Gas Turbine Module Pre-Assembly Bolting and Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in gas turbine engines is to pre-assemble a high-pressure turbine module that is perfectly balanced and lightweight, without the need for specific assembly flanges, to simplify assembly and reduce weight while maintaining assembly security.
Innovation Solution
The turbine module is pre-assembled by bolting a disk-shaped component to a fastening flange secured to the turbine disk, allowing direct mounting of the compressor module, with bolts distributed over the circumference and crimped nuts for secure attachment, and incorporating an upstream balancing device for balance adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If specific assembly flanges are used to connect the turbine module to the compressor, then assembly security and structural strength are improved, but the overall weight of the module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the dedicated assembly flange from the turbine module design. Instead, the component disc serves as the mounting surface for the compressor, extracting the unnecessary flange structure while maintaining the essential connection function through direct bolting to the component disc.
Solution Approach 2:
The component disc is given multiple functions: it serves as both the turbine component support and the assembly interface for the compressor. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate assembly flange, reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity for torque transmission.
2Weight of moving object
If the turbine module is pre-assembled with the compressor directly mounted on the turbine disk, then weight is reduced and assembly is simplified, but the difficulty of achieving perfect balance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The component disc is pre-assembled to the turbine disk with bolts and nuts before final module assembly. This preliminary action allows balancing weights to be installed on the component disc while it is accessible, enabling perfect balance to be achieved before the module is permanently assembled to the compressor.
3Productivity
If the module architecture is divided into separate compressor and turbine modules, then assembly and disassembly times are reduced and modularity is improved, but the complexity of ensuring proper alignment and connection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The component disc serves as both a functional turbine component support and a universal mounting interface for the compressor. This multi-functionality simplifies the connection between modules by providing a ready-made, standardized interface that reduces alignment complexity while maintaining modularity benefits.
Data Source
Figure 1~7
Figure 2~6
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a turbine module for a gas turbine engine comprising at least one turbine disc (3) and a disc-shaped component (5) mounted on the turbine disc upstream with respect to the gas flow, said module comprising a means for assembly to the compressor of said engine, characterized in that the component (5) is adapted to be assembled to the turbine disc (3), before assembly of the module to the compressor, by bolting to a fixing flange (31) integral with the turbine disc (3).