Multi-piece Bore Basket Isolating Hot Air in Gas Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotor baskets in gas turbines, constructed as single metal cylinders, fail to effectively protect heat-sensitive rotor bores from hot air flows, leading to increased heat exposure and potential performance reduction.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece bore basket design comprising a radially outward first cylinder and a radially inward second cylinder with an axially aligned gap, which defines a fluid passageway to isolate hot air flows and direct cool air for cooling, using a retaining structure and snap fit features to maintain position and prevent backflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece metal cylinder bore basket is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it fails to effectively isolate hot air flows from rotor bores
Solution Approach 1:
The bore basket is divided into multiple cylindrical segments (first cylinder, second cylinder, third cylinder) arranged axially. These segments create internal passageways that allow cool air to flow through and isolate hot air from the rotor bores, effectively addressing the heat exposure problem while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular construction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a multi-piece bore basket with internal passageways is used, then hot air isolation and cooling efficiency are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-cylinder structure is nested concentrically with each cylinder positioned within the previous one, creating internal passageways without requiring complex external structures. This nesting approach achieves effective hot air isolation while minimizing the increase in device complexity through space-efficient design
3Reliability
If snap fit features are added to maintain basket position, then reliability of positioning is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The snap fit features are designed to automatically engage and lock the bore basket segments in their correct positions during assembly. This self-positioning mechanism ensures reliable positioning without requiring additional complex fastening systems or precise manual alignment, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving positioning reliability
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 multi-piece bore basket effectively isolates hot air from rotor bores, reduces heat exposure, and maintains efficient operation by directing cool air flows to cool the rotor bores while preventing backflow, thus enhancing the performance and longevity of gas turbine components.
Implementation Method 1
the air from the hot air flow is passed to a return opening in the shaft through the passageway defined between the basket and the shaft
Implementation Method 2
The basket operates as a heat shield and a flow guide, providing separation between the hot air flow and sensitive rotor bores and shielding the sensitive rotor bores from the heat
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-piece bore basket (130), such as could be used in a gas turbine engine, includes a radially outward first cylinder (132) having at least one radially aligned opening (136) on a first end (102) of said multi-piece bore basket (130) and a radially inward second cylinder (134) having a radially aligned opening (138) on a second end of the multi-piece bore basket (130) opposite the first end (102), and being disposed within said radially outward first cylinder (132). The cylinders (132,134) define an axially aligned gap (133).