Axial Turbomachine Rotor Drum with Peripheral Retention Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axial turbomachine compressor drums face issues with material weight, cost, reduced rigidity due to discontinuities, and complex machining of fixing surfaces, particularly with annular cells that increase deformations and complicate machining.
Innovation Solution
The drum design eliminates annular discs, features retention surfaces forming angles between 30° and 60° with the axis, with annular ribs and abradable material layers for reduced material usage and simplified machining, and includes notches and O-ring seals for improved stability and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If annular cells are used to fix rotor blades, then blade fixation is achieved, but material weight increases and drum rigidity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the annular cells from the drum structure, retaining only the essential fixation function through retention surfaces on the drum periphery. This removal of unnecessary material directly reduces drum weight while maintaining blade fixation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing fixation structure throughout the entire drum wall, the invention applies fixation surfaces only at the specific locations where blades need to be retained. This localized approach minimizes material usage while ensuring adequate fixation where needed.
2Reliability
If annular cells are used to fix rotor blades, then blade fixation is achieved, but drum rigidity decreases due to material discontinuity
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the annular cells that created discontinuities in the drum wall, the invention restores the continuity of the drum structure. The retention surfaces are integrated into the drum periphery without creating through-wall discontinuities, thereby maintaining drum rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the fixation function directly into the drum wall structure through retention surfaces, eliminating the need for separate annular cell structures. This integration maintains the structural continuity of the drum while providing adequate blade retention.
3Reliability
If annular cells with fixing surfaces are used, then blade retention is achieved, but machining complexity increases due to difficult access
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fixation surfaces from the interior of annular cells and places them on the accessible periphery of the drum. This external placement of retention surfaces allows for straightforward machining operations without the need to access difficult-to-reach interior surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing fixation surfaces inside closed annular cells (internal configuration), the invention inverts the approach by providing retention surfaces on the external periphery of the drum (external configuration). This inversion makes the surfaces easily accessible for machining and inspection.
4Strength
If traditional drum designs are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but material usage and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the excessive material in the form of annular cells from the drum structure, retaining only the minimum necessary material for structural integrity and blade fixation. This material reduction directly lowers both weight and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the drum by transitioning from a thick-walled design with annular cells to a thin-walled design with integrated retention surfaces. This parameter change optimizes the material usage while maintaining adequate structural strength.
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 simplifies machining, reduces material weight, enhances rigidity, and improves blade fixation stability without increasing material usage, leading to a more durable and efficient turbomachine compressor drum.
Implementation Method 1
said ribs being configured to cooperate by abrasion with annular layers of abradable material
Implementation Method 2
an annular groove open radially outwards configured to receive a preferentially O-ring seal intended to be pressed against the platforms of the blades under the effect of centrifugal force during rotation of the drum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The drum has a wall (30) rotated about a rotation axis (14) of a rotor, where the wall forms an annular body (36). A row of rotor blades (24) comprises two annular retaining surfaces (38, 42) that are arranged on an outer surface of the wall. The retaining surfaces are diverged from one another to form a profile, where the profile is radially outwards from the outer surface of the wall. The wall is extended in a straight line along the two retaining surfaces between upstream and downstream ribs (32).