Modular Gas Turbine Assembly System with Movable Guide Carriages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine assembly systems are inflexible and complex, restricting accessibility for assembly, disassembly, and maintenance, and pose a risk of damage during transport due to the need for a stationary rail system and additional transport devices.
Innovation Solution
A modular assembly system comprising guide carriages with engine mounts for rotational and translational movement, a connection module for detachable coupling, and adjustable holding devices, allowing for flexible handling and alignment of gas turbine components without a complex rail system, enabling stress-free transport and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a stationary rail system with support frame is used for handling gas turbine, then the gas turbine can be transported and assembled, but accessibility for assembly, disassembly and maintenance work is severely restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the gas turbine into separable modules (compressor module, turbine module, fan module) that can be independently handled by separate guide carriages. This segmentation eliminates the need for a complex stationary rail system while improving accessibility, as each module can be positioned and manipulated independently by workers around the assembly area.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide carriages are designed to be movable on the floor rather than fixed to a stationary rail system. The dynamic positioning capability allows workers to access the gas turbine from all sides during assembly and maintenance, eliminating the accessibility restrictions imposed by fixed rail structures while maintaining transport functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a heavy support frame with rail system is used for gas turbine assembly, then the gas turbine can be mounted and transported, but the support frame severely restricts accessibility for maintenance and repair work
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the gas turbine modules from the constraints of a heavy stationary support frame and enables them to be handled independently on movable guide carriages. This removal from the rigid frame structure completely eliminates accessibility restrictions, allowing maintenance workers to approach and service the turbine from any direction without navigating around a massive fixed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide carriages serve multiple functions: they can transport individual modules during assembly, position modules for maintenance work, and be moved out of the way to provide unobstructed access to the gas turbine. This multi-functionality replaces the单一 transport function of the support frame while dramatically improving accessibility.
3Productivity
If the gas turbine is mounted from the support frame onto another transport device for transport, then the gas turbine can be transported, but this entails increased work amount and risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide carriages are designed to be coupled together to form a unified transport platform that can move the complete gas turbine assembly in one operation. This merging of transport capabilities eliminates the need for multiple mounting and unmounting operations between different devices, reducing both the work amount and the risk of damage during transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide carriages are positioned and configured in advance to receive and transport the gas turbine modules directly to their final assembly positions. This preliminary positioning eliminates intermediate transfer steps, allowing modules to be moved directly from storage or preparation areas to the assembly location, thereby reducing handling operations and associated damage risks.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a complex and inflexible rail system is used for handling gas turbine, then the gas turbine can be transported and assembled, but the system lacks flexibility for different engine components and gas turbine types
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the handling function into independent guide carriages, each capable of being configured for specific module types (compressor, turbine, fan). This segmentation provides flexibility to adapt to different engine components and gas turbine configurations without requiring a completely different rail system, as individual carriages can be selected and combined based on the specific assembly needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable guide carriages can be dynamically repositioned and reconfigured for different assembly tasks and engine types. Unlike a fixed rail system, the dynamic nature of the carriages allows quick adaptation to different component sizes, weights, and assembly requirements, providing versatility without the complexity of a reconfigurable stationary rail infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly system (12) for assembling, disassembling and/or maintaining a gas turbine (10). The assembly system (12) comprises a first guide carriage (14a) for holding a first engine component (16a), in particular a turbine module of the gas turbine (10), a second guide carriage (14b) for holding a second engine component (16b), in particular a compressor module of the gas turbine (10), and a connection module (18) which can be detachably connected to the first and second guide carriages (14a, 14b) via corresponding coupling means (24). The invention also relates to a method for at least partially assembling a gas turbine (10).