Gas Turbine Recuperator Plate Leading Edge Concavity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engine recuperators face challenges in achieving precise positioning of thin foil sheets, leading to wavy plates and reduced accuracy, which negatively affects overall performance due to the reliance on edge trimming during press forming.
Innovation Solution
The recuperator design incorporates a plurality of plates with leading edge concavities that extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, allowing for accurate positioning and improved structural stability, and a manufacturing method that forms recesses and corrugations on thermally conductive sheets to enhance alignment and heat exchange efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If thin foil sheets are used to create high performance recuperator plates, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving accurate positioning of the sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forming recesses and corrugations on the thin foil sheets before assembly. These pre-formed features serve as alignment guides that automatically position sheets accurately during stacking, eliminating the need for post-assembly trimming and ensuring precise positioning while maintaining the thin foil structure for efficient heat exchange
Solution Approach 2:
The recesses and corrugations act as intermediary alignment features between adjacent sheets. These intermediate structures facilitate accurate positioning by providing mechanical guidance during assembly, allowing thin foil sheets to be positioned with high precision without requiring complex positioning mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If edge trimming is used to position sheets accurately, then positioning precision is improved, but plate stability deteriorates causing waves during press forming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent forms alignment recesses and corrugations on the sheets before press forming and assembly. This preliminary structuring provides inherent positioning guidance that maintains plate stability during subsequent pressing operations, eliminating the need for edge trimming that would compromise structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugations and recesses introduce controlled curvature features on the sheet surfaces. These curved geometric features provide mechanical interlocking and alignment guidance during assembly, maintaining plate stability while enabling accurate positioning without requiring edge trimming
3Use of energy by moving object
If thin foil sheets are used for heat exchange, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but structural strength deteriorates under thermal and pressure loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates corrugations and recesses that introduce controlled curvature to the thin foil sheets. These curved geometric features significantly enhance structural strength and rigidity under thermal and pressure loads while preserving the thin foil configuration necessary for efficient heat transfer, as the curved structures resist deformation more effectively than flat sheets
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional press forming is used without alignment features, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to position sheets accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent forms alignment recesses and corrugations on sheets during the press forming process itself. This preliminary structuring integrates positioning features into the manufacturing process, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high positioning precision during subsequent assembly through the self-aligning nature of these pre-formed features
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
This design ensures high accuracy in sheet positioning, maintains plate geometry under thermal and pressure loads, and enhances heat transfer efficiency with reduced pressure loss and increased structural stability, thereby improving the overall performance of the gas turbine engine recuperator.
Implementation Method 1
each recuperator plate having formed at the leading plate edge thereof a first concavity extending along the leading edge in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plate, the first concavity extending transverse to a direction of the at least one first stream flowing over each said recuperator plate
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of interstices adapted to direct therethrough at least one first stream received at a leading plate edge of the recuperator plates and the plurality of fluid channels adapted to direct therethrough at least one second stream to effect heat exchange between the at least one first stream and the at least one second stream
Data Source
AI summary
A recuperator disposed in the exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of recuperator plates arranged in a spaced-apart relationship to define therebetween a plurality of interstices and fluid channels, the plurality of interstices adapted to direct therethrough at least one first stream received at a leading plate edge of the recuperator plates and the plurality of fluid channels adapted to direct therethrough at least one second stream to effect heat exchange between the at least one first stream and the at least one second stream. Each recuperator plate includes, formed at the leading plate edge thereof, a first concavity extending along the leading edge in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plate. The first concavity extends transversely to a direction of the at least one first stream flowing over each recuperator plate.