Modular Casing Manifold for Gas Turbine Cooling Fluid Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cooling systems for gas turbine engines require multiple costly casing manifolds to support alternative cooling fluids, such as compressed and ambient air, which are difficult to assemble and disassemble efficiently, leading to increased manufacturing costs and service time.
Innovation Solution
A modular casing manifold with an annular shape and removable preswirler segments that can be easily attached and detached to accommodate different cooling fluids, allowing for efficient cooling of turbine blades by adjusting the swirl angle of the cooling fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple casing manifolds are manufactured to support alternative cooling fluids, then the gas turbine engine can accommodate different cooling fluids (compressed air and ambient air), but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The casing manifold is designed with a universal structure that can accommodate both compressed air and ambient air as cooling fluids through a single manifold body. The manifold includes a fluid receiving aperture and a fluid delivery aperture that can work with different cooling fluid sources, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated manifolds for different cooling fluid types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a removable preswirler assembly that can be dynamically configured or removed based on the desired cooling fluid type. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same casing manifold to adapt between different cooling modes (compressed air with preswirler vs. ambient air without preswirler) without requiring separate manifolds for each configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple casing manifolds are manufactured to support alternative cooling fluids, then the gas turbine engine can accommodate different cooling fluids, but the hardware cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The preswirler functionality is segmented into a separate removable assembly rather than being integrated permanently into the casing manifold. This segmentation allows the preswirler to be attached only when compressed air cooling is required, and removed or replaced when ambient air cooling is used, reducing the permanent hardware inventory needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The casing manifold is designed as a universal component that can serve both compressed air cooling and ambient air cooling applications. The manifold body, fluid receiving aperture, and fluid delivery aperture are configured to work with either cooling fluid type, reducing the need for multiple specialized manifolds and associated hardware.
3Reliability
If traditional casing manifolds are used, then cooling fluid can be supplied to turbine blades, but the assembly and disassembly process requires significant service time
Solution Approach 1:
The preswirler is designed as a separable assembly that can be independently attached to or removed from the casing manifold without requiring disassembly of the entire manifold structure. This segmentation enables rapid configuration changes by allowing technicians to simply attach or detach the preswirler component rather than performing extensive assembly or disassembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The preswirler assembly is pre-configured with attachment features (such as attachment apertures and fastening mechanisms) that enable quick connection to the casing manifold. This preliminary design of attachable interfaces reduces the time required for assembly and disassembly during maintenance or configuration changes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pipes are removed for using ambient air, then the cooling system can use ambient air to cool turbine blades, but the system requires modification
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between compressed air and ambient air modes through the removable preswirler assembly. When ambient air cooling is desired, the preswirler is simply removed rather than requiring permanent pipe modifications, allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions while maintaining the original piping infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The preswirler component, which is specific to compressed air cooling, is extracted as a separate removable assembly. This extraction allows the compressed air cooling functionality to be added or removed as needed without permanently modifying the basic casing manifold structure or piping system, enabling flexible adaptation between different cooling fluid sources.
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 modular design reduces manufacturing costs and service time by enabling easy assembly and disassembly, optimizing cooling fluid flow and improving the efficiency of the gas turbine engine by using either compressed or ambient air without the need for extensive hardware changes.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid guiding system, such as preswirlers, may be attached to the casing manifold for guiding the compressed air to a swirl angle for sufficiently cooling the last stage turbine blades
Implementation Method 2
The turbine blades are cooled using a coolant, such as a cooling fluid, through cooling passages in the turbine blades
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular casing manifold for cooling fluids of a gas turbine engine is presented. The modular casing manifold has an annular shape including an axial inner plate (211), an axial outer plate (212), a radial forward plate (210) and a radial aft plate (220). The forward plate is attached to the inner and outer plates at forward end. At least a portion of the aft plate is attachable to and removable from the inner and outer plates at aft end for enabling cooling fluid to cool turbine blades of the gas turbine engine. The modular casing manifold includes preswirler segments (260). At least a number of the preswirler segments are attachable to and removable from the forward plate for enabling cooling fluid to cool turbine blades of the gas turbine engine. The modular casing manifold enables alternative cooling fluids to cool turbine blades of the gas turbine engine with minimal cost and assembly flexibility.