Gas Turbine Vane Repair Insert for Axial Sliding Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for repairing damaged vanes in gas turbines, particularly those with multiple holes at the trailing edges, require precise vertical and horizontal movements, making them challenging and error-prone, especially in heavy-duty applications like the Oil & Gas industry.
Innovation Solution
The development of repair members comprising an inner platform, an outer platform, and an airfoil portion that allow for a pure translation movement along a single insertion direction parallel to the axis of the ring or sector, facilitating easier and more precise repair of damaged vanes by creating guides for sliding insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the repair member is inserted along a radial direction requiring precise horizontal and vertical movements, then the repair can be performed, but the operation becomes very complex and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the insertion direction from a radial direction (requiring two-dimensional precise movements) to an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis (requiring only one-dimensional precise movement). The repair member is designed with a longitudinal axis that aligns with the turbine axis, allowing insertion along the axial direction which simplifies the positioning process while maintaining the required precision for aligning with cooling holes and feeding conduits.
2Manufacturing precision
If the repair member requires precise alignment with multiple holes and surfaces, then the repair accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the alignment process by changing the insertion dimension from radial to axial. The repair member's longitudinal axis is designed to be parallel to the turbine axis, and the insertion direction is aligned with this axis. This allows the operator to achieve precise alignment with cooling holes and feeding conduits through a single linear movement rather than complex two-dimensional positioning, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The repair member is pre-configured with its longitudinal axis parallel to the turbine axis and with features that align with the cooling holes and feeding conduits before insertion. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the repair member is inserted along the axial direction, the alignment with multiple holes and surfaces is achieved automatically through the single insertion movement, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining precision.
3Strength
If the repair member is designed to replace inner and outer platform portions, then the structural integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The repair member is segmented into distinct functional portions: an inner platform portion designed to replace the inner platform, an outer platform portion designed to replace the outer platform, and an airfoil portion connecting them. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity. The inner and outer platform portions provide structural support and alignment, while the airfoil portion restores the aerodynamic surface, collectively improving structural integrity without requiring an overly complex monolithic design.
Data Source
AI summary
The repair member includes an inner platform, an outer platform portion, and an airfoil portion connecting the inner and outer platform portions; the inner platform portion is configured so to reach an edge of a first ring or sector of ring of a vane assembly of the damaged vane, and the outer platform portion is configured so to reach an edge of a second ring or sector of ring of the a vane assembly of the damaged vane; the inner platform portion, the outer platform portion, and the airfoil portion are configured so to allow insertion of the repair member into the vane assembly by a pure translation movement being along an insertion direction and having a movement component parallel to an axes of the first and second rings or sectors of ring.