Fan Housing Containment Ring Design for Blade Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft environmental control systems' fan and compressor housings are complex and costly to repair or replace due to the risk of fan blade detachment and impact damage during operation.
Innovation Solution
A detachable fan shroud and containment ring design for the fan and compressor housing, featuring a specific geometry and attachment features that absorb the impact of a detached fan blade, allowing for easy replacement and reducing repair costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the fan housing and compressor housing are made integral as a single component, then the structural strength and integrity are improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because the entire housing must be replaced when fan blades detach and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into separate fan housing and compressor housing components that can be independently replaced. The fan housing includes a containment ring and shroud that can be detached and replaced without replacing the entire integrated housing structure, while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
2Ease of repair
If the containment ring and shroud are made detachable for easy replacement, then the ease of repair is improved, but the structural strength deteriorates due to additional connection points and potential weak links
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable connection features (protrusions and recesses) are pre-designed and pre-positioned to ensure proper alignment and structural integrity when assembled. The containment ring and shroud are configured with attachment features that maintain strength while enabling replacement, so the structural weakness only exists during disassembly, not during operation.
3Reliability
If the fan housing uses a complex integral geometry to protect against blade detachment, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex casting or machining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The protective housing structure is segmented into modular components (containment ring, shroud, fan housing, compressor housing) that can be manufactured using simpler processes and then assembled. This reduces the manufacturing complexity of individual parts while maintaining the overall protective function through proper design of connection features.
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 design effectively absorbs the impact of a detached fan blade, minimizing damage to the rest of the housing and reducing maintenance costs by enabling quick replacement of the containment ring and shroud, thus improving energy-dissipating performance and maintaining the integrity of the ACM.
Implementation Method 1
The guide surface facing radially inward and the shelf with stop surface are configured to absorb the impact of a detached fan blade, minimizing damage to the rest of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A fan housing for an air cycle machine includes a fan exit flow passage and a ring disposed around a center axis of the fan housing and disposed around the fan exit flow passage. The ring includes a first end disposed axially opposite a second end and a guide surface facing radially inward relative the center axis and formed between the first end and the second end. The ring also includes a shelf disposed radially inward from the guide surface. The shelf includes a stop surface extending radially and disposed axially between the second end and the guide surface. The shelf also includes a shelf surface facing radially outward relative the center axis and extending axially between the first end and the stop surface.