Impeller-Mounted Vortex Spoiler for Gas Turbine Bleed Air Routing

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas turbine engines require complex and weighty external piping systems to bleed compressed air, increasing cost and complexity due to the need to route air from the compressor section to various components.

Innovation Solution

A system within the compressor section of the gas turbine engine that uses an impeller with radially extending vanes and a vortex spoiler to internally route bleed air from the compressed gas path, eliminating the need for external piping by directing air through impeller arm apertures and vortex spoiler passages to a central cavity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If external piping systems are used to route bleed air from the compressor section, then air can be delivered to various components, but the weight, complexity, and cost of the gas turbine engine increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair routing capabilityVSAvoidpiping system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air routing function into the impeller structure itself by integrating passages within the impeller arms. This combines the compressor function with the air distribution function, eliminating the need for separate external piping systems while maintaining the ability to deliver bleed air to various components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The impeller is designed to serve multiple functions: compressing air and simultaneously distributing bleed air to various engine components through integrated passages. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated piping systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If external piping systems are used to route bleed air from the compressor section, then air can be delivered to various components, but the weight of the gas turbine engine increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair routing capabilityVSAvoidengine weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air routing function into the impeller structure itself by integrating passages within the impeller arms. This combines the compressor function with the air distribution function, eliminating the need for separate external piping systems while maintaining the ability to deliver bleed air to various components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The impeller is designed to serve multiple functions: compressing air and simultaneously distributing bleed air to various engine components through integrated passages. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated piping systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If external piping systems are used to route bleed air from the compressor section, then air can be delivered to various components, but the cost of the gas turbine engine increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair routing capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the air routing function into the impeller structure itself by integrating passages within the impeller arms. This combines the compressor function with the air distribution function, eliminating the need for separate external piping systems while maintaining the ability to deliver bleed air to various components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The impeller is designed to serve multiple functions: compressing air and simultaneously distributing bleed air to various engine components through integrated passages. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated piping systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 internal routing system reduces the weight, cost, and complexity of the gas turbine engine by directly channeling bleed air to necessary locations without external piping, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing structural burdens.

Implementation Method 1

A vortex spoiler is positioned radially inwardly from the impeller arm and defines a vortex spoiler passage extending radially therethrough. Bleed air flows from the compressed gas path radially inwardly through both the impeller arm aperture and the vortex spoiler passage.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentUS10683809B2Impeller-mounted vortex spoiler

Publication Date: 2020.06.16 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to a system for bleeding air from a compressed gas path of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an impeller positioned at a downstream end of a compressor in the gas turbine engine. The impeller includes an impeller hub, an impeller arm coupled to the impeller hub, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart impeller vanes extending radially outwardly from the impeller arm. The impeller arm defines an impeller arm aperture extending therethrough. A vortex spoiler is positioned radially inwardly from the impeller arm and defines a vortex spoiler passage extending radially therethrough. Bleed air flows from the compressed gas path radially inwardly through both the impeller arm aperture and the vortex spoiler passage.