Vane Flanges for Gas Turbine Cooling Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine vane assemblies face challenges in reducing cooling flow leakage and hot gas ingestion, which can lead to thermal gradients and premature wear of components.
Innovation Solution
The vane assembly incorporates multiple flanges near the leading and trailing edges of the vane segments, which create a tortuous path for cooling flow and hot gases, thereby preventing leakage and ingestion in the event of seal failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If seals are arranged at leading and trailing edges of vanes to reduce cooling flow leakage, then cooling flow leakage is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when seal failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The flanges are pre-positioned at the leading and trailing edges of the vane segments to create a tortuous path structure in advance. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that even if seals fail, the cooling flow must navigate around the flanges, providing automatic redundant protection without requiring active detection or response mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly is divided into multiple vane segments, each with its own flanges at the leading and trailing edges. This segmentation allows each segment to independently manage cooling flow leakage, and if one seal fails, the other segments continue to provide sealing, distributing the reliability risk across multiple independent units.
2Reliability
If flanges are added to create tortuous path for cooling flow, then redundant protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flanges are integrated directly onto the vane segments themselves, merging the sealing function with the structural components. This eliminates the need for separate, additional sealing devices and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the tortuous path effect for cooling flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The flanges serve multiple functions: they structurally support the vane segments, create the tortuous path for cooling flow, and provide redundant protection against leakage. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while improving reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If seals are used to prevent hot gas ingestion, then hot gas ingestion is reduced, but thermal gradients cause premature wear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The flange structure is pre-configured to create a tortuous path that resists hot gas ingestion before hot gases can reach critical areas. This preliminary structural barrier reduces thermal gradients on the vanes, thereby preventing premature wear and extending component lifespan without requiring active monitoring or adjustment.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one exemplary embodiment, a flow path component assembly (118) includes a support structure (132) that is a unitary component having an axial portion (136) and a radial portion (134) and an outer portion (130) arranged between the support structure (132) and a flow path (C). The outer portion (130) defines a gap (144) between the outer portion (130) and the support structure axial portion (136). A flange (160; 162) extends into the gap (144).