Turbomachine Inner Ring Receptacle Partition Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inner rings for turbomachines face challenges in maintaining stable centering and minimizing leakage of guide vanes, while also preventing deformation of partition walls, which limits the design and efficiency of turbomachines with a large number of pivotable guide vanes.

Innovation Solution

The design features a radially outer inner ring surface with receptacles separated by a partition and connected by an opening at their bottom surfaces, allowing for secure centering and reduced leakage, with a minimized risk of deformation by eliminating the need for a minimum partition wall thickness in the narrowest area, and maintaining structural integrity through a strong partition wall elsewhere.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of guide vanes is increased to achieve optimal operating conditions, then the aerodynamic performance is improved, but the partition walls between receptacles become thinner and may deform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic performanceVSAvoidpartition wall stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a circumferential opening at the bottom of receptacles, transitioning from a purely radial partition wall design to a three-dimensional configuration that relievers stress on partition walls while maintaining structural integrity. This dimensional change allows closer spacing of guide vanes without compromising partition wall stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If the partition wall thickness is reduced to accommodate more guide vanes, then the number of guide vanes increases, but the centering stability of guide vane plates deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of guide vanesVSAvoidcentering stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the partition wall structure by introducing circumferential openings at the bottom of receptacles. This segmentation reduces the continuous partition wall into controlled segments that maintain centering stability while allowing increased spacing flexibility for more guide vanes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If merging receptacles without partitions is used to increase guide vane plate mounting points, then the number of mounting points increases, but leakage between mounts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of mounting pointsVSAvoidleakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by selectively removing partition material only at the bottom circumferential region of receptacles while maintaining partition walls in the radial direction. This localized modification allows mounting point flexibility while preserving leakage prevention in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3176384B1Inner shroud, corresponding inner shroud sector, vane assembly and turbomachine
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
  • EP3176384B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3176384B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3176384B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

An inner ring 10 according to the invention for a guide vane assembly of a turbomachine has a radially outer inner ring surface 11 and a plurality of receptacles 12 for each guide vane plate 21a of a guide vane 20. The receptacles 12 each have an opening 13 in the outer inner ring surface 11 and a bottom surface 14 radially opposite the opening. At least two of the receptacles 12 are separated from each other by a partition 15 and connected to each other in a region of their bottom surface 14 by an opening 16. A guide vane assembly 100 according to the invention for a turbomachine has an inner ring 10 according to the invention and a plurality of guide vanes 20 inserted into the receptacles 12.