Variable Vane Ring Rotation for Abrasion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The variable vane device in gas turbines experiences performance issues due to ring abrasion at the support positions, leading to inaccurate angle adjustments of the vanes, which can result in operation failures.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance method that involves shifting the connection positions of the ring and the attachment bracket to avoid abraded areas, allowing the guides to support the ring at unabraded positions, thereby preventing operation failures and maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ring is supported by guide rollers at a predetermined position, then the variable vane device can operate with stable support, but the ring decreases in thickness due to abrasion at the contact portion, leading to operation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the ring rotatable relative to the guide rollers, transforming the static support position into a dynamic one. The ring can be rotated to bring fresh, unabraded portions into contact with the guide rollers, thereby continuously renewing the contact surface and preventing wear-induced failure while maintaining stable support during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention prepares multiple potential contact positions on the ring's outer peripheral surface before operation begins. By designing the ring with sufficient circumference to provide multiple unabraded contact areas, the system preemptively addresses the wear problem, allowing the ring to be rotated to fresh contact zones before abrasion causes failure.
2Reliability
If the ring thickness decreases due to abrasion, then the guide rollers cannot appropriately support the ring, but increasing ring thickness does not prevent localized wear at the contact portion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces rotational movement between the ring and guide rollers, converting a static wear problem into a dynamic solution. The ring can be rotated to continuously present fresh, unabraded surfaces to the guide rollers, ensuring that support accuracy is maintained throughout the ring's service life without being limited by localized abrasion.
3Device complexity
If the variable vanes are connected to the ring at fixed positions, then the structure is simple, but the angle adjustment becomes inaccurate when the ring is abraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention decouples the connection between variable vanes and the ring from fixed positions by enabling ring rotation. The variable vanes remain connected to the ring through the driving device, but the ring's ability to rotate allows it to present unabraded contact surfaces to guide rollers while maintaining its connection to the vanes, thus preserving angle adjustment accuracy without complicating the connection structure.
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 method effectively prevents operation failures by rotating the ring to new support positions, ensuring accurate vane angle adjustments and maintaining performance by avoiding worn-out areas, thus extending the device's operational lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the guide rollers each support the ring only at a predetermined same area in a contact state and thus the ring decreases in thickness due to the abrasion of the contact portion
Implementation Method 2
the ring decreases in thickness due to the abrasion of the contact portion
Data Source
AI summary
The variable vane device maintenance method includes: a preparation step of preparing a ring including a first connection portion at which an attachment bracket is attached to the ring and a second connection portion at which the attachment bracket is attached at a position shifted from the first connection portion in a circumferential direction, the ring having the attachment bracket attached at the first connection portion; a release step of releasing a connection between a plurality of variable vanes and the ring and a connection between the ring and the attachment bracket at the first connection portion; a rotation step of rotating the ring by a predetermined angle; and a connection step of connecting the plurality of variable vanes to the ring at positions different from positions before the release step and connecting the ring to the attachment bracket at the second connection portion.