Inflatable Annular Seal for Gas Turbine Foam Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Foam cleaning in gas turbine engines often fails to penetrate and effectively clean small secondary cooling passages of the combustor and turbine modules, as the foam tends to accumulate or flow into the combustor chamber rather than reaching inner cavities and passages within the turbine section.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable device with a backbone and an inflatable bladder is installed within the gas turbine engine to form an annular seal, preventing foam from entering the combustion chamber and directing it into the turbine section, thereby facilitating more effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If foam is sprayed into the engine to clean components, then cleaning coverage is improved, but foam accumulates in the combustor chamber instead of reaching turbine passages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoam volume reaching turbine sectionVSAvoidfoam accumulation in combustor chamber

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable bladder acts as an intermediary barrier that redirects foam flow. It is positioned in the combustor chamber to block foam from accumulating in unwanted areas and force it through passages leading to the turbine section, thereby mediating the foam's path to achieve better cleaning coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable bladder creates localized flow control within the combustor chamber. By inflating specific sections of the bladder, the system selectively blocks certain pathways while opening others, directing foam locally toward turbine passages rather than allowing uniform accumulation throughout the chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If an inflatable device is installed to redirect foam flow, then foam penetration into turbine passages is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoam penetration into turbine sectionVSAvoidinflatable device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable bladder utilizes flexible thin-walled structure that can be inflated to the required shape and size. This flexible shell approach simplifies the overall device structure compared to rigid barriers, as the bladder can be collapsed for insertion and then inflated to form the flow-directing barrier within the combustor chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable device transitions from a collapsed state during installation to an inflated operational state. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt its shape and position within the combustor chamber, simplifying installation procedures while maintaining effective foam redirection capability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If foam flow is redirected away from the combustor chamber, then turbine cleaning effectiveness is improved, but foam distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidfoam distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The inflatable bladder is divided into multiple segments or zones that can be independently controlled. By adjusting the inflation level of different segments, the system can create multiple foam flow paths and distribution points within the turbine section, ensuring more uniform foam coverage while maintaining high cleaning efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 inflatable device creates an annular seal that blocks a significant portion of the foam from entering the combustion chamber, allowing a greater volume of foam to flow into the turbine section, effectively cleaning inner cavities and passages, potentially increasing cleaning efficiency by up to 100%.

Implementation Method 1

inflating the inflatable bladder with an inflating fluid such that the inflatable bladder forms an annular seal along a fluid path of the gas turbine engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11506077B2Inflatable device with guiding mechanism for effective engine cleaning

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

An inflatable device equipped with a guiding mechanism and methods of installing the inflatable device to form a temporary barrier within a gas turbine engine are provided. In one aspect, an inflatable device includes a backbone and an inflatable bladder connected thereto. The backbone is formed of a flexible and inextensible material. The inflatable bladder is formed of an expandable material. To install the inflatable device within an annular chamber of a gas turbine engine, the backbone is inserted into a first access port of the engine and is moved circumferentially around the annulus of the chamber. The backbone is retrieved through a second access port. The inflatable bladder is moved into position within the chamber by pushing the backbone into the first access port and/or pulling the backbone out of the second access port. When positioned in place, the inflatable bladder is inflated to form an annular seal.