Turbo-Pump Guide Vane Curvature for Uniform Flow and Fewer Shock Waves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide vane arrangements in turbo pumps face challenges in producing a cost-effective design that maintains optimal fluid flow characteristics, leading to issues like shock waves, non-uniform flow, and reduced efficiency due to complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A guide vane arrangement with specific surface curvature designs, including convex and concave portions, that control fluid flow to achieve desired angles and speeds, allowing for efficient manufacturing through additive processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guide vanes and carrier component are produced separately and welded together, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes and carrier component are merged into a single integral component produced through additive manufacturing. This eliminates the welding process and reduces production complexity while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through digital design customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical welding process is replaced with additive manufacturing technology. This substitution eliminates the need for separate component production and joining operations, reducing production complexity while maintaining design flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If guide vanes and carrier component are formed integrally through additive manufacturing, then production cost is reduced, but surface contour modification is required which complicates the flow channel design
Solution Approach 1:
The surface contour parameters of the guide vanes are specifically optimized for additive manufacturing processes. By adjusting geometric parameters such as wall thickness, curvature radius, and flow channel cross-section, the design achieves both cost-effectiveness through integral manufacturing and precision through parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow channels are designed with optimized curvatures and rounded transitions rather than sharp angles. This spherical optimization is particularly important in additive manufactured components where sharp corners can cause manufacturing issues and flow disturbances, while maintaining precise flow characteristics.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional guide vane designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but shock waves and non-uniform flow occur reducing turbine efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vane design incorporates locally optimized surface contours and flow channel geometries that are specifically tailored to control fluid flow patterns. By adjusting the local quality of different regions (such as inlet angles, outlet angles, and intermediate curvature), the design eliminates shock waves and ensures uniform flow while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integral construction.
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 design enhances fluid flow uniformity, reduces shock waves, and improves manufacturing accessibility, resulting in improved turbine efficiency and reduced manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the guide vane arrangement accelerates and deflects the fluid stream in such a manner that the fluid stream impinges on the rotor blades at an angle and at a flow speed that allows the rotor to operate at its design conditions
Implementation Method 2
The trailing surface between the intermediate portion and the trailing edge comprises at least one portion having a convex curvature
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A guide vane arrangement (110), in particular for use in a turbine for a turbopump, is provided which comprise a first guide vane (112) and a second guide vane (114), wherein the second guide vane is arranged adjacent to the first guide vane such that a flow channel (116) is defined between a leading surface (118) of the first guide vane and a trailing surface (120) of the second guide vane, wherein the flow channel is designed in such a manner that a fluid flow, when exiting the flow channel, flows at a desired first flow speed. The trailing surface (120) of the second guide vane comprises a trailing portion (132) which is arranged adjacent to a trailing edge (134) of the second guide vane and which is arranged at a first angle with respect to a virtual plane defined by a trailing edge (130) of the first guide vane (112) and the trailing edge (134) of the second guide vane (114), a leading portion (136) which is arranged adjacent to a leading edge (138) of the second guide vane and which is arranged at a second angle with respect to the virtual plane, and an intermediate portion (140) which is arranged between the trailing portion (132) and the leading portion (136) and which is arranged at a third angle with respect to the virtual plane, wherein the second angle is larger than each of the first and third angles. The trailing surface (120) between the intermediate portion (140) and the trailing edge (134) comprises at least one portion having a convex curvature (β, δ). Furthermore, a method of operating a guide vane arrangement and a turbine comprising the guide vane arrangement is provided.