Leaf Damper Structure for Gas Turbine Conduit Resonance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conduits extending through vanes in gas turbine engines are susceptible to natural vibration modes and resonance, leading to increased mechanical stresses and premature failure due to high velocity airflow and environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

An energy dissipating damper with a plurality of leaves fixed at one end and separable at the other, featuring a contact element made from abradable material, is coupled to the conduit and vane surfaces to inhibit resonant vibrations, comprising a c-shaped feature for secure mounting and vibration damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conduits are extended through structural vanes to protect from high velocity airflow, then protection from environmental conditions is improved, but susceptibility to natural vibration modes and resonance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from high velocity airflowVSAvoidresistance to vibration and resonance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the vane structure by introducing dampers with specific mass, stiffness, and damping characteristics. These dampers are designed with tuned natural frequencies to counteract the resonant frequencies of the conduit-vane system, thereby modifying the dynamic response parameters to reduce vibration amplification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The damper acts as an intermediary element between the conduit and the vane structure. It mediates the vibrational forces by absorbing and dissipating energy, preventing direct transmission of resonant vibrations from the conduit to the vane, thus protecting the conduit while maintaining the protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If dampers are added to reduce vibrations, then mechanical stresses are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduction of mechanical stressesVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damper is segmented into multiple leaves or plates that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the damper to dissipate vibrational energy through friction and hysteresis between the leaves while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be integrated into the vane without requiring complex mounting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damper utilizes thin, flexible leaf structures that can deform and flex in response to vibrational forces. These thin films are designed to bend and flex at controlled rates, providing damping through material hysteresis and friction while adding minimal structural complexity and mass to the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 energy dissipating damper effectively reduces mechanical stresses and extends the operational life of conduits and vanes by mitigating detrimental vibrational frequencies and resonance within the gas turbine engine.

Implementation Method 1

the plurality of leaves are in direct contact with each at the second end portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

energy dissipating damper... inhibit resonant vibrations... reduces mechanical stresses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

The contact element may comprise an abradable material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP3708783B1Energy dissipating damper
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 RTX CORP
  • EP3708783B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3708783B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3708783B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An energy dissipating damper (120) includes a first end portion (121) configured to be coupled to a first structure, a second end portion (122), opposite the first end portion (121), configured to contact a second structure, and a body portion (123) extending from the first end portion (121) to the second end portion (122). The body portion (123) includes a plurality of leaves (123a, 123b). The plurality of leaves (123a, 123b) may be fixed together at the first end portion (121) and may be separable from each other at the second end portion (122). In response to the energy dissipating damper (120) being in a loaded state, the plurality of leaves (123a, 123b) may be in direct contact with each at the second end portion (122). The energy dissipating damper (120) may further include a contact element (124) coupled to the second end portion (122), and the contact element (124) may comprise an abradable material.