Elastic Locating Baffle for Centrifugal Compressor Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal compressors in gas turbine engines face challenges with structural loads and stresses due to rigid mounting of diffusers, leading to heavier designs and reduced efficiency, as they must withstand both aerodynamic and structural loads.
Innovation Solution
The use of an elastic locating baffle, typically made of sheet metal, which is coupled with the diffuser body to allow movement relative to the housing, thereby reducing direct coupling and minimizing the transmission of force loads to the diffuser, while maintaining the diffuser's position and sealing between components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the diffuser is rigidly mounted to the housing, then the structural loads are transmitted to the diffuser, but this leads to heavier diffuser design and reduced aerodynamic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into multiple functional elements: the diffuser body, locating baffles (some elastic, some rigid), and sealing elements. This segmentation allows different parts to handle different functions - elastic baffles absorb structural loads while maintaining position, rigid baffles provide locational stability, and sealing elements ensure gas tightness. The diffuser is thus divided from the housing structure through these intermediate mounting elements rather than direct rigid attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic locating baffles serve as intermediary elements between the diffuser body and the housing. These baffles transmit minimal structural loads to the diffuser while still providing positional stability. The elastic material acts as a mediator that decouples the structural load path from the aerodynamic component, allowing the diffuser to be lighter without compromising structural integrity or position.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the diffuser is rigidly mounted to maintain positional stability, then the position is fixed, but this transmits structural loads and reduces aerodynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a purely static rigid connection to a dynamic system with elastic elements. The elastic locating baffles can deform elastically under load, allowing the diffuser to maintain its aerodynamic shape and position while absorbing structural vibrations and loads. This dynamic capability preserves aerodynamic efficiency by preventing load-induced distortions while maintaining positional stability through the elastic restraint.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic locating baffles made from flexible materials are used to mount the diffuser. These flexible elements maintain the diffuser's positional stability while minimizing structural load transmission. The flexibility of these thin-walled elastic components allows them to conform to vibrations and loads without transmitting significant forces to the diffuser body, thereby preserving aerodynamic performance.
3Loss of energy
If the diffuser is decoupled from the housing to reduce structural loads, then aerodynamic efficiency improves, but sealing between components becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting and sealing functions are merged into integrated components. The elastic locating baffles serve dual purposes: they provide positional stability and load isolation while also contributing to the sealing function. Additionally, separate sealing elements are positioned at the interface between the diffuser and housing, combining the decoupled mounting structure with reliable sealing to prevent gas leakage while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealing elements act as intermediary components between the decoupled diffuser and the housing. These sealing elements fill the gap created by the elastic mounting system, ensuring gas-tight sealing without requiring rigid connection. The sealing intermediaries allow the diffuser to be elastically mounted for reduced loads while preventing leakage, thus maintaining both aerodynamic efficiency and reliability.
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 reduces structural loads on the diffuser, allowing for lighter and more efficient compressor designs by decoupling the diffuser from direct structural loads, enhancing aerodynamic performance without compromising positional stability and sealing.
Implementation Method 1
The locating baffle may be configured to deform elastically to allow the diffuser body to move relative to the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing during use of the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor adapted for use in for a gas turbine engine includes a diffuser and a housing. The diffuser is arranged circumferentially around an axis and includes a fore plate, an aft plate spaced apart axially from the fore plate to define a flow path therebetween, and a plurality of vanes that extend between the fore plate and the aft plate. The housing is arranged circumferentially about the axis and located adjacent the diffuser.