Thermal Barrier Coating for Rotary Shaft Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotating machines experience non-uniform heating at interfacing surfaces between the rotary shaft and bearings, leading to synchronous instability and vibration, which reduces efficiency and can cause damage, and reducing rotational speed is not a viable option for maintaining production capacity.

Innovation Solution

A rotary shaft with a tubular body featuring a groove for a thermal barrier that absorbs and dissipates heat generated during rotation, reducing non-uniform heating by creating an annular gap with the bearing journal for relative rotation and heat absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rotational speed is reduced to minimize synchronous vibrations, then vibration and instability are reduced, but production capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotary shaft stabilityVSAvoidproduction capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful localized heat into a beneficial effect by using it to melt a sacrificial thermal barrier material in a groove, creating a self-healing mechanism that eliminates the root cause of vibration without reducing rotational speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the thermal barrier material from solid to liquid through controlled heating, allowing it to flow and fill irregularities in the groove, then solidifies upon cooling to create a smooth, uniform surface that eliminates vibration sources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If rotational speed is maintained for production capacity, then productivity is preserved, but non-uniform heating causes synchronous instability and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction capacityVSAvoidrotary shaft stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the heat generated during normal operation to automatically melt and redistribute the thermal barrier material, which then flows to fill irregularities and creates a self-correcting mechanism that maintains shaft stability without external intervention or speed reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 thermal barrier effectively reduces non-uniform heating and associated synchronous vibrations, enhancing the stability and efficiency of the rotating machine without compromising production capacity.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal barrier at least partially disposed in the groove and configured to absorb at least a portion of heat generated from rotation thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

absorb and dissipates heat generated during rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9303688B2Thermal barrier coating for bearing journal surfaces of rotary shafts

Publication Date: 2016.04.05 SIEMENS ENERGY INC

AI summary

A rotary shaft and method for reducing non-uniform heating thereof are provided. The rotary shaft may include a tubular body having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. An outer surface of the tubular body may define a groove at least partially extending radially inward from the outer radial surface toward the longitudinal axis of the tubular body to define a depth thereof. The rotary shaft may include a thermal barrier at least partially disposed in the groove and configured to absorb at least a portion of heat generated from rotation thereof.