Double-Walled Exit Cone Cooling Air Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine engine designs, the single-wall exit cone experiences heating distress due to inadequate cooling, as the cooling air supply is split between the exit cone and the splash plate, making it difficult to control the distribution and resulting in reduced cooling for the exit cone.
Innovation Solution
A double-wall exit cone with an inner and outer wall defining an exit cone channel, where a splash plate is mounted to the outer wall, and pairs of cooling feed holes are provided to independently supply cooling air to the exit cone and splash plate channels, allowing for controlled adjustment of cooling air distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-wall exit cone with a splash plate is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the exit cone experiences heating distress due to inadequate cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The exit cone is divided into a double-wall structure with an inner wall and an outer wall, creating separate cooling channels between them. This segmentation allows independent cooling air supply to different regions of the exit cone, preventing heating distress while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
A cooling air channel is introduced as an intermediary space between the inner and outer walls of the exit cone. This channel mediates heat transfer by allowing cooling air to flow through, carrying heat away from the exit cone surfaces that would otherwise be subjected to high temperatures from the combustor basket.
2Device complexity
If cooling air is supplied through shared holes to both the exit cone and splash plate, then the structure is simpler, but the cooling air distribution cannot be controlled and the exit cone receives reduced cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air supply system is segmented into separate feed holes: first cooling air feed holes supply cooling air to the exit cone channel, while second cooling air feed holes supply cooling air to the splash plate channel. This segmentation ensures reliable and controlled cooling air distribution to each component independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the combustor basket assembly receive customized cooling air supply through locally optimized feed holes. The first cooling air feed holes are positioned and sized to provide adequate cooling to the exit cone, while the second cooling air feed holes provide cooling to the splash plate, ensuring each area receives the appropriate amount of cooling air for its specific thermal requirements.
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 enables effective thermal barrier coating on all relevant surfaces and allows for controlled cooling air distribution, preventing overheating and enabling efficient operation of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
a first series of spaced apart cooling air feed holes are formed through a bottom wall of the spacer ring and are in fluid communication with the channel between the inner and outer walls of the exit cone... a second series of spaced apart cooling air feed holes are formed through the bottom wall of the spacer ring and are in fluid communication with the cooling channel... Cooling air flows through the feed holes and into the channel between the inner and outer walls of the exit cone and into the cooling channel
Data Source
AI summary
A combustor basket assembly for a gas turbine engine that includes a combustor basket having a basket liner including an input end and an output end. A double-wall exit cone is mounted to the output end of the basket liner, where the exit cone includes an inner wall and an outer wall defining an exit cone channel therebetween. A splash plate is mounted to the outer wall to define a splash plate channel between the splash plate and the basket liner. A series of pairs of cooling feed holes are provided through the basket liner, where one of the feed holes in each pair provides cooling air to the cone channel and the other feed hole provides cooling air to the splash plate channel. The outer surface of the outer wall and the inner surface of the inner wall are coated with a thermal barrier coating.