Dual Rotor Damping with Wire Mesh Backup for Turbomachines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional turbomachine rotor damping systems with a single fluid damper become ineffective when the fluid runs out, when vibrations are high causing the damper to 'bottom out', or when oil viscosity increases at cold temperatures, leading to reduced damping efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A rotor damping device comprising a first fluid damper and a second damper with a wire mesh, where the first fluid damper is transitionable between a working and an interruption condition, and the wire mesh of the second damper takes over to dampen vibrations during interruption conditions, providing supplemental or backup damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single fluid damper is used to dampen rotor vibrations, then the damping effect is effective under normal operating conditions, but the system becomes ineffective when the fluid runs out, when vibrations are too high causing the damper to bottom out, or when oil viscosity increases at cold temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system is segmented into two independent dampers: a first fluid damper for normal operating conditions and a second wire mesh damper for interruption conditions. This segmentation allows each damper to be optimized for specific conditions, ensuring reliable damping across all operating scenarios without requiring a single complex adaptive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire mesh damper is pre-positioned and ready to provide damping support before the fluid damper fails or becomes ineffective. This prior cushioning ensures that when the fluid damper runs out of fluid, bottoms out, or becomes too rigid, the wire mesh damper is already in place to immediately provide the necessary damping without system shutdown or external intervention.
2Reliability
If a fluid damper is used to dampen vibrations, then the damping performance is good under normal conditions, but the system complexity increases when adding backup mechanisms for interruption conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The first fluid damper and second wire mesh damper are merged into a single integrated damping system with a common housing and shared mounting structure. This merging allows the two different damping mechanisms to work together in a compact arrangement, reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate independent systems while maintaining continuous damping capability across all operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping system is designed with multi-functionality where the same housing and mounting structure support both the fluid damper and wire mesh damper. This universal design allows the system to automatically adapt to different operating conditions using the appropriate damper type, eliminating the need for complex switching mechanisms or multiple separate installations.
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 dual-damper system ensures continuous vibration damping even when the primary fluid damper is ineffective due to fluid depletion, high vibrations, or increased viscosity, effectively managing turbomachine vibrations and reducing fatigue and damage risks.
Implementation Method 1
the wire mesh of the second damper dampens vibration of the turbomachine
Implementation Method 2
dampens vibration from the rotor
Implementation Method 3
a thin fluid film forms a buffer between the rotating journal surface and the stationary bearing surface, and dampens vibration from the rotor
Implementation Method 4
In a fluid film bearing, a thin fluid film forms a buffer
Implementation Method 5
the other is positioned by a spring bar support structure and oscillates with the motion of the rotor
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor damping device for a turbomachine is provided. The rotor damping device includes a first fluid damper; and a second damper in communication with the first fluid damper, the second damper comprising a wire mesh, wherein the first fluid damper is transitionable between a working condition and an interruption condition, and wherein, during the interruption condition, the wire mesh of the second damper dampens vibration of the turbomachine.