Turbine Center Frame Variable Cross-Section Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine center frames in gas turbine engines face challenges in reducing turbulence and improving airflow efficiency between high and low pressure turbines, leading to poor performance due to unsteady, three-dimensional turbulent airflow, which existing frames often exacerbate with insufficient acceleration.
Innovation Solution
A turbine center frame design with radially spaced inner and outer walls, featuring circumferentially-spaced airfoils and varying cross-sectional areas along the flow path to slow and accelerate airflow, reducing turbulence and improving efficiency by managing airflow velocity through specific cross-sectional areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the turbine center frame uses a conventional design with uniform cross-sectional area, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the airflow turbulence increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine center frame employs variable cross-sectional area along the axial direction, transitioning from a uniform structure to a dynamic geometry that adapts to airflow requirements. The cross-sectional area varies according to a specific distribution pattern, creating optimal flow conditions at different axial positions while maintaining improved airflow efficiency and reduced turbulence.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of cross-sectional area along the axial direction of the turbine center frame. By varying this parameter according to a specific distribution, the frame optimizes airflow characteristics without requiring complex additional components, thus improving productivity while controlling device complexity.
2Speed
If the turbine center frame accelerates airflow excessively, then the airflow velocity increases, but the frictional drag losses increase and overall efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable cross-sectional area distribution along the axial direction enables controlled acceleration of airflow. By optimizing the area gradient, the frame achieves necessary velocity increase while minimizing excessive acceleration that would lead to high frictional drag losses and energy dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic geometry of the turbine center frame creates optimal flow conditions at different axial positions, accelerating airflow where needed while maintaining conditions that reduce frictional drag, thereby balancing speed improvement with energy loss minimization.
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 design effectively reduces turbulence and enhances airflow smoothing, maintaining engine performance without excessive acceleration, thereby minimizing frictional drag losses and improving overall engine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
slowing the airflow to a second velocity, less than the first velocity, by flowing the airflow through a second cross-sectional area of the turbine center frame greater than the first cross-sectional area
Implementation Method 2
speeding up the airflow to a third velocity, greater than the second velocity, by flowing the airflow through a third cross-sectional area of the turbine center frame
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure generally relate to a turbine center frame for a turbine engine through which a flow path extends. The turbine center frame can include an inner wall radially spaced from an outer wall, with the inner and outer walls extending between an inlet and an outlet, and with the outlet downstream of the inlet with respect to the flow path. A set of circumferentially-spaced airfoils can extend between the inner wall and the outer wall.