Vacuum-Sealed Skirt for Localized Turbomachine Casing Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for heating turbomachine casings, such as using thermosetting glue, require lengthy oven baking, are cumbersome for large diameters, and cannot be applied to all equipment due to size constraints, disrupting manufacturing and being costly for repairs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a rigid and flexible skirt system that creates a vacuum-sealed annular space for localized heating, allowing for efficient polymerization of glue without heating the entire environment, with a resistive first skirt and thermal insulation, enabling quick repairs and avoiding complex dismantling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional oven heating is used for polymerization, then complete polymerization is achieved, but heating time is excessively long and entire housing must be heated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies localized heating only to the specific area requiring polymerization by using a heating element positioned within a containment structure that seals around the work area. This concentrates thermal energy where needed while leaving the rest of the housing at ambient temperature, achieving complete polymerization in a fraction of the time required for whole-housing oven heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system is segmented into a localized heating zone defined by the containment structure with sealing elements. The heating element is isolated to this segmented region, allowing independent temperature control and rapid heating of only the necessary area, thereby reducing overall heating time while maintaining polymerization effectiveness.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional oven heating is used, then polymerization is achieved, but the entire housing and equipment are heated causing manufacturing disruption
Solution Approach 1:
By confining heating to a localized area using the containment structure with seals, only the specific work zone reaches polymerization temperature while the rest of the housing and surrounding equipment remain at operating temperature. This allows other manufacturing operations to continue simultaneously, maintaining productivity and eliminating the need to shut down entire production lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is extracted from the global oven environment and implemented as a localized heating system within the containment structure. This extracted heating capability operates independently, allowing polymerization to proceed without requiring the entire housing or factory environment to be heated, thus avoiding manufacturing disruptions.
3Temperature
If large diameter housing is moved for oven heating, then heating can be applied, but handling becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating capability is extracted from the large-scale oven environment and brought directly to the housing through a portable containment structure with integrated heating elements. This eliminates the need to move or reposition large-diameter housing for heating, as the heating system can be applied in-situ at the installation location, greatly improving handling ease and reducing operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating approach transitions from a horizontal dimension (moving large housing into an oven) to a vertical dimension (applying a compact containment structure with integrated heating directly onto the housing surface). This dimensional change allows heating of large-diameter housing without requiring physical movement or repositioning, making the operation feasible even for housing that cannot be moved.
4Productivity
If localized heating device is applied, then heating time is reduced and productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment structure utilizes flexible sealing elements and adaptable shielding that can conform to various housing geometries without requiring complex rigid frameworks. This flexible approach maintains structural integrity while simplifying the overall device design, allowing rapid deployment for localized heating applications and improving productivity without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The containment structure with integrated heating elements is designed as a universal, multi-functional device that can accommodate different housing types and sizes. By combining containment, sealing, and heating functions in a single adaptable structure, the device achieves high productivity across various applications without requiring multiple specialized components, thereby controlling complexity.
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
Enables efficient, localized heating of turbomachine casings, reducing manufacturing disruptions, facilitating quick repairs, and avoiding costly removals by applying heat precisely where needed, thus improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
the first rigid skirt is made of a resistive material and is connected to electrical power supply means
Implementation Method 2
the first skirt is covered with a layer of thermal insulation on its face oriented towards the second skirt, which allows the heat to be confined inside the first skirt
Implementation Method 3
the means for creating a vacuum include a venturi effect conduit having a suction orifice fluidly connected to said annular space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for confining a given zone of a part (10), said device comprising a first rigid skirt (20) open on a first end (22) which can be applied around said given zone of the part (10), and a second flexible and elastic skirt (24) open on the same first end (34) as the first skirt (20) and designed to be applied to the part, the second skirt (24) surrounding the first rigid skirt (20) at a distance in order to form an annular space (26) which is connected to means for creating a vacuum in the annular space.