Turbine Stator Vane Cooling Inserts with Splitter Plate Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In aircraft engines, compressed air used for cooling components of the turbine section often flows in an undesired manner within stator vanes, leading to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A stator vane design featuring an insert with impingement cooling apertures and a splitter plate that directs cooling air through defined passages, preventing bypass and ensuring adequate airflow, while securing the splitter plate to the insert to minimize vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling air is channeled within cavities of stator vanes, then cooling function is provided, but air may flow in an undesired manner reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity is divided into multiple sections by splitter plates, with each section having dedicated cooling apertures. This segmentation ensures that cooling air flows through specific paths and prevents undesired bypass flow, thereby improving cooling efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the stator vane are provided with different numbers and arrangements of cooling apertures based on local thermal requirements. The splitter plates create zones with tailored cooling characteristics, optimizing cooling efficiency for each specific area of the vane
2Reliability
If splitter plate is added to direct cooling air, then airflow control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The splitter plates are positioned within the cavity of the stator vane, creating a nested structure where the splitter plates are contained within the larger vane assembly. This allows for modular manufacturing and assembly, improving airflow control without proportionally increasing overall manufacturing complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If tip of splitter plate is secured to insert, then vibrations are minimized, but manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tip of the splitter plate is secured to the insert, merging these two components into a more stable integrated structure. This reduces vibrations and improves stability while maintaining a relatively simple assembly process through direct attachment methods
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 design enhances cooling efficiency and maintains airflow integrity, reducing the risk of clogging and improving the stator's performance and lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the insert defining impingement cooling apertures in fluid communication with the cavity and facing an inner face of the vane
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A stator (30) of a turbine section (14), has: vanes (31) distributed around a central axis (A), a vane of the vanes (31) extending along a spanwise axis and defining an internal passage (31F); an insert (41) received within the internal passage (31F), the insert (41) defining a cavity for receiving cooling air and defining impingement cooling apertures (42) facing an inner face (31I) of the vane (31); a splitter plate (43) secured within the cavity and being transverse to the spanwise axis, the splitter plate (43) having a base (43A) secured to the insert (41) and a tip (43B) protruding from the base (43A); and a flow passage (44) defined between the tip (43B) and the insert (41), the flow passage (44) fluidly connecting a first section (41A) of the cavity to a second section (41B) of the cavity, the tip (43B) of the splitter plate (43) secured to the insert (41) at at least one location along a perimeter of the tip (43B).