Gas Turbine Engine Package Handling System for Marine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular power generation units with gas turbine engines face challenges in handling and removing components like gas generators and power turbines, especially in environments with movement due to ocean waves or high winds, where overhead lift systems are difficult to use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical handling system integrated into the engine package, featuring a door that pivots, floor and door rails, and a transportation stand with roller feet, allows for safe and efficient removal of components by sliding them along rails and using legs to adjust and support the door, enabling movement of components from the sheltered space to outside for repair or replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If overhead lift systems are used to remove gas generators and power turbines from the engine package, then component removal capability is provided, but the system becomes difficult to use in environments with movement due to ocean waves or high winds
Solution Approach 1:
The handling system is divided into multiple independent components: a movable door assembly that can be opened to access components, floor rails fixed to the engine package, and a separate transportation stand with roller feet. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the door providing access, rails providing guidance, and the transportation stand providing stable component handling that can be loaded onto external cranes for removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The transportation stand with roller feet acts as an intermediary between the engine package and external lifting equipment. The roller feet engage with the floor rails to provide stable guidance and support during component movement, then the entire assembly can be transferred to external cranes for removal. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between the need for stable handling and the ability to work in moving marine environments.
2Ease of repair
If overhead lift systems are used for component removal, then repair access is enabled, but the complexity of the handling system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is combined with the handling system functionality. The door not only provides access to the engine package but also incorporates door rails that work with the floor rails to guide the transportation stand. The door can pivot between closed and open positions, and the handling components are integrated into the door structure itself, merging access and handling functions into a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor rails serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the engine package, guide the transportation stand during component removal, and work with the door rails to enable smooth transitions. The door assembly similarly serves both as an access barrier and as part of the handling mechanism, eliminating the need for separate dedicated handling equipment.
3Reliability
If a mechanical handling system with door and rails is used, then component removal is facilitated in challenging environments, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is designed to pivot between closed and open positions, allowing the system to adapt to different operational states. The transportation stand can be moved along the floor rails and transferred to external cranes, providing dynamic flexibility in component removal methods. This dynamic design allows the system to respond to varying environmental conditions and maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller feet with support plates and rollers are designed to self-align and engage with the floor rails during component movement. The door rails automatically align with the floor rails when the door is in the correct position, eliminating the need for complex alignment mechanisms or additional actuators. The system uses gravity and geometry to achieve proper positioning and engagement.
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 mechanical handling system facilitates secure and efficient removal of components from the engine package, even in challenging environments, by providing a stable and guided mechanism for movement, reducing the risk of damage and improving maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The roller feet may be arranged to engage the floor rails when the gas generator is inside the sheltered space and may be arranged to engage the door rails when the gas generator is moved outside the sheltered space
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine unit (110) for use in a modular power generation system includes an engine package (112) and a mechanical handling system adapted to convey components (114) out of and into the engine package (112). The engine package (112) includes a floor (132), a plurality of side walls (136), and a ceiling (134) that cooperate to define a sheltered space (140) sized to receive a gas turbine engine. The mechanical handling system includes rails (121) adapted to support components (114) conveyed out of and into the sheltered space (140) defined by the engine package (112).