Turbomachine Stator Blade Platform Abradable Track

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing turbomachine designs with external annular shells and abradable material tracks are complex and heavy due to internal ribs, which complicate the formation of the abradable material track and increase axial bulk and weight.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using the platforms of stator blades to form a continuous annular edge inside the external annular shell, allowing the abradable material to be deposited directly, eliminating the need for internal ribs and enabling the use of composite materials like carbon or glass fiber, with the abradable material injected with finite dimensions to simplify manufacturing and reduce shell length.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If internal ribs are used to form the abradable material track boundary, then the track can be contained and positioned, but the device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack containmentVSAvoidshell structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the internal rib structure from the shell, transferring the track boundary definition function to the stator blade platforms instead. This removes the complex internal rib while maintaining track containment through the blade platform arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The stator blade platforms serve multiple functions: they support the stator blades structurally and simultaneously define the downstream boundary of the abradable material track. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate rib structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If internal ribs are used to form the abradable material track boundary, then the track can be contained, but the axial bulk and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack containmentVSAvoidturbomachine element

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The internal rib structure is extracted and removed entirely from the design. The track containment function is transferred to the stator blade platforms, which eliminates the additional weight that would be required for internal ribs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the shell thickness is varied to accommodate internal ribs, then the abradable material track can be positioned, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrack positioningVSAvoidshell fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of varying shell thickness locally to accommodate ribs, the invention uses uniform shell thickness and creates the track boundary through the stator blade platform arrangement. This localizes the complexity to the blade assembly rather than the shell fabrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If the rib structure is eliminated, then the shell can be made with constant thickness using composite materials, but the abradable material track boundary must be defined differently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshell fabricationVSAvoidboundary definition

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stator blade platforms are designed to serve dual purposes: supporting the stator blades and defining the downstream boundary of the abradable material track. This eliminates the need for separate boundary-defining structures and enables constant thickness shell fabrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the axial bulk and weight of the turbomachine element, allows for the use of lighter composite materials, and enhances vibrational damping by eliminating the rib and using silicone-based abradable materials.

Implementation Method 1

the abradable material is injected with finite dimensions. This type of injection is known per se and makes it possible to avoid any subsequent machining

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 2

the material can be in contact with the boundaries of the platforms of the stator blades. There is no need to provide play between the track of abradable material and the platforms. On the contrary, the vibrations can be downed by the silicone.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibrational damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8192150B2Method of manufacturing a turbomachine element and device obtained in this way

Publication Date: 2012.06.05 TECHSPACE AERO

AI summary

Use of the stator blade platforms for the deposition of a track of adjacent abradable material inside an external turbomachine shell is disclosed. The stator blades are attached to the shell so as to define an annular edge that is substantially continuous and the abradable material is deposited using this edge to delimit a boundary of the track of abradable material.