Integral Swirler Metering Feature for Gas Turbine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swirler tubes in gas turbine engines face issues with incorrect installation of separate metering features, leading to undesirable vibrations and impractical manufacturing of metering features to a desirable geometry, which affects the efficient supply of cooling air.
Innovation Solution
An integral metering feature is incorporated into the swirler tube, eliminating the need for separate components, allowing for a thicker design that can be manufactured to a desired geometry, such as a chamfer or convex fillet, to smoothly meter the flow rate of cooling air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate metering feature is used, then the swirler tube can be assembled with modular components, but incorrect installation occurs leading to undesirable vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The metering feature is integrated directly into the swirler tube as an integral component, eliminating the separate metering feature and its associated installation risks. The swirler tube now includes the metering feature as part of its structure, ensuring correct positioning and eliminating vibration issues caused by incorrect assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If a separate metering feature is used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the metering feature cannot be manufactured to a desirable geometry
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the metering feature into the swirler tube, the design allows for precise geometric features such as chamfers and convex fillets to be manufactured as part of the swirler tube itself. This integration enables better control over the metering feature geometry while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If a thicker metering feature is designed, then flow metering precision is improved, but separate components increase assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The thicker metering feature with precise geometry is incorporated directly into the swirler tube structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. This integration maintains the benefits of precise flow metering while reducing assembly complexity by removing the separate metering feature component.
Data Source
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AI summary
A swirler is provided comprising a flange (314; 414) defining a first surface, a tube (312; 412A; 412B) extending away from the first surface, a flow surface defined by a flange inner surface and a tube inner surface, the flange inner surface having an inlet diameter (DINLET), and a metering feature (310; 510A; 510B) disposed on the flow surface, wherein the metering feature (310; 510A; 510B) is integral to the tube (312; 412A; 412B), the metering feature (310; 510A; 510B) have a metering feature diameter (d) that is less than the inlet diameter (DINLET).