Sliding VBV Door Assembly for Low-Loss Compressor Bleed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current variable bleed valve (VBV) assemblies in turbine engines suffer from aerodynamic performance losses and increased weight due to unnecessary components, which lead to compressor instabilities and inefficiencies, especially during low-speed operations.
Innovation Solution
A VBV assembly with a sliding door that remains flush with the casing in a closed position, utilizing a unison ring to actuate multiple doors concurrently, reducing the volume of the bleed cavity and minimizing aero-acoustic excitations, thereby improving aerodynamic efficiency and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple components are used in VBV assembly to actuate VBV doors, then the valve control function is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple VBV doors are actuated simultaneously by a single unison ring that moves in the circumferential direction, combining multiple valve control functions into one integrated mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate actuation systems for each door, reducing component count while maintaining reliable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The unison ring serves as a universal actuation mechanism that can control multiple VBV doors across different compressor stages. This multi-functional component replaces multiple specialized actuators, reducing overall device complexity while preserving full valve control capability.
2Reliability
If multiple components are used in VBV assembly, then the valve control function is improved, but the weight of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple actuation functions into a single unison ring mechanism, the total weight of the VBV assembly is reduced. The unified design eliminates redundant components and minimizes the overall mass while maintaining the ability to control multiple valves reliably.
3Ease of operation
If VBV door is not flush with casing, then ease of operation is improved, but aerodynamic performance losses occur due to bleed cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The VBV door is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to slide between open and closed positions while maintaining a flush relationship with the casing when closed. This dynamic design enables easy operation during actuation while preserving aerodynamic performance during the closed state by eliminating the bleed cavity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a variable bleed valve assembly. An example variable bleed valve assembly a variable bleed valve (VBV) door corresponding to a bleed port and a first unison ring, the VBV door coupled to the first unison ring, the first unison ring to move in a circumferential direction between a first position and a second position causing the VBV door to move between the first position and the second position.