Powder-Filled Rotor Vane Damper for Turbine Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration dampers for turbomachine rotors face challenges in achieving optimal mass and flexibility, particularly in slow turbines, leading to inefficient vibration damping due to the incompatibility between mass requirements and flexibility, especially in reduced spaces between platforms.

Innovation Solution

A vibration damper comprising a boxed structural portion and a separate mass portion in the form of powder, allowing for adjustable mass without affecting stiffness, manufactured by additive selective melting, which can be sealed to prevent powder escape and optimized for specific resonance damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If thicker sheets are used to achieve higher optimal mass for slow turbines, then vibration damping effectiveness is improved, but flexibility and friction quality of the vibration damper are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass of vibration damperVSAvoidflexibility of vibration damper

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration damper is segmented into two distinct portions: a structural portion that provides flexibility and contact adaptation, and a separate mass portion (powder) that provides the required mass for damping. This segmentation allows each portion to independently fulfill its function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the mass portion from solid sheet to powder, allowing the mass to be adjusted by varying the amount of powder while the structural portion maintains its flexibility. This parameter change enables independent optimization of mass and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If thicker sheets are used to increase mass, then optimal damping for slow turbines is achieved, but the reduced interplatform space leads to poor contact distribution and localized wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass of vibration damperVSAvoidcontact distribution quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the mass function from the structural function, the invention allows the structural portion to maintain thin dimensions that fit within reduced interplatform spaces, while the mass portion is contained within the structural portion. This prevents localized wear by ensuring good contact distribution across the platform surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mass portion (powder) is nested within the structural portion (box), allowing the mass to be contained within a compact volume that does not increase the external dimensions of the vibration damper. This nesting enables optimal mass to be achieved without compromising contact distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Quantity of substance

If the mass of the vibration damper is increased to damp resonance in slow turbines, then vibration control effectiveness is improved, but the flexibility and adaptation to bearing surfaces are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass of vibration damperVSAvoidadaptation to bearing surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration damper is divided into a structural portion that adapts to bearing surfaces through flexibility, and a separate mass portion that provides damping effectiveness. The structural portion can deform to conform to the bearing surfaces while the mass portion remains contained, ensuring both adaptation and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the mass portion to powder and containing it within the structural portion, the invention decouples the mass parameter from the flexibility parameter. This allows the structural portion to maintain its adaptation capability while the mass is independently optimized for resonance damping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables effective vibration damping by adjusting the powder mass within the box to achieve optimal resonance damping while maintaining flexibility, improving contact adaptation and reducing wear points, thus enhancing the overall damping performance.

Implementation Method 1

the sheets are pressed against the platforms by the centrifugal forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the energy generated by the movement of the blades and the vibrating platforms is dissipated by the friction of these sheets against the platforms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11333027B2Vibration damper for a turbomachine rotor vane

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES

AI summary

A turbomachine rotor has a disk carrying vanes, each vane having a blade linked by a platform to a root. For at least one vane, a recess is defined between the platform and the disk, and a vibration damper is mounted in the recess. The vibration damper includes a first structural portion configured to contact the platform of which the vibrations are to be dampened, and a second mass portion configured to dampen these vibrations. The second mass portion is a powder and the first structural portion is a box containing the powder.