Turbomachine Retaining Ring Flow Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retaining rings for turbomachine disks create isolated pockets between the coverplate and the disk, limiting airflow and cooling to certain sections, leading to uneven thermal distribution.
Innovation Solution
A retaining ring with a flow feature on the coverplate and disk lip interface sides, allowing airflow between the disk and coverplate, ensuring the pocket is in fluid communication with a conditioning flow pathway, which can be milled or additively manufactured with a partially curved profile, enhancing thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional retaining rings create sealed pockets between coverplate and disk, then retaining strength is improved, but thermal distribution deteriorates due to restricted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining ring incorporates localized flow features (such as circumferential grooves or radial channels) that create specific airflow pathways in certain regions while maintaining sealed pockets in other regions. This allows different parts of the assembly to have different functional characteristics - some areas provide strong sealing while others facilitate cooling airflow, resolving the contradiction between retaining strength and thermal distribution.
2Reliability
If retaining rings form isolated pockets, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to blocked conditioning flow
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining ring is segmented into different functional zones through flow features that divide the space between coverplate and disk into sealed pockets and airflow channels. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve effective sealing in pocket regions and efficient cooling through dedicated flow pathways, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and cooling efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional retaining rings are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but thermal management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the retaining function and the cooling flow guidance function into a single integrated retaining ring component. The flow features are incorporated directly into the ring's structure during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate cooling channels or additional components. This integration maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving thermal management capability.
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
Improves thermal regulation by ensuring even airflow distribution across the turbomachine disk, reducing thermal lag and structural stress.
Implementation Method 1
a flow feature is defined by the ring body on the coverplate interface side to allow airflow between the turbomachine disk coverplate and the ring body such that a pocket defined between the coverplate and the turbomachine disk is in fluid communication with a conditioning flow pathway through the retaining ring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A retaining ring (200;300) for a turbomachine disk (203) and coverplate assembly includes a ring body (202;302) defining a coverplate interface side (211) and an opposed disk lip interface side (213;313). A flow feature (207;307) is defined by the ring body (202;302) on the coverplate interface side (211) to allow airflow between the turbomachine disk coverplate (201) and the ring body (202;302) such that a pocket (209) defined between the coverplate (201) and the turbomachine disk (203) is in fluid communication with a conditioning flow pathway (217) through the retaining ring (200;300).