Fabric Seal for Gas Turbine Engine Vane Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in sealing between components made of ceramic matrix composite materials due to high temperatures, requiring effective sealing solutions that can withstand extreme conditions and prevent fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A fabric seal comprising free and cross tows woven into sheets with a seal aperture, featuring a negative airfoil shape fringe for compliant contact with components, made from ceramic fibers to provide effective fluid sealing and resistant to high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ceramic matrix composite materials are used for airfoils to withstand high temperatures, then temperature resistance is improved, but sealing between components becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fabric seal made of flexible material with free tows that can conform to the airfoil component. The flexible nature of the fabric seal allows it to maintain effective sealing contact with the ceramic matrix composite airfoil despite thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances, resolving the sealing difficulty caused by using high-temperature resistant ceramic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of the sealing material by using a fabric construction with free tows that can deform and adapt. The fabric seal's structure allows it to change its contact parameters with the airfoil surface, ensuring reliable sealing under high-temperature conditions where rigid seals would fail.
2Reliability
If free tows are extended into the seal aperture for compliant contact, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric seal is segmented into cross tows that provide structural support and free tows that provide sealing function. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific role - the cross tows maintain the seal's structural integrity while the free tows extend into the aperture to provide compliant sealing contact with the airfoil component.
Solution Approach 2:
The fabric seal has different local qualities - the cross tows provide structural strength while the free tows provide sealing compliance. This local differentiation of material properties and functions allows the single component to simultaneously achieve both structural integrity and effective sealing.
3Temperature
If fabric seal is made from ceramic fibers for high temperature resistance, then temperature resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric seal uses ceramic fibers as the base material to provide high-temperature resistance. This composite approach combines the heat-resistant properties of ceramic fibers with the flexible, manufacturable fabric construction, achieving both temperature resistance and ease of manufacture through the selection of appropriate composite materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A clamp mechanism couples the inner platform and the outer platform to the ceramic-containing airfoil.