Turbine Engine Hanger Cyclonic Debris Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face issues with debris accumulation in cooling components, which can lead to blockages and reduced cooling performance, especially in high-temperature environments where efficient cooling is crucial for maintaining engine efficiency and structural stability.
Innovation Solution
A shroud and hanger assembly with a cyclonic separator that includes a cyclone body with a conical and cylindrical portion, featuring a dirty air inlet and clean air outlet, and a cooling air circuit that extends through the cyclonic separator to separate debris from cooling airflow, ensuring clean air reaches cooled components and preventing blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is routed through turbine engine components in high-temperature environments, then cooling performance is improved, but debris accumulation in cooling passages causes blockages and reduces cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclonic separator is positioned upstream in the cooling air circuit to remove debris from the cooling air before it enters the cooling passages of turbine components. This preliminary separation action prevents debris accumulation and potential blockages in the cooling passages, ensuring reliable cooling performance throughout engine operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclonic separator acts as an intermediary device between the cooling air source and the cooling passages. It introduces a separation mechanism that removes harmful debris particles from the cooling air stream, allowing only clean air to proceed to the cooling passages, thus protecting the system from blockages while maintaining cooling effectiveness.
2Reliability
If additional debris removal components are added to the cooling system, then debris removal capability is improved, but device complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cyclonic separator is integrated into the existing cooling air circuit structure, combining the debris removal function with the cooling air delivery system. This merging approach eliminates the need for separate, standalone debris removal components while achieving effective particle separation, thus reducing overall device complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclonic separator performs multiple functions within a single component: it separates debris from cooling air, directs clean air to the cooling passages, and manages the removal of contaminated air. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall system design while maintaining reliable debris removal capability.
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 cyclonic separator effectively removes debris from cooling airflows, improving cooling performance and reducing the need for additional debris removal components, thereby enhancing engine efficiency and extending component lifetime in high-dust environments.
Implementation Method 1
a cyclonic separator including a cyclone body at least partially defined by the third surface and having a conical portion, a cylindrical portion, and a separator centerline extending through the conical portion and the cylindrical portion
Implementation Method 2
a cooling air circuit having a cooling air inlet on the first surface and a cooling air outlet on the second surface and extending through the cyclonic separator between the dirty air inlet and the clean air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A hanger for a turbine engine can include a first surface confronting a cooling airflow, a second surface facing a heated airflow, and a third surface radially outward of the first surface. The hanger can also include a cyclonic separator with a dirty air inlet and a clean air outlet, as well as a cooling air circuit extending through the cyclonic separator.