Local Heating for Turbomachine Elastomer Vulcanization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling turbomachine parts using vulcanizable elastomers are energy-intensive and time-consuming, particularly when dealing with large and heavy components, as they require heating and cooling of the entire assembly, which is challenging and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A method involving local heating of the injection zone during the vulcanization process, using a support with an integrated or external local heating system, such as a heating element, hot air, or microwave radiation, to vulcanize the elastomer without overheating the parts, thereby reducing energy consumption and shortening the heating and cooling times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a drying oven is used to heat the support and parts for vulcanisation, then the elastomer vulcanises faster, but energy consumption increases and cooling time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is segmented from global to local: instead of heating the entire support and parts assembly in a drying oven, the invention applies heating locally only to the injection zone where the elastomer is injected. This segmentation allows faster vulcanisation with reduced energy consumption, as only the necessary area is heated to the required temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements local quality by creating a localized heating zone at the injection area using heating elements or hot air directed specifically at that region. This ensures the elastomer receives sufficient heat for vulcanisation while the rest of the heavy parts remain at ambient or lower temperatures, dramatically reducing the thermal mass that must be heated and cooled.
2Reliability
If a drying oven is used to heat the support and parts, then vulcanisation is achieved, but handling becomes difficult for heavy parts
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented from the heavy support structure. Instead of placing entire heavy parts into a drying oven and removing them, the invention keeps the parts on the support and applies heat locally to the injection zone only. This eliminates the need for operators to handle heavy hot parts, improving safety and ease of operation while maintaining vulcanisation quality.
3Reliability
If the entire assembly is heated for vulcanisation, then complete heating is achieved, but heating and cooling times increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating process is segmented to affect only the injection zone rather than the entire assembly. This localized approach reduces the thermal mass involved in heating, significantly decreasing both heating time and subsequent cooling time, while still achieving complete vulcanisation of the elastomer in the critical injection area.
Solution Approach 2:
By applying heat locally to the injection zone with controlled heating elements or directed hot air, the invention achieves effective vulcanisation of the elastomer without subjecting the entire heavy assembly to high temperatures. This local quality approach minimizes the volume of material that requires heating and cooling cycles.
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 approach significantly reduces energy consumption and assembly time, making the process more efficient and operator-friendly by focusing heat only on the injection zone, eliminating the need to handle heavy parts and simplifying the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
local heating of the injection zone so as to vulcanise the vulcanisable elastomer
Implementation Method 2
injection of a vulcanisable elastomer, preferably a silicone that can be vulcanised at ambient temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assembly of a first turbomachine part with at least one second turbomachine part, including an injection of a vulcanisable elastomer, preferably a silicone that can be vulcanised at ambient temperature called an RTV silicone, in an injection zone at the junction between the first and the second parts; local heating of the injection zone so as to vulcanise the vulcanisable elastomer.