Variable Stator Vane Guide Surface for Leakage Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In compressors, a leakage flow generated between the stator vane and casing components interferes with the main flow, causing vortices and pressure loss, which is exacerbated by narrow arrangement pitches, making it difficult to minimize pressure loss without increasing the connection part's diameter.
Innovation Solution
A variable stator vane with a guide surface that directs the leakage flow towards the main flow direction, reducing interference and vortices, and a connection part design that includes a protruding part with guide surfaces to manage the flow, allowing for reduced pressure loss without increasing the connection part's diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the outer diameter of the connection part is increased to cover the leading edge side of the stator vane body, then the clearance is eliminated and leakage loss is minimized, but the arrangement pitch of the variable stator vane is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connection part is divided into multiple functional segments: a basic connection portion for structural support and a separate guide surface portion for flow control. This segmentation allows the guide surface to be optimized for minimizing leakage loss without increasing the overall diameter that would affect arrangement pitch.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface acts as an intermediary element between the connection part and the stator vane body. It redirects the leakage flow from the clearance into the main flow direction, effectively reducing leakage loss without requiring an increased connection part diameter.
2Loss of energy
If the outer diameter of the connection part is increased to cover the leading edge side of the stator vane body, then leakage flow is minimized, but it becomes difficult to apply the variable stator vane when the arrangement pitch is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is designed with specific local geometric properties (inclination angle, surface curvature) optimized for flow guidance. This localized optimization addresses the pressure loss issue without requiring a global increase in connection part diameter, maintaining adaptability for narrow arrangement pitches.
3Loss of energy
If a guide surface is added to the connection part to redirect leakage flow, then pressure loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is merged with the connection part as an integrated structure rather than a separate component. This combining approach reduces device complexity by eliminating additional parts while still achieving the flow guidance function to reduce pressure loss.
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 solution effectively minimizes pressure loss even at narrow arrangement pitches by guiding the leakage flow into the main flow direction, reducing vortex generation and maintaining connection strength without enlarging the connection part's diameter.
Implementation Method 1
the connection part includes a first guide surface which is configured to guide a leakage flow of the working fluid which has flowed into a side closer to a leading edge of the stator vane body in the clearance so that a flow direction of the leakage flow is directed to a flow direction of the main flow
Data Source
AI summary
A stator vane body which is disposed in a flow path through which a working fluid flows and by which a clearance is formed between the stator vane body and an inner casing; a rotary shaft which is configured to rotate such that an angle of the stator vane body with respect to a flow direction of a main flow of the working fluid is varied; and a connection part which is configured to connect the stator vane body to the rotary shaft are provided. The connection part includes a first guide surface which is configured to guide the working fluid in a direction in which a flow direction of a leakage flow of the working fluid in the clearance which has flowed into toward a leading edge side of the stator vane body is directed in a flow direction of the main flow.