Turbine Wheel Blade Thickness Profile for Vortex Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine wheels face challenges in suppressing vortex generation on the negative pressure surface while maintaining the rigidity of the inflow-side edge of the turbine blades.
Innovation Solution
The turbine wheel design includes an inlet region with a constant or gradually increasing thickness from the inflow-side edge to the outflow-side edge, and a thickness decreasing portion with a dimensionless length ratio of not more than 0.3 in the meridional plane, along with specific curved surfaces to enhance rigidity and suppress vortex formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the thickness of the turbine blade is reduced to suppress vortex generation on the negative pressure surface, then vortex generation is suppressed, but the rigidity of the inflow-side edge deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine blade is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution: the inlet portion maintains constant or increasing thickness to ensure rigidity at the inflow-side edge, while the thickness decreasing portion reduces thickness gradually toward the outflow-side edge to suppress vortex generation. This local differentiation of thickness properties resolves the contradiction between vortex suppression and rigidity maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine blade thickness profile is segmented into distinct regions: an inlet portion with constant or increasing thickness for structural integrity, and a thickness decreasing portion with gradually reducing thickness for vortex suppression. This segmentation allows each region to optimize its function independently, addressing both contradictory requirements.
2Strength
If the thickness of the turbine blade is increased to ensure rigidity of the inflow-side edge, then rigidity is ensured, but vortex generation on the negative pressure surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine blade employs localized thickness variation: the inlet portion maintains sufficient thickness for rigidity, while the thickness decreasing portion reduces thickness in the region where vortex generation occurs. This localized differentiation allows the blade to maintain rigidity where needed while suppressing vortices where thickness reduction is beneficial.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade structure is divided into functional segments: a thick inlet portion for structural support and a thinner thickness decreasing portion for flow control. This segmentation enables the blade to simultaneously achieve rigidity in the inflow region and vortex suppression in the outflow region.
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine wheel includes a hub and a plurality of turbine blades. Each turbine blade includes a hub-side edge, a shroud-side edge, an inflow-side edge, and an outflow-side edge. An inlet region of each turbine blade includes an inlet portion, and a thickness decreasing portion having a thickness that gradually decreases toward the outflow-side edge. The inlet portion has a constant thickness toward the outflow-side edge, or has a thickness that gradually increases toward the outflow-side edge. The thickness decreasing portion is formed in a range where a ratio of a length from the inflow-side edge to a length between the inflow-side edge and the outflow-side edge is not more than 0.3.