Turbine Blade Compression Rod for Creep Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine blade airfoils in gas turbines are prone to creep and material relaxation due to thermo-mechanical loading, particularly in composite materials that are not air-cooled and experience high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A turbine blade assembly with a compression rod extending radially within the bucket, anchored at opposing ends of the airfoil to apply a compressive force, reducing the likelihood of creep and material relaxation by counteracting thermal and mechanical stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If turbine blade airfoils are made from composite materials to reduce weight and improve performance, then weight and efficiency are improved, but the airfoils become more susceptible to creep and material relaxation under high temperature and thermal-mechanical loading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies a preliminary compressive force to the airfoil using a compression rod assembly before the airfoil is subjected to operational thermal-mechanical loading. This pre-compression counteracts the tensile stresses that would otherwise induce creep and material relaxation, effectively preventing the harmful effects before they can occur during turbine operation.
2Device complexity
If the airfoil is designed to withstand high temperatures without cooling, then structural simplicity is improved, but creep and material relaxation occur more rapidly under sustained thermal loading
Solution Approach 1:
The compression rod assembly applies a preliminary compressive force to counteract thermal expansion and reduce tensile stresses in the airfoil under high temperature conditions. This pre-compression mitigates creep and material relaxation without requiring complex active cooling systems, maintaining structural simplicity while improving reliability.
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 compressive force effectively suppresses creep and material relaxation, enhancing the durability and performance of turbine blade airfoils under high temperature and operational stress conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the compression rod is configured to provide a compressive force to the airfoil
Implementation Method 2
the hot gases of combustion flowing from the combustors are directed over and around the airfoil... the components undergo a range of thermo-mechanical loading conditions
Data Source
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AI summary
A turbine blade assembly (100) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine blade assembly (100) may generally include a turbine blade (102) having a root portion (104) and an airfoil (106). The airfoil (106) may extend radially from the root portion (104) to an airfoil tip (114). Additionally, the turbine blade assembly (100) may include a composite rod (122) extending within the turbine blade (102). The composite rod (122) may include a first end (130) coupled to the airfoil at the airfoil (106) tip and a second end (132) coupled to the root portion (104). Moreover, the coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite rod (122) may be designed to be less than or equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the airfoil (106).