Radial Exhaust Diffuser Asymmetric Support Poles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radial exhaust diffusers in gas turbine engines face pressure losses and frequent failures due to the use of poles and turning vanes, which are exacerbated in designs without turning vanes, leading to reduced aerodynamic performance and component lifetime.
Innovation Solution
The radial exhaust diffuser design features an inner barrel supported by a limited number of inclined support poles positioned only about the inner barrel's bottom half, which reduces flow blockages and mechanical stress by minimizing the number of poles and avoiding the six o'clock position, thereby enhancing both aerodynamic performance and structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If poles are used to support the inner barrel, then structural integrity is improved, but pressure losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes turning vanes from the design, extracting the component that was causing frequent failures and pressure losses. The inner barrel is supported by poles alone, eliminating the need for turning vanes that were attached to the poles, thereby reducing flow blockages and pressure losses while maintaining structural integrity through optimized pole positioning and inclination.
2Ease of operation
If turning vanes are used with poles, then flow transition is improved, but component failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the turning vanes from the system entirely. The flow transition is achieved through the inclined poles themselves and the diffuser geometry, eliminating the turning vanes that were subject to frequent failures in the field due to harsh operating conditions.
3Strength
If poles are positioned circumferentially about the hub, then structural support is improved, but flow blockages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning poles only about the inner barrel bottom half portion rather than circumferentially about the entire hub. This localized positioning provides structural support where needed (at the bottom where the inner barrel requires stabilization) while minimizing flow blockages in the upper flow regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by placing poles exclusively in the bottom half portion of the inner barrel, creating an asymmetric configuration that breaks the traditional circumferential symmetry. This asymmetric pole arrangement reduces flow blockages in the critical upper flow regions while maintaining necessary structural support at the bottom.
4Stability of the object's composition
If support poles are positioned at the six o'clock position, then structural stability is improved, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by distributing poles around the bottom half portion rather than concentrating them at the six o'clock position. This provides structural stability through distributed support while minimizing aerodynamic interference with the exhaust flow that would occur at the bottom dead center position.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present application provides a radial exhaust diffuser (100) for a gas turbine engine (10). The radial diffuser (100) may include an outer barrel (120), an inner barrel (110) positioned within the outer barrel (120), and a number of support poles (130) supporting the inner barrel (110) within the outer barrel (120). The support poles (130) are positioned only about an inner barrel bottom half portion (140).