pattern.
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 configuration reduces air rotation and kinetic energy, ensuring effective air introduction and minimizing pressure loss while simplifying manufacturing by eliminating the need for separate opening processing.
Implementation Method 1
at least one partition wall is formed to extend from the root part to the hirth part
Implementation Method 2
the hirth part comprises a plurality of grooves for introduction of air formed at an end thereof
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a disk assembly for a gas turbine compressor, which comprises a partition wall (22a,22b) formed to partition a space between disks (10a,10b) for a gas turbine compressor to optimize a cooling fluid path.