Rotor Assembly Orientation for Bow-Shaped Mass Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotor balancing methods for gas turbine engines fail to effectively align the centers of mass of individual rotor components with the virtual rotation axis, leading to significant vibration issues due to amplified offsets from manufacturing tolerances and wedge angles, which can cause engines to fail vibration acceptance tests.
Innovation Solution
A method and computer program product that determine a combination of relative circumferential positions of rotor components to form a 'bow shape' configuration of centers of mass, using geometrical reference values to optimize assembly, and a computer simulation to select the optimal orientation for each component, minimizing overall runout and improving dynamic response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional rotor balancing methods are used to align centers of mass, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but vibration levels increase due to amplified offsets from manufacturing tolerances and wedge angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the optimal circumferential positions of rotor components before assembly using computer simulation. The system calculates the bow shape configuration that minimizes vibration, then assembles components in this predetermined optimal arrangement, preventing vibration issues rather than correcting them after assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of rotor component assembly by varying the circumferential positions of individual components to create a specific bow shape configuration. This parameter optimization transforms the assembly from a conventional aligned state to an optimized bowed state that reduces vibration while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If rotor components are assembled in conventional positions, then assembly simplicity is maintained, but dynamic response deteriorates due to amplified runout
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary computer simulation to determine the optimal assembly configuration before physical assembly occurs. This preliminary computational action identifies the bow shape configuration that optimizes dynamic response, guiding the subsequent assembly process to achieve reliable performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses computer simulation to create a virtual model of the rotor assembly, copying the physical components into a digital environment where optimal configurations can be calculated and tested virtually before implementing the optimized assembly in the physical world.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If centers of mass are aligned conventionally, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but vibration acceptance test compliance fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spatial parameters of center of mass positions by arranging them in a bow shape configuration rather than conventional alignment. This parameter transformation creates a controlled eccentricity pattern that reduces vibration and ensures compliance with acceptance tests while maintaining straightforward measurement procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer program product contains computer-readable instructions, which, when operated on by a computer, performs the following method. A combination is determined of relative circumferential positions of the individual rotor components associated to a bow shape configuration of the centers of mass along the axially-extending sequence based on geometrical reference values concerning individual rotor components each having a center of mass and configured to be assembled to one another in an axial sequence to form a rotor assembly, the geometrical reference values being stored in a computer readable memory accessible to the computer.