Gas Turbine Duct Assembly Alignment and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine duct assemblies, such as TOBI assemblies, require blind assembly techniques due to their segmented nature, making the assembly process challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A duct assembly is designed as an integral, single-piece annular structure with discrete cooling passages and a viewing port, allowing for easier assembly by ensuring proper mating of joints and efficient fluid channeling, including a tangential coolant flow and visual confirmation of joint alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If duct assemblies are segmented to facilitate assembly and maintenance, then ease of manufacture and maintenance are improved, but assembly complexity increases due to the need for blind assembly techniques and precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces alignment features (alignment pins, alignment grooves, and alignment keys) as intermediary elements that mediate between segmented duct components. These features act as physical guides that automatically ensure precise mating and alignment of segments during assembly, eliminating the need for complex blind assembly techniques while maintaining the benefits of segmentation for manufacture and maintenance.
2Ease of operation
If blind assembly techniques are used for segmented duct assemblies, then assembly can be performed without complex alignment tools, but assembly precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-aligning features where the duct segments incorporate alignment pins that fit into alignment grooves, and alignment keys that fit into corresponding keyways. These self-service alignment mechanisms automatically guide the segments into correct positions during assembly, ensuring precise joint alignment without requiring external alignment tools or complex procedures, thus maintaining both ease of assembly and manufacturing precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple segmented components are assembled to form a duct assembly, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but assembly time and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates pre-formed alignment features (alignment pins, grooves, and keys) into the duct segment designs during manufacturing. These preliminary prepared alignment mechanisms enable rapid and accurate assembly of segmented components, eliminating the need for time-consuming alignment procedures during installation. This allows the duct assembly to maintain configuration flexibility through segmentation while significantly improving assembly speed and productivity.
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 solution facilitates efficient assembly and operation by ensuring proper joint alignment and fluid conditioning, enhancing the assembly process and operational efficiency of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
The discrete cooling passages channel a cooling fluid to hardware of the engine
Implementation Method 2
channel a cooling fluid to hardware of the engine
Implementation Method 3
an axial portion and a tangential portion, such as to swirl a coolant flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4A
AI summary
A duct assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a casing body that extends between a flange and a wall, a first discrete cooling passage formed in the casing body and a second discrete cooling passage circumferentially spaced from the first discrete cooling passage. At least one of the first discrete cooling passage and the second discrete cooling passage includes an axial portion and a tangential portion configured to turn a cooling fluid communicated in each of the first and second discrete cooling passages.