Guide Vane Seal Assembly for Gas Turbine Leakage Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing strut-flap design in gas turbine engines requires tight tolerances and custom fabrication to prevent air leakage, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for precise gap control between upstream and downstream airfoils.
Innovation Solution
A guide vane assembly with a seal assembly that includes a pressure mechanism, such as a spring, and a low-friction seal with an arcuate protruding side, disposed within slots on the airfoil edges to maintain contact and reduce leakage across the gap between airfoils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tight tolerances and custom fabrication are used to control the gap between airfoils, then air leakage is prevented, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A seal assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the upstream and downstream airfoils. The seal includes a contact surface that engages with both airfoils, filling the gap and preventing air leakage without requiring tight tolerances on the airfoils themselves. This mediator component isolates the leakage prevention function from the airfoil fabrication process.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap control function is segmented from the airfoil structure itself and transferred to a separate seal assembly. The seal assembly can be independently manufactured and installed, allowing the airfoils to be produced with more relaxed tolerances while the seal handles the precise gap maintenance function.
2Reliability
If a seal assembly with pressure mechanism is used to maintain contact, then leakage is reduced and performance is maintained during wear, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure mechanism automatically adjusts the seal contact force in response to wear or thermal expansion. As the seal or airfoils wear over time, the pressure mechanism (such as a spring or elastomeric element) increases the contact force to compensate, maintaining consistent leakage prevention without requiring external adjustment or intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact force parameter is made variable through the pressure mechanism rather than fixed. This allows the seal to adapt its contact pressure based on operating conditions such as wear, temperature, and vibration, optimizing leakage prevention across different service conditions.
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 solution effectively reduces air leakage between airfoils, maintaining contact and performance even as hardware wears, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and improving the efficiency of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure component comprises a spring
Implementation Method 2
the seal includes a low-friction material
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to a guide vane assembly including a first airfoil, including a first airfoil trailing edge, a second airfoil, including a second airfoil leading edge, positioned aft the first airfoil to create a gap therebetween, and a seal assembly disposed within the gap to engage the first airfoil trailing edge and the second airfoil leading edge.