Stator Vane Outer Platform Cooling for Thermal Distortion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cooling systems for turbine engines face challenges in efficiently distributing cooling air to reduce thermal distortions and leakage gaps in the outer platform of stator vanes, leading to potential performance issues.
Innovation Solution
An air delivery system with multiple manifolds and conduits is integrated within the cooling cavity of the turbine engine, directing cooling air through strategically positioned outlets to evenly distribute air and regulate temperature differentials across the outer platform of the stator vanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is directed against the backside of the case, then thermal distortions in the outer platform are reduced, but leakage gaps may still form between the outer platform and adjacent seals
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling air delivery system is segmented into multiple manifolds (first manifold, second manifold, third manifold) with multiple outlets each, arranged at different radial positions. This segmentation allows cooling air to be distributed to multiple locations simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive cooling of the outer platform and reducing both thermal distortions and leakage gaps more effectively than a single air delivery point
Solution Approach 2:
Different manifolds are positioned at different radial distances from the axis (first manifold has smaller inner radius, second manifold has larger inner radius, third manifold has largest inner radius). This creates local quality variations in cooling air distribution, with each manifold targeting specific regions of the outer platform, ensuring that both the backside of the case and the outer platform surface receive adequate cooling to prevent thermal distortions and leakage
2Device complexity
If a single air delivery point is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling air distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air delivery system is divided into three manifolds with multiple outlets each, arranged in different radial arrays. This segmentation enables uniform cooling air distribution across the entire outer platform surface, ensuring consistent temperature distribution and preventing thermal distortions while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling air delivery system transitions from a single-point delivery to a multi-dimensional distribution network with manifolds positioned at different radial distances and multiple outlets arranged in arrays. This dimensional expansion ensures comprehensive and uniform cooling air distribution across the outer platform, achieving precise temperature control
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 effectively reduces thermal distortions and minimizes leakage gaps, enhancing the structural integrity and performance of the turbine engine by maintaining consistent cooling across the vane structure.
Implementation Method 1
The air delivery device is configured to direct cooling air into the cavity along the outer platform
Implementation Method 2
regulate temperature differentials across the outer platform of the stator vanes
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly for a turbine engine includes a vane structure, a wall and an air delivery device. The vane structure includes an inner platform, an outer platform and a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially about an axis. The inner platform extends circumferentially about the axis and forms an inner peripheral boundary of a flowpath through the vane structure. The outer platform extends circumferentially about the axis and forms an outer peripheral boundary of the flowpath through the vane structure. The vanes extend across the flowpath from the inner platform to the outer platform. The wall extends circumferentially about the axis. The wall is radially outboard of the vane structure with a cavity formed by and radially between the outer platform and the wall. The air delivery device is disposed within the cavity. The air delivery device is configured to direct cooling air into the cavity along the outer platform.