Boundary Layer Turbomachine Disk Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boundary layer turbomachines face limitations due to disk deflection under operating loads, leading to potential contact with adjacent disks or housing, and efficiency issues, which hinder their practical application.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a rotor assembly with a disk carrier that supports a plurality of disks, providing gaps for fluid passage and using a disk carrier with fluid passageways to facilitate efficient fluid flow, while minimizing disk deflection through the use of outer support disks and optional spacers, enhancing structural integrity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If thin disks are used in boundary layer turbomachine, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but disk deflection under operating loads increases causing contact with adjacent disks and housing
Solution Approach 1:
The disk structure is segmented into multiple thin disk segments stacked together to form a complete disk. Each segment is individually manufactured and then assembled, allowing the benefits of thin disk manufacturing while achieving the structural integrity of a thicker disk through the combined strength of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple disk segments are nested or stacked together to form a composite disk structure. The segments are arranged in a nested configuration where each segment contributes to the overall structural strength, preventing deflection while maintaining the manufacturing advantages of thin individual components.
2Reliability
If disk thickness is increased to prevent deflection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of manufacturing one thick complex disk, the structure is divided into multiple simpler thin segments that are easier to manufacture. The segmentation reduces manufacturing complexity while achieving the required structural reliability through the combined strength of stacked segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-dimensional thick disk to a multi-dimensional stacked configuration. By distributing the structural requirement across multiple thin layers in the axial dimension, the design achieves the reliability of a thick disk without the manufacturing complexity and weight penalties.
3Productivity
If closely spaced disks are used to improve fluid transfer efficiency, then productivity is improved, but risk of contact between disks under load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disk structure is segmented into multiple thin segments stacked together. This segmentation maintains the closely spaced configuration needed for high productivity while each segment's individual strength and the combined structure prevent deflection-induced contact, ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The disk assembly functions as a composite structure where multiple thin disk segments are combined to create a stronger, more reliable assembly. This composite approach maintains the tight spacing required for efficient fluid transfer while the combined structural integrity prevents contact under operating loads.
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
This configuration reduces disk deflection, improves efficiency, and maintains structural integrity, addressing the limitations of existing boundary layer turbomachines by allowing for effective fluid flow and power transmission while preventing destructive contact.
Implementation Method 1
fluid drags on closely spaced rotating disks due to viscosity and adhesion of a surface layer of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
fluid drags on closely spaced rotating disks due to viscosity and adhesion of a surface layer of the fluid
Implementation Method 3
one acting tangentially in the direction of rotation and the other acting radially outward. The combined effect of these tangential and centrifugal forces
Data Source
AI summary
A boundary layer turbomachine can include a housing (10) defining an interior space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing (10). The boundary layer turbomachine can also include a rotor assembly (20) disposed in the rotor chamber and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a plurality of disks (21) spaced apart along the axis of rotation (1) to provide gaps (54) between the disks (21). The plurality of disks (21) can also define an interior opening (26) along the axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a disk carrier (46) disposed at least partially in the interior opening (26) in support of the plurality of disks (21). The disk carrier (46) can have a fluid passageway (47) exposed to two or more of the gaps (54) between the disks (21). The fluid can pass through gaps (54) between the disks (21) and the interior opening (26) as the fluid moves through the housing (10).