Turbine Vane Ring Segment With Damping Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stator ring designs in gas turbine assemblies face issues with vibration and thermal expansion, leading to coupling instability between turbine vanes and ring segments, which results in wear and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A ring segment device with a circumferential bar distributing the pushing force of damping pins along the bar, combined with a spring mechanism and safety lock, to improve coupling stability and reduce localized wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure bolts are used to counteract vane vibrations and thermal expansions, then coupling stability is improved, but localized wear at the contact points increases
Solution Approach 1:
A distributed bar structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the damping pins and the vane platform. The bar spans across multiple contact points and distributes the pushing force from the damping pins along its length, preventing concentrated wear at single locations while maintaining coupling stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from point-contact force application (damping pins contacting vane at discrete points) to line-contact force distribution (bar distributing force along the vane platform). This dimensional change from 0D point contact to 1D line contact spreads the mechanical stress and wear across a larger area.
2Device complexity
If damping pins are housed directly in ring segments to damp vibrations, then device complexity is reduced, but force distribution becomes uneven causing localized wear
Solution Approach 1:
The bar serves as a mediating structure that receives forces from multiple damping pins housed in ring segments and redistributes these forces evenly along the vane platform. This intermediary element decouples the simple housing structure from the force distribution function, allowing both simplicity and even force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The bar merges multiple force application points into a single continuous force distribution element. By combining the functions of multiple discrete contact points into one distributed bar structure, the system achieves even force distribution while maintaining the simplicity of individual damping pin housings.
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 solution effectively dampens axial vibrations and thermal deformations, enhancing the stability and longevity of the coupling between turbine vanes and ring segments, thereby improving the overall performance and efficiency of the gas turbine assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a spring mechanism and safety lock, to improve coupling stability and reduce localized wear
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2~3
Figure 5~7
AI summary
A ring segment device (41) for turbine vanes of a power plant turbine assembly having an axis, preferably a gas turbine assembly; the ring segment device comprising: a ring segment (46) having an first face (44) configured for being coupled to the free end (45) of one turbine vane (42) or at least two adjacent turbine vanes; at least a damping pin device (52) housed in a corresponding hole (55) obtained in the ring segment; the damping pin device being configured for coupling the ring segment to the corresponding turbine vane/s in a sprung manner; the ring segment device moreover comprising: a bar (50) arranged between the damping pin device and the turbine vane/s so that the force generated by the damping pin device against the turbine vane/s is not locally concentrated but distributed along the bar.