Feather Seal Assembly Directional Passage Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Feather seal assemblies in gas turbine engines are complex and costly to manufacture, and existing designs do not effectively direct cooling airflow to enhance thermal management between stator segments.
Innovation Solution
The feather seal assembly incorporates a directional passage with a tab or louver that directs airflow along the mate-face area between stator segments, allowing for simplified assembly without welding and improved cooling by extending airflow dwell time within the hot gas core path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If feather seal assemblies are manufactured using traditional welded tab and slot geometry, then sealing effectiveness is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the welding process from the feather seal assembly manufacturing. The tab and slot geometry is retained for mechanical retention, but the welding operation is removed, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the preserved geometric interlock.
Solution Approach 2:
The feather seal assembly utilizes its own geometric structure (tab and slot) to achieve both mechanical retention and sealing functionality without requiring external welding processes. The design is self-sufficient, using the inherent geometry to provide both structural and sealing functions.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional feather seal designs are used, then assembly is achieved, but cooling airflow is not effectively directed to enhance thermal management
Solution Approach 1:
The feather seal assembly performs multiple functions: it provides sealing between hot gas core airflow and cooling airflow, maintains mechanical retention through tab and slot geometry, and directs cooling airflow along the mate-face area. This multi-functionality integrates thermal management capabilities into the existing simple assembly structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the sealing function and cooling airflow direction function into a single integrated feather seal assembly. The tab and slot geometry that provides mechanical retention also serves to guide and direct the cooling airflow, combining multiple functions in one component.
3Temperature
If airflow dwell time in hot gas core path is extended, then cooling efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feather seal assembly creates a dynamic airflow path that extends the dwell time of cooling air in the hot gas core path. The tab and slot geometry naturally guides the airflow to travel along the mate-face area, increasing the time for heat transfer without requiring additional active control mechanisms or complex structural modifications.
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 design enhances cooling efficiency between stator segments by directing airflow for a longer dwell time, reducing the need for complex and costly manufacturing processes while maintaining effective sealing without the necessity of welding.
Implementation Method 1
a directional passage (80, 90) within the axial seal (74A, 74B) that directs airflow (C) along a mate-face area (66M, 68M) between adjacent segments (62)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A feather seal assembly (72A) includes a seal (74A) having a directional passage (80) to direct an airflow generally non-perpendicular to the seal (74A). In one embodiment the directional passage (80) is formed in an axial seal (74A) and includes a tab (82) which permits the passage of a radial seal (76A) thereover in a single direction. The radial seal (74B) is then trapped between the tab (82) and a raised feature (84) on the axial seal (74A).