Articulatable Ducting With Spherical Joints for Gas Turbine Flap Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face a challenge in effectively cooling exhaust flaps without significantly reducing thrust output due to the need for substantial airflow for film cooling, which is derived from the engine and affects performance.
Innovation Solution
An articulatable ducting system with spherical joints and conduits that allow for translational and rotational movement, enabling efficient transfer of coolant fluid to exhaust flaps, reducing the need for high airflow and minimizing thrust output reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If film cooling is used to cool exhaust flaps, then the temperature of exhaust flap material is reduced, but thrust output is substantially reduced due to significant airflow requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The ducting system incorporates spherical joints that enable dynamic movement and articulation of the ducting components. This allows the cooling air passage to maintain proper alignment and connection between moving exhaust flap components while delivering cooling air, ensuring continuous effective cooling without requiring excessive airflow that would reduce thrust
Solution Approach 2:
The ducting system uses flexible articulation through spherical joints rather than rigid connections. This flexible design allows the ducting to adapt to the movement of exhaust flaps while maintaining sealed connections for cooling air delivery, enabling effective cooling with optimized airflow quantities that minimize thrust penalty
2Device complexity
If rigid ducting is used to convey cooling air, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate movable exhaust flap components
Solution Approach 1:
The ducting system replaces rigid connections with dynamic spherical joints that permit articulation and movement. This allows the ducting to accommodate the movable nature of exhaust flap components while maintaining structural integrity and sealed connections for cooling air delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The ducting system is divided into multiple articulated segments connected by spherical joints. This segmentation allows each section to move independently while maintaining connection, enabling the ducting to adapt to exhaust flap movement without requiring a completely complex flexible hose design
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
The system provides effective cooling of exhaust flaps with reduced airflow requirements, maintaining engine thrust and enhancing durability through efficient fluid transfer and compact design, while allowing for a wide range of flap movements.
Implementation Method 1
a conduit extending between the first and second spherical joints and thereby fluidically connecting the first internal volume to the second internal volume
Implementation Method 2
The system is configured to convey a fluid from the first internal volume to the second internal volume via the conduit for cooling the second structure
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described an articulatable ducting system 700 for a gas turbine engine. The system comprises a first structure 710, a second structure 720, a first spherical joint 740, a second spherical joint 750 and a conduit 730. The first structure 710 defines a first internal volume 711. The second structure 720 defines a second internal volume 721, with the second structure 720 being movable with respect to the first structure 710. The first spherical joint 740 is associated with the first structure 710 and the second spherical joint 750 is associated with the second structure 720. The conduit 730 extends between the first and second spherical joints 740, 750 and thereby fluidically connects the first internal volume 711 to the second internal volume 721.