Gas Turbine Fan Platform Edge Seal Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional edge seals in gas turbine engines fail to effectively prevent air leakage and protect fan blades from contact with non-integral platforms, leading to aerodynamic inefficiencies and increased maintenance due to shifting seals and potential air leakage.
Innovation Solution
An edge seal design featuring a bonding segment, a sealing flap, and a bumper rib, where the sealing flap converges with the bonding segment and the bumper rib protrudes to prevent air leakage and protect the fan platform from contact, with optional fabric coverage for enhanced durability and bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional edge seals are used to seal spaces between platforms and blades, then air leakage is prevented, but the seals shift during operation allowing air to leak through
Solution Approach 1:
The edge seal is divided into distinct functional segments: a sealing flap for contact with the blade, a bumper rib for positioning and protection, and a bonding segment for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall seal stability during platform rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper rib protrudes from the bonding segment to make preliminary contact with the blade leading edge, establishing a predetermined positioning relationship before the sealing flap engages. This preliminary action ensures the seal maintains proper position throughout operation.
2Reliability
If traditional edge seals are designed to prevent air leakage, then sealing is effective, but they do not protect the blade from contact with the platform
Solution Approach 1:
The edge seal structure separates the sealing function (sealing flap) from the protective function (bumper rib), allowing each to be optimized independently. The bumper rib specifically protects the blade leading edge from platform contact while the sealing flap maintains the air seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper rib acts as an intermediary protective element between the rotating platform and the stationary blade, absorbing contact forces and preventing direct platform-blade contact that would cause wear and damage.
3Reliability
If traditional edge seals are used, then air leakage is prevented, but the seals may become displaced during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper rib establishes preliminary geometric constraints between the edge seal and blade, creating a locating feature that prevents displacement during platform rotation. This preliminary positioning action ensures the sealing flap remains properly aligned throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge seal integrates multiple functions into a single bonded assembly: the bonding segment attaches to the platform, the bumper rib provides positioning and protection, and the sealing flap maintains the air seal. This merged structure eliminates relative movement between components.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An edge seal for preventing airflow through a space between a fan platform and an adjacent airfoil in a gas turbine engine may include a bonding segment being bondable to the fan platform. A sealing flap converges with the bonding segment so that the sealing flap is operatively contactable with the adjacent airfoil. A bumper rib protrudes from the bonding segment so that the bumper rib is bondable to the fan platform.