Unducted Propeller Turbine Module with Dual-Casing Stator Support

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Turbomachines, particularly USF turbomachines, suffer from significant noise generation due to the interaction of wake and vortex at the tips of propeller and stator blades, and their compact design is hindered by the need to maintain stator blades close to the propeller, increasing length and mass.

Innovation Solution

The stator blades are supported by two housings instead of the inlet housing, offsetting them to increase the distance from the propeller, and are connected via connecting rods, allowing for a compact design without lengthening the turbomachine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If stator blades are mounted on inlet housing close to propeller blades, then mass and size are optimized, but noise increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemassVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure for stator blades is segmented into two separate housings (inlet housing and outlet housing) rather than being mounted on a single inlet housing. This segmentation allows the stator blades to be positioned further from the propeller blades while maintaining structural support, thereby reducing noise generation from blade interaction while preserving compact mass distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If stator blades are moved away from propeller blades to reduce noise, then noise decreases, but length of turbomachine increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovenoiseVSAvoidlength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The stator blades are nested between the inlet housing and outlet housing, with their support structure integrated into the existing housing architecture. This nesting approach allows the stator blades to be positioned away from the propeller blades for noise reduction while utilizing the available space within the housing structure, preventing overall length increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of repair

If stator blades are supported by two housings instead of one, then noise reduces and maintenance improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet housing and outlet housing serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the stator blades, define the flow paths for the turbine, and now additionally provide mounting points for the stator blade support structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated support components, thereby reducing overall structural complexity while enabling improved maintenance access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4222052B1Turbine engine module equipped with a propeller and stator vanes carried by two casings and corresponding turbine engine
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS
  • EP4222052B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4222052B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4222052B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a turbine engine module of longitudinal axis X, comprising an unducted propeller (2) intended to be rotated around the longitudinal axis X by a power shaft (10, 11) which is connected at least to a rotor member (5, 6), at least one flow straightener (3) comprising a plurality of stator vanes (28) extending along a radial axis Z, at least one first casing (17) mounted upstream, along the longitudinal axis, of the rotor member (5, 6) and a second casing (33) mounted downstream, along the longitudinal axis, of the rotor member. According to the invention, the stator vanes (28) each comprise a root (30) housed in a sleeve (37) which is connected to the first casing (17) and to the second casing (33).