Spinner Inlet Frame Layout for Gas Turbine Inlet Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inlet losses in gas turbine engines due to the large size of the spinner reduce ram inlet recovery, increasing fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rotating inlet frame with fan-shaped struts and a spinner inlet to direct air into the engine inlet, along with an additional booster to increase airflow into the core duct, and rearranging components like the fan pitch actuation system to maintain airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a large spinner is used in the gas turbine engine, then the structural integrity and rotational stability are improved, but inlet losses increase and ram inlet recovery deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet frame is divided into multiple struts (at least three struts) that are radially spaced apart, with each strut having a leading edge and trailing edge. This segmentation allows the inlet frame to capture and redirect airflow more effectively around the spinner, reducing inlet losses while maintaining the large spinner configuration for rotational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet frame acts as an intermediary component between the incoming airflow and the spinner. The struts of the inlet frame intercept airflow that would otherwise be lost and redirect it through the spinner inlet, serving as a mediator that connects the external airflow to the internal core duct while minimizing energy losses.
2Quantity of substance
If the spinner size is increased, then the engine can handle higher airflow volumes, but ram inlet recovery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet frame struts are configured with specific geometric dimensions and orientations. The struts extend in the radial direction with defined leading and trailing edges, creating a three-dimensional flow management structure that captures airflow from multiple directions and redirects it efficiently through the spinner inlet, enabling higher airflow volumes with reduced losses.
3Productivity
If additional components like inlet frame and booster are added to increase airflow, then airflow into core duct is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet frame struts serve multiple functions: they structure the incoming airflow, redirect it through the spinner inlet, and work in conjunction with the booster to maximize airflow into the core duct. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving improved productivity.
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
Reduces or eliminates inlet losses, enhancing airflow into the core duct and improving engine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a rotating inlet frame with fan-shaped struts can direct air flowing across the spinner into an engine inlet, increasing flow into the core duct
Implementation Method 2
An additional booster can further increase air flow into the core duct
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine defining an axial direction and a radial direction includes a spinner defining a spinner duct and a spinner inlet to the spinner duct, a turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order, the turbomachine defining a fan duct, a fan duct inlet to the fan duct, a core duct, and a core inlet to the core duct, and a primary fan driven by the turbomachine, wherein the spinner inlet is upstream of the primary fan.