Turbine Stator Assembly Using Angular Distribution Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blade tip clearance tuning units in high-pressure turbines fail to achieve uniform temperature distribution around the turbine casing, leading to thermal distortion that affects efficiency and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
An angular distribution pattern is defined for assembling sectored elements of the stator to prevent inter-sector zones from being in radial alignment, ensuring uniform temperature distribution and repetitive thermal distortion, which is easier to control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is injected onto the turbine casing to reduce blade tip clearance, then the clearance is reduced and turbine efficiency is improved, but thermal distortion of the casing occurs that is non-uniform and detrimental to turbine performance
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine casing is divided into multiple sectors, each equipped with independent air injection ducts. This segmentation allows localized thermal control of different casing portions, enabling uniform temperature distribution around the entire circumference while preventing concentrated thermal distortion in any single region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sectors of the casing receive tailored air injection based on their specific thermal requirements. The air flow distribution is optimized locally for each sector, creating non-uniform local cooling patterns that collectively produce uniform overall thermal distortion control across the entire casing.
2Ease of manufacture
If sectored elements are assembled without a specific angular distribution pattern, then assembly is simpler, but thermal distortion becomes non-uniform and harmful to turbine efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are intentionally positioned at asymmetric angular locations that are deliberately offset from radial alignment with the duct inter-sector zones. This asymmetric arrangement prevents concentration of thermal effects at any single radial location, distributing thermal distortion uniformly around the casing circumference.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular positions of spacers and ducts are pre-calculated and pre-configured during the design and assembly phase to achieve the desired uniform thermal distortion pattern. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when air injection occurs, the thermal effects are automatically distributed uniformly without requiring active control adjustments during operation.
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 method results in reduced and repetitive thermal distortion, enhancing the control and efficiency of the high-pressure turbine by maintaining uniform temperature distribution and minimizing casing distortion.
Implementation Method 1
Air is injected onto the casing, thereby causing the turbine stator to expand or contract thermally, which varies its diameter.
Implementation Method 2
The temperature of the casing being distributed in a uniform manner over the predetermined angular sector, the resultant thermal distortion is thus also uniform.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assembling sectored elements of an annular stator of a high-pressure turbine of a turbomachine about a longitudinal axis of said turbine, in which method an angular distribution pattern is defined for distributing elements of the stator over a predetermined angular sector, said pattern being defined so as to prevent inter-sector zones of stator elements being in radial alignment, said zones being defined between two adjacent sectors of the same stator element, and so as to repeat said distribution pattern around the entire circumference of the stator.