Gas Turbine Panel Fire Seal Enclosing Close-out Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gas turbine engine components lack effective fire containment and thermal protection, particularly in the engine compartment, as existing fire seals and thermal blankets do not adequately enclose the close-out volumes, exposing panels to fire and heat.
Innovation Solution
A fire sealing system comprising a thermal blanket with a close-out and seal landing, a seal retainer mounted along the seal landing, and a fire seal securely retained within the retainer, where at least one of the retainer or the fire seal includes an extension and blanket engaging portion to enclose the close-out volume, providing enhanced fire and thermal protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fire seals and thermal blankets are used without enclosing the close-out volume, then the structure is simpler and requires fewer components, but fire containment and thermal protection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The extension portion integrates the fire seal and seal retainer into a single unified component, merging multiple functions (sealing, retaining, and volume enclosure) into one element. This reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining effective fire containment through the enclosed close-out volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion extends from the seal retainer into the close-out volume space, adding a dimensional element that encloses the volume. This transforms a two-dimensional seal into a three-dimensional enclosure, preventing fire and heat exposure to the panel while managing thermal protection.
2Reliability
If the close-out volume is enclosed with extension and blanket engaging portions, then thermal protection is improved and peeling risk is reduced, but the number of components and structural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blanket engaging portion is integrated into the extension portion of the fire seal assembly, combining the functions of volume enclosure and thermal blanket retention in a single component. This reduces the number of separate parts while ensuring the thermal blanket remains securely attached and provides effective thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The extension portion acts as an intermediary element between the seal retainer and the thermal blanket, providing both structural support for volume enclosure and engagement features for blanket retention. This intermediary structure ensures thermal protection while maintaining system integration.
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 system effectively encloses the close-out volume, preventing fire and heat exposure to the panel, reducing the risk of thermal blanket peeling and minimizing the number of components required for fire and thermal protection, thus enhancing the overall fire containment and thermal management in gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal blanket mounted on the panel
Implementation Method 2
the fire seals resist the flames and the environment of the fire, and will contain the fire by not allowing the flames to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and fire sealing systems for a panel of a gas turbine engine are provided. The fire sealing systems include a thermal blanket mounted on the panel, the thermal blanket having a close-out and defining a seal landing at a periphery edge of the panel, a seal retainer mounted to the panel along the seal landing, and a fire seal securely retained within the seal retainer, wherein at least one of the seal retainer or the fire seal comprises an extension portion and a blanket engaging portion such that a close-out volume formed between the thermal blanket and the fire seal above the close-out of the thermal blanket is enclosed.