Short Anti-Vortex Cascade for Gas Turbine Cavity Heat Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long anti-vortex tubes in gas turbine engines inhibit heat transfer by reducing swirl velocity and mass flow of conditioning air, leading to reduced convection heat exchange and increased pressure drop, which is detrimental to disc thermal management and performance.
Innovation Solution
A cascade of short anti-vortex members with a concave surface is mounted on an annular support within the cavity, capturing velocity head from swirled flow to promote air inflow and heat transfer while minimizing pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If long anti-vortex tubes are used to suppress vortexing and ensure radial inflow of conditioning air, then pressure drop across the cavity is reduced, but heat transfer from the discs is inhibited by suppressing natural swirl and reducing relative velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The single long anti-vortex tube is segmented into multiple shorter anti-vortex members arranged circumferentially. This segmentation allows the system to maintain anti-vortex functionality while reducing the length of individual members, thereby preserving heat transfer coefficients and relative velocity while controlling pressure drop through the distributed arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The anti-vortex members are positioned at specific circumferential locations rather than forming a continuous barrier. This local placement allows swirl to be generated and maintained in regions where heat transfer is critical, while still providing sufficient anti-vortex action to control pressure drop in the radial inflow path.
2Productivity
If long anti-vortex tubes extend full height of cavity to suppress vortexing, then radial inflow of conditioning air is improved, but mass flow of conditioning air through tubes is reduced, further decreasing heat transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The full-height continuous tube is divided into multiple shorter members spaced circumferentially. This segmentation allows conditioning air to flow through multiple separate passages rather than being constrained by a single long tube, maintaining higher mass flow rates while still providing sufficient anti-vortex action to ensure radial inflow.
3Productivity
If anti-vortex tubes are used to prevent vortices in cavity, then radial inflow is improved, but convection heat exchange of rotor discs is reduced by reducing swirl velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-vortex members are strategically positioned to control vortex formation in the radial inflow path while allowing swirl to develop in the cavity region where convection heat exchange occurs. This localized approach enables the system to maintain both radial inflow efficiency and convection heat transfer coefficients.
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 enhances heat transfer on discs, improves thermal response, and maintains efficient air flow, addressing the limitations of traditional anti-vortex tubes by allowing swirl and increasing mass flow without significant pressure drop.
Implementation Method 1
The concave surface faces opposite the rotational direction and serves as a scoop to capture velocity head from highly swirled flow minimizing pressure loss
Implementation Method 2
The swirl of air within the cavity increases convection heat exchange of the rotor discs
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.