Gas Turbine Pre-Diffuser Ring-Strut Design for Thermal Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pre-diffusers in gas turbine engines experience reduced operational life due to local discontinuities that create stress risers and thermal gradients, necessitating improved structural features for anti-rotation, axial retention, and centrality.
Innovation Solution
A pre-diffuser design featuring a ring-strut-ring structure with hollow struts and diffusion passages, aligned with exit guide vanes, and a static structure that experiences lower temperatures, along with anti-rotation interfaces and uniform radial interfaces to minimize thermal stress and weight, enhancing structural integrity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If features for anti-rotation, axial retention, and centrality are added to the pre-diffuser, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases and stress risers are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple structural features (anti-rotation, axial retention, and centrality features) into a single integrated pre-diffuser component. This merging approach reduces the number of separate parts and interfaces, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining all necessary functional features for reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-diffuser structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides anti-rotation capability, axial retention, and centrality maintenance all within a single unified structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If features for anti-rotation, axial retention, and centrality are added to the pre-diffuser, then reliability is improved, but stress risers are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the distribution and geometry of structural features within the pre-diffuser. By carefully designing the location, shape, and size of anti-rotation, axial retention, and centrality features, the patent minimizes stress concentration at critical locations while maintaining the necessary functional constraints. This localized optimization reduces stress risers and improves overall structural strength.
3Reliability
If the pre-diffuser is exposed to large thermal gradients, then functional performance is maintained, but operational life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses thermal gradient effects by modifying material parameters and structural geometry to accommodate temperature variations. The design incorporates thermal expansion considerations and material selection that maintains structural integrity under large thermal gradients, thereby improving operational life while maintaining functional performance in high-temperature environments.
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 design increases service life and engine efficiency by reducing thermal stress and weight, while maintaining alignment and thermal control, thus improving the pre-diffuser's operational performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pre-diffuser converts a portion of dynamic pressure to static pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A hot fairing structure (102) for a pre-diffuser (100) includes a ring-strut-ring structure (118) that comprises a multiple of hollow struts (200) and a multiple of inlets to a respective diffusion passage (120), one of the multiple of inlets formed between each one of the multiple of hollow struts (200) located between two diffusion passages (120).