Piezoelectric Vibration Dampening for Gas Turbine Compressor Cases
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines experience harmonic vibrations due to blade movement, leading to engine wear and reduced lifespan, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A vibration-dampening system utilizing piezoelectric elements coupled to the compressor case, where one piezoelectric element generates an electric signal in response to vibrations, and a circuit changes the signal phase to energize a second piezoelectric element, causing it to move in a destructive pattern relative to the vibration frequency, thereby dampening compressor case vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vibration dampening methods are used in gas turbine engines, then some vibration reduction may be achieved, but the engine components still experience significant harmonic vibrations leading to wear and reduced lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful vibrational energy into useful electrical energy through piezoelectric elements. The piezoelectric elements are coupled to the compressor case and generate electrical signals in response to vibrations, which are then used to drive actuators that produce counter-vibrations, effectively converting the harmful vibration into a beneficial control signal for active dampening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where piezoelectric elements sense vibrations on the compressor case, convert them to electrical signals, which are processed by a controller to generate corrective signals that drive piezoelectric actuators to produce counter-vibrations, continuously adjusting to reduce vibration levels.
Solution Approach 3:
The patent uses mechanical vibration principles by employing piezoelectric actuators to generate counter-vibrations at the same frequency as the harmful vibrations but with opposite phase, creating destructive interference that reduces the overall vibration amplitude of the compressor case.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If piezoelectric elements are coupled to the compressor case for vibration dampening, then vibration reduction is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensing and actuation functions into a single integrated system using piezoelectric elements. The same type of piezoelectric material is used both for sensing vibrations (generating electrical signals) and for actuation (converting electrical signals to mechanical counter-vibrations), reducing system complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The piezoelectric elements serve multiple functions: they act as both sensors (piezoelectric effect for generating electrical signals from mechanical vibration) and actuators (reverse piezoelectric effect for converting electrical signals to mechanical vibration), providing multi-functionality that reduces the need for separate sensing and actuation systems.
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
Effectively reduces engine vibrations, extending the lifespan of gas turbine engines by converting vibrational energy into heat or mechanical energy, thereby minimizing wear and improving operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
The first piezoelectric element is configured to generate an electric signal in response to being energized by the vibration of the compressor case
Implementation Method 2
the circuit is configured to transmit the electric signal to the second piezoelectric element to energize the second piezoelectric element to cause the vibration of the compressor case to be dampened
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A gas turbine engine assembly includes a static component and a rotatable component configured to rotate about a central axis of the gas turbine engine assembly relative to the static component. The gas turbine engine assembly further includes a vibration-dampening system configured to dampen vibration of the gas turbine engine assembly.