Turbomachine Core Coupling Struts for Clearance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines, such as turbofan engines, experience reduced efficiency due to clearance between components caused by bending, which is not effectively addressed by existing coupling methods that either fail to support rotating elements or lead to undesirable proximity of airfoils to the housing.
Innovation Solution
A coupling assembly comprising a duct and vertically extending coupling struts that couple the engine core to the duct, inhibiting vertical movement and maintaining the engine core's straightness, thereby reducing clearance between airfoils and the housing and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spacing is increased between airfoils and housing to accommodate bending, then reliability is improved, but efficiency deteriorates due to air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling strut assembly incorporates dynamic elements including bearings that allow rotational movement and flexible connections that accommodate bending forces. The strut can dynamically adjust its configuration to maintain optimal clearance while absorbing mechanical stresses from aircraft maneuvers, thus preserving both reliability and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the clearance parameter dynamically through the coupling mechanism. The adjustable coupling allows the clearance between airfoils and housing to be optimized for efficiency during normal operation while maintaining sufficient spacing during maneuver-induced bending, effectively changing the geometric parameters in response to operational conditions
2Stability of the object's composition
If coupling struts extend in multiple directions to support the engine core, then stability is improved, but complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into multiple independent strut assemblies, each capable of functioning autonomously. This modular approach provides stable support through distributed loading while keeping each individual strut relatively simple in design, avoiding the need for a single complex multi-directional coupling mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Each coupling strut is designed as a multi-functional component that provides structural support, accommodates bending forces, allows for thermal expansion, and maintains rotational freedom. This universal design reduces overall system complexity by using identical standardized components rather than specialized struts for different functions
Data Source
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AI summary
A coupling assembly for an engine core of a turbomachine is provided. The coupling assembly comprises a duct (114) having a substantially circular shape and surrounding the engine core (112), and a plurality of coupling struts (116), each coupling strut extending only in a substantially vertical direction relative to the direction of gravity when the engine core is at a rest position with zero pitch and zero roll, each of the plurality of coupling struts (116) coupling the engine core to the duct.