Segmented Heated Inlet Guide Vane for Uniform De-Icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inlet guide vanes in turbofan gas turbine engines suffer from ineffective ice accumulation prevention due to heated air losing heat along the length of the vane, leading to reduced de-icing capability at the farthest end.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inlet guide vane with an elongated inlet cavity and an elongated outlet cavity separated by an inner wall with impingement holes for heated air distribution and bleed holes for air exit, ensuring uniform heated air distribution along the leading edge, preventing ice accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heated air is supplied at one end of the vane through a single cavity, then the de-icing capability at the inlet end is improved, but the heated air loses substantial heat by the time it reaches the outlet end, reducing de-icing effectiveness at the farthest end
Solution Approach 1:
The single cavity is segmented into multiple cavities (first cavity, second cavity, third cavity) arranged along the leading edge of the vane. Each cavity receives heated air through separate heated air passages, creating multiple heated air outlets that distribute thermal energy uniformly across the entire leading edge surface, preventing heat loss along the flow path
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the leading edge are provided with dedicated heated air outlets positioned at specific locations. The first heated air outlet is positioned at a first location, the second heated air outlet at a second location, and the third heated air outlet at a third location along the leading edge. This ensures that each local section receives sufficient heated air directly, maintaining uniform de-icing capability across the entire vane surface
2Area of stationary object
If heated air travels through a long cavity along the leading edge, then the entire leading edge can be reached, but the heated air becomes less effective at de-icing as it travels through the cavity due to continuous heat transfer to the vane
Solution Approach 1:
The long continuous cavity is divided into multiple separate cavities (first, second, third cavities) with distinct heated air passages feeding each. This segmentation allows each cavity to be supplied with fresh heated air at high temperature, preventing the progressive cooling that occurs in a single long cavity while still covering the entire leading edge area
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple heated air passages act as intermediaries, each delivering heated air directly to its corresponding cavity and outlet location. This intermediary delivery system ensures that heated air reaches each section of the leading edge with sufficient temperature, rather than traveling through a long continuous path where heat is continuously lost
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 configuration ensures uniform de-icing capability along the entire length of the inlet guide vane by maintaining heated air temperature and energy across the leading edge, preventing ice accumulation and enhancing engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
the heated air is cooled as heat is transferred from the heated air to the leading edge of the vane
Data Source
AI summary
A heated inlet guide vane is disclosed. The disclosed guide vane may include a body having an inlet cavity disposed alongside of an outlet cavity wherein the outlet cavity is disposed alongside the leading edge of the vane. The inlet cavity is in communication with a source of heated air. The inlet cavity is in communication with the outlet cavity by way of a plurality of impingement holes spaced along the inner wall disposed between the two cavities. Bleed holes are spaced along the length of the outlet cavity. Fresh, heated air enters the outlet cavity along the entire length of the outlet cavity and quickly exits the outlet cavity with minimal cooling so that a uniform d-icing capability is provided along the entire leading edge of the inlet guide vane.