Turbomachine Outlet Guide Vane with External Attachment Means
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in fabricating large outlet guide vanes for twin-spool turbomachines using additive fabrication techniques, as they often require complex geometries that are unsuitable for such methods, leading to aerodynamic losses when split into separate parts for easier manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
The guide vane is designed with an intrados and extrados body, each with attachment elements, and a thermal conduction matrix that facilitates lubricant circulation, allowing for separate fabrication of components using conventional techniques while maintaining aerodynamic performance by keeping attachment means outside the aerodynamic part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the guide vane is made as a single piece using additive fabrication, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the geometry must be simplified which compromises aerodynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane is divided into multiple separate components including aerodynamic vanes, attachment means, and reinforcement elements. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using conventional techniques while maintaining complex aerodynamic geometries that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with additive fabrication alone.
2Ease of manufacture
If the guide vane is made in several separate parts to facilitate fabrication, then manufacturing ease is improved, but attachment means must be located on the aerodynamic part which generates aerodynamic losses
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means are extracted from the aerodynamic part of the guide vane and positioned on the non-aerodynamic structural components. This extraction eliminates the aerodynamic losses that would be generated by attachment means placed on the aerodynamic surfaces, while still allowing separate fabrication of the components.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment means are positioned in a different spatial dimension - on the external surface of the guide vane assembly rather than on the aerodynamic profiles. This dimensional relocation allows attachment functionality without compromising aerodynamic flow.
3Ease of manufacture
If attachment means are placed on the aerodynamic part of the vane, then separate fabrication is enabled, but the fan flow is disturbed and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means are extracted from the aerodynamic flow path and positioned on external structural elements. This ensures that the fan air flow is not disturbed by attachment hardware, maintaining high efficiency while still enabling separate fabrication of the guide vane components.
4Loss of energy
If conventional ACOC exchangers are eliminated by using outlet guide vanes for heat exchange, then fan flow disturbances are reduced, but the guide vane structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger function is merged with the outlet guide vane structure. The guide vane components serve dual purposes: maintaining aerodynamic flow and providing heat exchange surfaces for cooling lubricant. This eliminates the need for separate ACOC exchangers that would disturb fan flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet guide vane is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both an aerodynamic flow straightener and a heat exchanger for lubricant cooling. This universal design eliminates the need for separate conventional ACOC exchangers while managing thermal loads effectively.
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 simplifies fabrication, reduces costs, and enhances aerodynamic performance by separating thermal, structural, and aerodynamic functions, enabling efficient heat exchange and flow straightening without compromising the fan flow.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal conduction matrix arranged in a space delimited between the intrados and extrados bodies, said matrix being designed so that lubricant passes through it
Implementation Method 2
outlet guide vanes can be installed downstream from the fan to straighten the outlet flow from the fan
Implementation Method 3
an additional function can be assigned to the outlet guide vanes. This is a heat exchanger function between the outside air passing through the ring of outlet guide vanes, and lubricant circulating inside these vanes
Data Source
AI summary
A guide vane located in a fan air flow in an aircraft twin-spool turbomachine, the vane being made with an extrados body and an intrados body between which there is a thermal conduction matrix. Furthermore, the attachment devices between the two spools are arranged outside the aerodynamic part of the vane.