Turbomachine Guide Vane Curved Inner Wall Inflection Point

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide vanes in turbomachines do not effectively manage the contraction of the gas duct, leading to suboptimal blade load and efficiency in compressor modules.

Innovation Solution

A guide vane with an outer platform that has a curved inner wall surface with an inflection point, featuring a concave curvature upstream and a convex curvature downstream, which enhances the contraction of the upstream rotor while reducing the contraction of the downstream rotor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the gas duct has a constant cross-section, then the structure is simple, but the blade load is suboptimal and stage efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestage efficiencyVSAvoidgas duct contraction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas duct cross-section is made variable along the axial direction, transitioning from a larger cross-section upstream to a smaller cross-section downstream. This dynamic change in geometry optimizes the contraction ratio to improve stage efficiency while managing blade load distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The contraction ratio of the gas duct is varied by changing the cross-sectional area along the flow direction. The inflection point in the curved profile allows for optimized parameter distribution that balances efficiency improvement with blade load management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the gas duct is highly contracted, then the stage efficiency improves, but the blade load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestage efficiencyVSAvoidblade load

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The gas duct has different contraction characteristics at different locations. The curved profile with inflection point creates a gradual contraction upstream and a more moderate contraction downstream, locally optimizing both efficiency and blade load distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The curved inner wall surface with inflection point creates a smooth transition in the gas duct cross-section. This curvature optimizes the flow characteristics and contraction ratio, improving stage efficiency while distributing blade load more favorably compared to a straight or sharply contracted duct.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12326091B2Guide vane arrangement for a turbomachine, compressor module, and turbomachine

Publication Date: 2025.06.10 MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH

AI summary

A guide vane for arrangement in a gas duct of a turbomachine, including a guide vane blade and an outer platform which, relative to a longitudinal axis of the turbomachine, is arranged radially on an outside on the guide vane blade. The outer platform delimits the gas duct with an inner wall surface radially to the outside. The inner wall surface has a curved profile with an inflection point when viewed in an axial section, the inner wall surface having a concave curvature in a first axial section which is upstream from the inflection point with respect to a flow through the gas duct, and a convex curvature in a second axial section which is arranged downstream from the inflection point with respect to the flow through the gas duct.