Variable Pressure Turbine Blade Tip Clearance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face inefficiencies at low or idle power levels due to increased turbine blade tip clearances, leading to reduced aerodynamic and gap losses, limiting their broader range of output power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A closed Brayton cycle system with a control system that adjusts the pressure of the working fluid to maintain constant RPM and temperature, incorporating a combustor to provide thermal energy and varying mass flow rates, enhancing efficiency by reducing aerodynamic and gap losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the turbine operates at low or idle power levels, then the power output is reduced, but the turbine blade tip clearances increase leading to increased aerodynamic and gap losses
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine blade tips are made flexible or movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position relative to the housing. This dynamic adjustment enables the blade tips to maintain optimal clearance across varying operating conditions, reducing aerodynamic and gap losses at low power levels while maintaining performance at high power levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The clearance parameter between turbine blade tips and housing is changed from a fixed value to a variable value that adapts to operating conditions. By changing this geometric parameter dynamically based on power level, the system reduces energy losses at low power output while maintaining efficient operation across the full power range.
2Loss of energy
If the turbine blade tip clearances are reduced to minimize losses, then aerodynamic efficiency improves, but the complexity of the turbine structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine blade tips are designed to automatically adjust their own position without external control systems. The flexible or movable blade tips self-regulate their clearance with the housing based on operating conditions, eliminating the need for complex external actuation mechanisms while maintaining optimal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible materials or thin film structures are used for the turbine blade tips, allowing them to bend or deform to maintain optimal clearance. This approach achieves the desired aerodynamic performance using simple flexible materials rather than complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
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 achieves improved efficiency and broader power output range by maintaining constant RPM and temperature, reducing losses and enhancing power generation across varying loads.
Implementation Method 1
a combustor, wherein the combustor provides thermal energy to the working fluid via the hot side heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg
Implementation Method 3
a compressor, a hot side heat exchanger, a turbine, and a cold side heat exchanger, wherein the closed cycle path comprises a high pressure leg and a low pressure leg
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods relating to variable pressure turbines are disclosed. A power generation system may include a closed cycle system configured to generate power, a combustor, and a control system. The closed cycle system may include a working fluid circulating in a closed cycle path. The combustor may provide thermal energy to the working fluid. Further, the control system may be configured to determine to increase an amount of power generated by the closed cycle system, and in response to the determination to increase the amount of power generated by the closed cycle system, cause an increase in pressure of the working fluid in the closed cycle path.