Mid-Turbine Frame Spoke Cooling for Temperature Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine engines, maintaining uniform temperature across structural spokes in mid-turbine frame modules is challenging due to differential thermal growth, which can lead to bearing misalignment, and existing cooling methods often create local cold spots or require multiple cooling pipes, increasing weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A cooling arrangement that uses tubular spokes with internal and annular coolant flow passages to recirculate coolant, ensuring temperature uniformity across all spokes, including those with and without service lines, by directing coolant radially inward and outward through main and reverse flow passages, and utilizing flow calibration holes to maintain consistent temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple separate cooling pipes are used to cool each spoke, then temperature uniformity can be achieved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the same tubular spoke structure to serve both as a structural load-bearing component and as a coolant flow passage. The hollow tubular spokes provide cooling functionality without requiring separate cooling pipes, thereby maintaining temperature uniformity while reducing device complexity and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the structural spoke and cooling pipe functions into a single integrated component. The hollow tubular structure of the spokes combines mechanical support with fluid flow capability, eliminating the need for separate cooling piping systems and reducing overall system complexity.
2Temperature
If cooling passages are added to spokes without service lines, then temperature uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes all tubular spokes, regardless of whether they contain service lines, into multi-functional components that provide both structural support and cooling. Spokes without service lines incorporate internal cooling passages that mimic the cooling architecture of spokes with service lines, ensuring uniform temperature distribution without adding complex external piping.
3Temperature
If coolant flow rate is increased to prevent thermal growth differences, then temperature uniformity improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing tailored cooling solutions to different spokes based on their specific needs. Flow calibration holes are strategically positioned and sized to deliver appropriate coolant flow rates to individual spokes or regions, ensuring temperature uniformity without requiring excessive overall coolant flow and associated energy consumption.
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
This solution ensures uniform temperature distribution across all structural spokes, preventing bearing misalignment while reducing the number of cooling pipes and weight, and allowing for a more compact engine design by integrating service lines and spokes within the same hollow strut.
Implementation Method 1
directing a coolant flow radially inwardly through a main flow passage defined axially through the structural spokes, and redirecting at least a portion of the coolant flow received from the main flow passage radially outwardly into a reverse flow passage extending axially through each of the structural spokes
Implementation Method 2
maintaining uniform temperature distribution across all structural spokes, preventing bearing misalignment
Data Source
AI summary
A mid-turbine frame module comprises an outer structural ring, an inner structural ring and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart spokes structurally interconnecting the inner structural ring to the outer structural ring. At least one of the tubular spokes accommodates a service line. The remaining spokes with no service line have an internal architecture which mimics an air cooling scheme of the at least one spoke housing a service line in order to provide temperature uniformity across all spokes.