Turbofan Engine Spiral Blade Segmentation for Maintainability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing zero hub tip ratio fan turbofan engines face challenges in maintainability and manufacturing costs due to the integrated structure of the first-stage moving blade and spinner, which requires replacement of the entire brisk structure in case of damage and involves high manufacturing costs for large-scale integral molding.
Innovation Solution
A turbofan engine design with a detachable spiral blade and rear moving blade, where the spiral blade is integrally mounted on a spinner and the rear moving blade is detachably mounted on a disk, allowing for modular replacement and reduced manufacturing complexity, along with features like engagement grooves and dovetail portions for easy attachment and detachment, and vibration interfering projections to manage blade vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the spiral blade and rear moving blade are integrated to form a zero hub tip ratio fan, then the suction flow rate increases without enlarging fan diameter, but the maintainability deteriorates because the entire brisk structure must be replaced when a blade is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The first-stage moving blade is divided into two separate components: the spiral blade portion integrally mounted on the spinner, and the rear moving blade portion detachably mounted on the disk. This segmentation allows the rear moving blade to be replaced independently without replacing the entire brisk structure, resolving the maintainability issue while preserving the zero hub tip ratio fan's high suction flow rate capability.
2Strength
If the spiral blade and rear moving blade are integrated, then the structural strength improves, but the manufacturing cost increases due to large-scale integral molding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated blade structure is segmented into two separately manufacturable components: the spiral blade and the rear moving blade. This allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard molding processes, avoiding the need for expensive large-scale integral molding while maintaining structural integrity through proper connection design.
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral blade and rear moving blade are connected through engagement grooves and protrusions to form a unified functional structure during operation. This merging approach preserves the structural strength benefits of an integrated design while achieving the manufacturing cost benefits of separate component production.
3Ease of repair
If the rear moving blade is detachably mounted on the disk, then the ease of repair improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional engagement structures
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable mounting system uses simple engagement grooves and protrusions to separate the rear moving blade from the disk assembly. This segmentation enables easy replacement of the rear moving blade while introducing minimal additional structural complexity, as the connection mechanism is straightforward and resembles standard mechanical fastening systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A turbofan engine has a fan on a front side thereof and a turbine driving the fan. The turbofan engine includes a disk rotationally driven by the turbine, a spinner detachably mounted at a front side of the disk, a spiral blade integrally mounted on a surface of the spinner, and a rear moving blade detachably mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the disk. The spiral blade and the rear moving blade form a first-stage moving blade of the fan.