Pedestal Array Structural Members for Turbine Heat Exchangers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compact heat exchanger pedestals in turbine engine components are prone to fracture and panel bulging due to temperature and pressure loads, leading to potential high cycle fatigue from vibrational natural frequencies coinciding with engine forcing functions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating structural members within the pedestal arrays to prevent modal crossing and connect the flow path wall to outer diameter support structures, thereby enhancing the robustness and preventing panel bulging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If substantial distances are created between inlets and exits and between side walls of the pedestal array to make efficient use of compact heat exchanger pedestal arrays, then the heat exchanger efficiency is improved, but the pedestals become susceptible to fracture and panel bulging under temperature and pressure loads

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchanger efficiencyVSAvoidpedestal structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pedestal array is divided into multiple segments by inserting additional pedestals at strategic locations. These intermediate pedestals act as support structures that break up large unsupported panels into smaller sections, preventing bulging and fracture while maintaining the efficient spacing between inlets and exits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pedestals with composite construction or material properties that combine structural strength with thermal efficiency. The pedestals are designed to withstand temperature and pressure loads while maintaining the necessary spacing for heat exchanger performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If large cavities are created in the pedestal array to improve heat exchanger efficiency, then the heat transfer performance is enhanced, but the unsupported panels are prone to vibrational resonance and high cycle fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer performanceVSAvoidpanel fatigue resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the large cavities into smaller sections with additional pedestals, the natural frequencies of the panel sections are increased, moving them away from engine forcing functions and preventing resonant vibrations that would lead to fatigue failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Intermediate pedestals act as mediators that provide structural support to large panels, reducing their span and preventing vibrational resonance. These intermediaries allow the maintenance of large cavity sizes for heat transfer efficiency while preventing fatigue failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If pedestals are spaced far apart to optimize heat exchanger configuration, then the design flexibility is improved, but the risk of modal crossing and premature cyclic failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat exchanger design flexibilityVSAvoidresistance to modal crossing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of pedestal arrays with strategically placed intermediate pedestals allows designers to maintain flexible configurations while preventing modal crossing by ensuring that panel natural frequencies do not coincide with engine forcing functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9133715B2Structural members in a pedestal array

Publication Date: 2015.09.15 RTX CORP

AI summary

A turbine engine component has a flow path wall and a support wall. The turbine engine component has at least one cooling compact heat exchanger. Each cooling compact heat exchanger has a pedestal array and at least one structural member within the pedestal array for preventing modal crossing in operation range, for preventing panel bulging, and/or for connecting the flow path wall to at least one outer diameter support structure.