Variable Geometry Gas Turbine Cooling Ducts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine cooling systems are over-dimensioned to ensure adequate airflow at all engine power conditions, leading to excess airflow at high power conditions, which increases specific fuel consumption and reduces engine efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a main duct with two separate ducts and a valve unit, allowing for the modulation of airflow to specific cooling arrangements based on engine operating conditions, thereby optimizing airflow distribution and reducing unnecessary airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed ventilation ducts are sized to assure minimum air flow at idle/low power conditions, then sufficient cooling is provided at all engine power conditions, but excess air flow occurs at high power conditions leading to increased specific fuel consumption and reduced engine efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed ventilation ducts with variable geometry ducts that can change their flow area dynamically. The ducts include movable elements such as flaps or vanes that can be adjusted to different positions based on engine operating conditions, allowing the cooling system to adapt its airflow characteristics in real-time rather than being statically over-dimensioned for all conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the flow area of ventilation ducts through mechanical adjustment of duct geometry. By changing physical parameters such as duct opening area, flow direction angles, and passage cross-sections in response to operating conditions, the system optimizes airflow distribution to match actual cooling demands without excessive air intake.
2Reliability
If fixed ventilation ducts are sized to assure minimum air flow at idle/low power conditions, then sufficient cooling is provided at all engine power conditions, but engine efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary air flow at high power conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed ventilation ducts with variable geometry ducts that can change their flow area dynamically. The ducts include movable elements such as flaps or vanes that can be adjusted to different positions based on engine operating conditions, allowing the cooling system to adapt its airflow characteristics in real-time rather than being statically over-dimensioned for all conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the flow area of ventilation ducts through mechanical adjustment of duct geometry. By changing physical parameters such as duct opening area, flow direction angles, and passage cross-sections in response to operating conditions, the system optimizes airflow distribution to match actual cooling demands without excessive air intake.
3Quantity of substance
If large-sized fixed ventilation ducts are used to guarantee minimum volume flow rate, then adequate cooling air flow is provided at all conditions, but the overall powerplant efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cooling air flow into multiple separate ducts that can be independently controlled. Instead of a single large fixed duct, the system uses multiple smaller ducts with individual variable geometry elements, allowing selective opening and closing of specific ducts based on which cooling zones require airflow, thereby reducing total air intake while maintaining adequate cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed ventilation ducts with variable geometry ducts that can change their flow area dynamically. The ducts include movable elements such as flaps or vanes that can be adjusted to different positions based on engine operating conditions, allowing the cooling system to adapt its airflow characteristics in real-time rather than being statically over-dimensioned for all conditions.
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
The system ensures sufficient cooling of gas turbine engine components while reducing excess airflow, thereby improving engine efficiency, reducing specific fuel consumption, and minimizing noise generation.
Implementation Method 1
The airflow being directed towards the core zone cooling arrangement and at least one of a turbine case cooling arrangement and an oil cooling unit may help to maintain a temperature of the components within desired/acceptable limits
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cooling one or more components associated with a gas turbine engine includes a main duct, a first duct that receives and directs a portion of airflow from the main duct towards a core zone cooling arrangement of the gas turbine engine, and a second duct that receives and directs a portion of the airflow from the main duct towards a turbine case cooling arrangement or an oil cooling unit of the gas turbine engine. The system includes a valve unit including a first valve member disposed in the first duct and a second valve member disposed in the second duct. The first and second valve members control a fluid flow through the first and second ducts, respectively. The system includes at least one controller configured to control the valve unit to modulate the portion of the airflow through each of the first and second ducts.