Turbomachine Guide Vane Ring Asymmetrical Edge Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly of guide vanes in turbomachines often results in susceptibility to leaks due to the design of the inner ring, particularly when using divided partial rings or chamfers that create cavities, which impair sealing and positioning precision.

Innovation Solution

A guide vane ring design featuring a rotationally asymmetrical vane plate with a chamfered edge surface that allows inclined insertion into the inner ring receptacle, minimizing leakage by ensuring a tight fit in one area and a cylindrical contact in another, thereby reducing the gap between the vane plate and the inner ring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a chamfer is formed on the guide vane plate to enable inclined insertion, then assembly ease is improved, but a cavity is created that promotes leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidleakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The edge surface is designed with different geometries in different regions: a chamfered first region for insertion facilitation and a cylindrical second region for leakage prevention. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The edge surface is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with a chamfer and a second region with a cylindrical surface. This segmentation allows the insertion function and sealing function to be spatially separated, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and leakage prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If an integral inner ring is used to improve sealing, then leakage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveleakageVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide vane plate is segmented into functional regions (chamfered edge and cylindrical edge) that can be manufactured separately and then integrated, reducing the complexity of manufacturing the entire integral structure while maintaining its sealing benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a chamfer is formed on the guide vane plate, then insertion is facilitated, but positioning precision is reduced due to the required cavity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion facilitationVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cylindrical second region provides a precise positioning surface that contacts the receptacle wall, ensuring accurate positioning despite the presence of the chamfered first region that facilitates insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3246529B1Guide vane, corresponding guide vane ring and assembly method
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
  • EP3246529B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A guide vane (10, 10') according to the invention for a guide vane assembly of a turbomachine comprises a blade and a guide vane plate (12) for its mounting on an inner ring (20). The guide vane plate has a top surface (14) facing the blade, a base surface (17) opposite the top surface, and a boundary surface (15) connecting the top and base surfaces. In a first region (B1), the boundary surface forms a chamfer (16) of the guide vane plate, and in a second region (B2), which borders a different sector of the guide vane plate than the first region (B2), the boundary surface extends along a cylindrical surface. A method according to the invention serves to assemble a guide vane assembly. It comprises inserting a plurality of guide vanes (10, 10') according to the invention into respective receptacles (21) in an inner ring (20).