Flow Discouraging System for Gas Turbine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small gas turbine engines face challenges in cooling their turbine section components efficiently without increasing fuel consumption, as excessive cooling air extraction reduces power output and does not effectively minimize gas leakage due to tight clearances and seals.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an enhanced flow discouraging system using a stator assembly with an annular groove and a rotor assembly featuring an annular rim and plurality of fingers, which creates a torturous flowpath to reduce hot combusted air leakage and minimize cooling air usage, thereby maintaining component temperatures effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air flow rate is increased to improve cooling effectiveness, then component cooling effectiveness is improved, but engine fuel consumption increases and power output decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful hot combusted air leakage into a beneficial cooling mechanism by directing it through a controlled path past the turbine components, allowing the hot air to cool components without requiring additional cooling air extraction that would increase fuel consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary flow path structure including a stator assembly with annular groove and rotor assembly with annular rim that mediates between the hot combusted air and turbine components, controlling the interaction to achieve cooling while maintaining engine efficiency
2Temperature
If cooling air extraction is increased to cool turbine components, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but power output decreases due to reduced power available for engine operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the otherwise wasted hot combusted air that leaks past seals as a beneficial cooling resource, converting a harmful leakage into a useful cooling function that eliminates the need for additional cooling air extraction
3Loss of substance
If seal clearances are minimized to reduce gas leakage, then gas leakage is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase and reliability decreases due to tight tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary controlled flow path structure that mediates the gas leakage issue, providing a defined path for hot air flow that reduces dependence on tight seal clearances and improves reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on mechanical seal tightness with a controlled aerodynamic flow path structure, substituting mechanical precision requirements with a more reliable flow control mechanism
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 the amount of cooling air needed, enhancing engine efficiency by preventing hot combusted air ingestion and cooling air escape, thus minimizing fuel consumption and protecting components from thermal damage.
Implementation Method 1
creates a torturous flowpath to reduce hot combusted air leakage and minimize cooling air usage
Data Source
AI summary
A flow discouraging system includes a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, and a plurality of fingers. The stator assembly includes one or more stationary components forming a side wall, the side wall including an annular groove defined by an outer axially-extending surface, an inner axially-extending surface, and a radial surface extending between the outer and inner axially-extending surfaces. The rotor assembly is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the stator assembly to form a portion of a cavity and includes an annular rim extending at least partially into the annular groove. The plurality of fingers is disposed in the annular groove and extends from the one or more stationary components the annular rim.