Turbine Cooling Air Chamber Uniform Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior turbine engine cooling systems experience non-uniform cooling air flow distribution due to the circumferential arrangement of conduits, leading to temperature variations, potential component damage, and reduced engine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a turbine engine design with a cooling air chamber and multiple conduits, where flow restrictors or varying conduit sizes and shapes ensure uniform static pressure and mass flow rates by impeding flow based on proximity to inlets, maintaining consistent cooling across the turbine chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is supplied to circumferentially arranged conduits from inlet tubes, then the turbine chamber is cooled, but non-uniform mass flow distribution occurs causing temperature variations and potential component damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the conduit characteristics (cross-sectional area, length, or flow restrictors) based on their circumferential position relative to the inlet tubes. Conduits closer to inlet tubes receive more flow and are designed with greater flow resistance, while distant conduits have smaller resistance, creating locally adapted flow paths that achieve uniform distribution across all conduits and prevent hot spots that could damage components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the conduits (cross-sectional area, length, flow restrictor settings) to compensate for their different distances from the inlet tubes. By adjusting these parameters, the system transforms the inherently non-uniform flow distribution into a uniform one, ensuring consistent cooling and preventing temperature-related component damage
2Ease of manufacture
If identical conduits are used for all cooling air paths, then manufacturing is simplified, but non-uniform flow distribution occurs due to different distances from inlets
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using identical conduits throughout, the patent implements local quality by making conduit characteristics position-dependent. Conduits are customized based on their location in the cooling air chamber, with those farther from inlets having different dimensions or flow restrictions compared to those nearer to inlets, achieving uniform flow distribution while accepting increased manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cooling system into zones based on distance from inlet tubes, with each zone having conduits optimized for its specific flow conditions. This segmentation allows the system to address the non-uniform flow problem by treating different spatial regions differently, improving flow distribution uniformity at the cost of manufacturing simplicity
3Temperature
If flow restrictors are added to achieve uniform distribution, then temperature uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flow restrictors as a means of implementing local quality, placing them selectively in conduits based on their position relative to inlet tubes. This localized approach achieves uniform cooling distribution while minimizing overall system complexity by only modifying specific conduits that need flow restriction rather than redesigning the entire system
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 achieves uniform cooling air distribution, preventing overheating, reducing the risk of component damage, and enhancing engine efficiency by maintaining consistent temperature and flow rates throughout the turbine section.
Implementation Method 1
the static pressure within the cooling air chamber is substantially uniform and such that the mass flow rates of cooling air through the conduits and into the turbine chamber are substantially uniform
Implementation Method 2
flow restrictors or varying conduit sizes and shapes ensure uniform static pressure and mass flow rates by impeding flow based on proximity to inlets
Implementation Method 3
maintaining consistent cooling across the turbine chamber
Implementation Method 4
cooling air flow distribution... maintaining consistent temperature and flow rates throughout the turbine section
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure address problems associated with non-uniform flow of cooling air by providing a turbine engine including a cooling air chamber in fluid communication with a cooling air source, a turbine chamber, and multiple conduits fluidly connecting the cooling air chamber and the turbine chamber. The system is configured such that, when cooling air is flowing from a cooling air source the static pressure within the cooling fluid chamber is substantially uniform and such that the mass flow rates of cooling air through the conduits and into the turbine chamber are substantially uniform.