Gas Turbine Manifold Clevis Mounting for Cooling Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional manifold mounting arrangements in gas turbine engines result in uneven cooling due to large tolerances and weight, leading to inefficient engine operation, as they are complex, heavy, and obstruct impingement cooling areas.
Innovation Solution
A discrete manifold module with a clevis arrangement and locking bar system that securely attaches to the turbine casing with minimal clearances, ensuring consistent spacing and allowing for more accurate impingement cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional W-shaped bracket mounting arrangement is used, then the manifold can be attached to the turbine casing, but the large clearances and tolerances result in uneven spacing between the manifold and casing, leading to non-uniform cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is divided into multiple discrete modules, each with its own simplified mounting arrangement. This segmentation allows each module to be precisely positioned and spaced uniformly from the casing, eliminating the tolerance accumulation problems of conventional single-piece manifolds with complex W-shaped brackets.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex W-shaped bracket intermediary is eliminated entirely. The mounting arrangement is reduced to essential components (clevis and pin) that directly attach the manifold module to the casing flange, removing the source of large clearances and tolerance buildup.
2Reliability
If a conventional W-shaped bracket mounting arrangement is used, then the manifold can be secured to the casing, but the arrangement is heavy and has multiple failure modes
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy W-shaped bracket is completely removed from the mounting arrangement. Only the essential clevis and pin components remain, dramatically reducing weight while eliminating multiple potential failure points associated with the complex bracket structure, anti-fret liners, and multiple fasteners.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified mounting arrangement with fewer parts reduces the number of potential failure modes. The design inherently provides sufficient support and positioning without requiring additional protective elements like anti-fret liners.
3Temperature
If a W-shaped bracket is used at the mounting position, then the manifold can be attached, but the bracket obstructs the impingement cooling of the casing at that position
Solution Approach 1:
The extensive W-shaped bracket that blocked cooling airflow is removed. The replacement clevis-mounted manifold module positions the impingement holes closer to the casing and eliminates the bracket obstruction, allowing cooling air to directly impinge on the casing surface at the mounting position.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement is designed to preserve pneumatic flow paths for cooling air. By eliminating the bulky W-shaped bracket, the design ensures unobstructed airflow to the casing for effective impingement cooling at all circumferential positions.
4Temperature
If the manifold sits on mounting arrangements at the top and hangs from mounting arrangements at the bottom, then gravity is accommodated, but the distance to the casing becomes greater at the bottom, resulting in uneven cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The complex sitting/hanging mounting mechanism is eliminated. The clevis and pin arrangement provides a simple, rigid connection that maintains consistent spacing between the manifold module and casing regardless of gravitational effects, ensuring uniform cooling across all positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement is designed to maintain consistent geometric relationships under various operational conditions including gravity and thermal expansion. The clevis-pin connection provides the necessary flexibility while preserving spacing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold mounting arrangement comprising: a discrete manifold module; a clevis arrangement having a clevis straddling a flange and pivotally secured to the flange by a clevis pin; and a locking bar configured to be coupled to the clevis and to constrain the manifold module relative to the clevis arrangement in the locality of the locking bar. The invention finds utility for mounting case cooling manifolds to turbine casing for a gas turbine engine.