Gas Turbine Inlet Guide Vane Support Ring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing gas turbines, inlet guide vanes lack support after installation, leading to deformation and damage due to unsupported insertion into the outer casing of the compressor.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine inlet guide vane assembly featuring an outer inlet casing with a cylindrical fixing part, a support ring, a fixing ring, and an abutting member, which provides rotational support to the inlet guide vanes through accommodating cavities and interference fit, preventing deformation and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If inlet guide vanes are inserted into the outer inlet casing for installation, then installation and maintenance are facilitated, but the inlet guide vanes are easily deformed and damaged due to lack of support
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring acts as an intermediary component between the inlet guide vanes and the inner inlet casing. It provides a stable support surface that prevents the inlet guide vanes from deforming during installation and operation, while still allowing them to be inserted into the outer inlet casing for maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a two-dimensional plane (inlet casing wall) to a three-dimensional structured support (support ring with radially extending support parts). This adds vertical support capability in the radial direction, preventing deformation while maintaining installation accessibility.
2Reliability
If inlet guide vanes are supported by the inlet casing, then deformation and damage are prevented, but the structure becomes more complex requiring additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The support ring serves multiple functions: it provides support for the inlet guide vanes, forms accommodating cavities with the fixing ring for vane installation, and can be coaxially fixed to the inner inlet casing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate support structures, minimizing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support ring and fixing ring are combined to form accommodating cavities together, integrating the support function and the positioning function into a unified structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the inlet guide vanes are rotatably connected to allow radial rotation, then operational flexibility is improved, but the fixing mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The accommodating cavities formed by the support ring and fixing ring automatically guide and constrain the fixing shafts of the inlet guide vanes. The structure itself provides the rotational constraint and support without requiring additional complex fixing mechanisms, allowing the vanes to rotate radially while maintaining proper positioning.
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 supports inlet guide vanes, preventing deformation and damage while allowing for easy installation and maintenance without affecting the radial rotation of the vanes.
Implementation Method 1
The abutting member is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring
Data Source
AI summary
An inlet guide vane assembly of gas turbine is disclosed. The inlet guide vane assembly includes: a plurality of inlet guide vanes, each including a fixing shaft disposed at the end away from a fixing part; and a fixing assembly including a support ring, a fixing ring and an abutting member. The fixing ring includes a fixing wall facing towards a support part, the fixing wall forming, in cooperation with a support wall, a plurality of accommodating cavities corresponding to the plurality of inlet guide vanes. The fixing shafts are rotatably inserted into the accommodating cavities, and the abutting member is in interference fit with the inner inlet casing and the fixing ring. The inlet guide vane assembly implements support for the inlet guide vanes without affecting installation of the inlet guide vanes.