Turbomachine Stator Vane Cooling Circuit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling circuits in turbomachines face inefficiencies in heat exchange and increased head losses, particularly in stator vanes, which affect the cooling of hot fluids like oil used in turbomachines.
Innovation Solution
A turbomachine design featuring a stator vane sector with multiple branch circuits in parallel, where each circuit connects a hot fluid inlet to a corresponding outlet, allowing for efficient heat exchange between the hot fluid and cold air, minimizing head losses, and ensuring continued cooling even if one branch circuit fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling circuit with heat exchanger is used to cool oil in turbomachines, then the oil temperature can be controlled, but head losses in the oil circuit increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchange function with the stator vane structure itself. The stator vane serves dual purposes: aerodynamic function and heat exchange surface. The oil channels are integrated directly into the stator vane, eliminating the need for separate heat exchanger components and reducing overall circuit complexity and head losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator vane is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides aerodynamic guidance for the gas flow and serves as a heat exchange surface for cooling the oil. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall cooling circuit.
2Reliability
If multiple branch circuits in parallel are implemented in stator vanes, then cooling reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is divided into multiple independent branch circuits that are integrated into different stator vanes. Each branch circuit can operate independently, so if one fails, others continue to provide cooling. This segmentation improves reliability while the integration into existing stator vanes keeps the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates redundant branch circuits in advance to compensate for potential failures. By having multiple parallel pathways for oil flow, the system is pre-configured to maintain cooling functionality even if some channels become blocked or fail, providing a buffer against reliability issues.
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 design enhances the cooling efficiency of hot fluids by maximizing temperature differences and maintaining cooling performance while reducing mechanical stresses and head losses, ensuring reliable operation even with partial failures.
Implementation Method 1
the vane and the channel being adapted, while the turbomachine is in operation, to enable heat to be exchanged between a hot fluid passing through the channel and a stream of cold air passing through the stator vane sector
Data Source
AI summary
A turbomachine including at least one stator vane sector (10) and a fluid distribution circuit (22), the stator vane sector comprising at least one vane (12), a fluid inlet (25a), a fluid outlet (25b), and a channel (24a) providing fluid flow connection between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet while extending at least in part in the vane (12), the vane and the channel being adapted, to enable heat to be exchanged between a hot fluid passing through the channel and a stream of cold air passing through the vane sector, the fluid distribution circuit (22) presenting a feed pipe (22a) and a recovery pipe (22b), the fluid inlet (25a) being in fluid flow connection with a branch tapping (23a) of the feed pipe (22a) while the fluid outlet (25b) is in fluid flow connection with a branch tapping (23b) of the recovery pipe (22b).