Gas Turbine Seal Flow-Through Tube Airflow Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in effectively conditioning airflow to ensure reliable performance and durability of rotor assemblies, particularly in maintaining optimal temperatures across various sections.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly with a flow-through tube that communicates conditioning airflow through an annular body, featuring an upstream orifice, a downstream orifice, and a tube body with a gradually increasing cross-sectional area, allowing for efficient conditioning of rotor assemblies by directing airflow in an upstream direction opposite to the primary gas path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional seal assembly is used without a flow-through tube, then the structure is simpler, but the conditioning airflow cannot be effectively communicated to the rotor assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-through tube is nested within the seal assembly, with the tube extending through the annular body of the seal. This allows the conditioning airflow path to be integrated within the existing seal structure without requiring a completely separate system, thereby improving reliability while limiting the increase in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow-through tube acts as an intermediary component that bridges the gap between the conditioning airflow source and the rotor assembly. It provides a dedicated pathway for conditioned air to reach the rotor, solving the airflow communication problem while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If the tube body has a constant cross-sectional area, then the manufacturing is easier, but the airflow distribution to the rotor assembly is less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tube body features a gradually increasing cross-sectional area from the downstream orifice to the upstream orifice, creating different flow characteristics at different locations. This local variation in geometry optimizes airflow distribution to the rotor assembly by providing appropriate flow rates at different positions, while the gradual change maintains manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional area parameter of the tube body is varied gradually along its length, transitioning from a smaller area near the downstream orifice to a larger area near the upstream orifice. This parameter change enhances airflow distribution efficiency by matching the flow requirements at different positions, while the gradual transition avoids manufacturing difficulties associated with abrupt changes.
3Reliability
If the flow-through tube is added to the seal assembly, then the conditioning airflow communication is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow-through tube is merged with the seal assembly structure, where the tube extends through the annular body of the seal. This integration combines the sealing function and the conditioning airflow communication function into a single unified component system, improving rotor assembly conditioning while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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 solution enables efficient conditioning of rotor assemblies, enhancing the reliability and durability of gas turbine engines by ensuring consistent airflow distribution and temperature management across critical components.
Implementation Method 1
The tube body establishes a gradually increasing cross-sectional area between the downstream orifice and the upstream orifice
Data Source
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AI summary
A seal assembly (54) for a gas turbine engine includes an annular body (56) and a flow-through tube (58) that extends through the annular body (56). The flow-through tube (58) includes an upstream orifice (86), a downstream orifice (88) and a tube body (84) that extends between the upstream orifice (86) and the downstream orifice (88). The tube body (84) establishes a gradually increasing cross-sectional area between the downstream orifice (88) and the upstream orifice (86).