Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Specific blade structure – Radial flow devices
Reexamination Certificate
2003-01-21
2004-10-12
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Specific blade structure
Radial flow devices
C416S243000, C416S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06802695
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to axial flow turbines and in particular to aerodynamic design aspects of such turbines for improved efficiency. The invention relates, more specifically, to airfoil, nozzle and exhaust duct shape and configuration.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Axial flow gas turbine engines, for example, normally comprise a compressor, a combustion section, and a turbine section. To these are added intake and exhaust systems. Atmospheric air is drawn into the compressor through the intake system and is then passed at high pressure into the combustion section, where it is mixed with fuel and the mixture ignited to create a working fluid in the form of a pressurized hot gas. This passes to the turbine section where its energy is converted by the turbine blades into useful work. The temperature and pressure of the working gas is now considerably diminished, and is discharged to atmosphere by the exhaust system.
The turbine section consists of rotor blades and stator blades. To distinguish between the two, unless the context otherwise dictates, the rotor blades will be referred to as ‘blades’ and the stator blades will be referred to as ‘vanes’. The blades and vanes form a series of axially successive annular rows. Each blade is attached to a turbine rotor disc or drum via a portion known as the root. The disc or drum is mounted on a rotor shaft whose centre line defines the rotational axis of the turbine. The vanes are fixed, typically to an inner drum and/or an outer turbine casing, such that they alternate with the rotor blades to form paired rows of vanes/blades. Each such pair of rows forms what is known as a turbine stage, in which the vane is followed in axial flow succession by the blade. A turbine may comprise one or more stages, and it is common for the turbine to comprise high pressure and low pressure sections, each section containing one or more stages.
The blade rows extract energy from the working fluid and transfer it to the turbine rotor, whereas the vanes smooth the passage of the working fluid and direct it at an optimum outlet angle so as to meet the rotating blades at the designed angle. In this way energy transfer is carried out as efficiently as possible.
Vanes and blades of axial flow turbines have a cross-section profile of the generic airfoil type and bear a strong visual likeness one to another, notwithstanding scale differences usually dependent upon engine size. However, on inspection it is found there are measurable differences of airfoil profiles, not only between engines of different make and type, but also between turbine stages of the same engine. Further, such differences may have significant effect on turbine efficiency. Similarly, there are differences in other aspects of turbine stage design which alone or in combination also have an effect. Small differences in such design features, which may appear minimal or unimportant to those unskilled in the art, may in fact have a significant effect on turbine stage performance. Turbines currently operate at very high efficiency values, the best of which are in the region of 90%. At this level of efficiency, it is very difficult to make improvements, so even improvements as small as 1 or 2% are regarded as significant.
In part, the present invention incorporates and improves upon previous teachings in respect of so called “Controlled Flow” principles of airfoil design by the present inventor and others. In particular, see United Kingdom Patent No. GB 2 295 860 B, and United Kingdom Patent No. GB 2 359 341 B. These two prior patents should be read to gain a full appreciation of the present invention. Other patents showing similar principles include U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,221 to Amyot, et al., (for steam turbines) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,667 to Price, et al., (for gas turbines).
In an improved turbine according to the present invention, efficiencies as high as 93% may now be possible. The invention also facilitates a design that is more compact, thereby reducing its footprint size and making potentially large savings in terms of space and therefore cost.
To aid understanding it will be useful to include at this stage some definitions of terms or expressions utilized in the following description.
In axial flow turbines, the “root” of a blade is that radially inner part which is attached to the rotor structure, whereas the radially outer opposite portion is the “tip”. For the purpose of describing the present invention, the radially inner ends of the airfoils of both the vanes and the blades will be called the root sections and the radially outer ends of their airfoils will be called the tip sections.
Airfoil cross-sectional profiles will be defined by reference to an x,y co-ordinate system as illustrated in
FIG. 7
of the accompanying drawings, where ‘x’ is the axial co-ordinate as measured along the rotational axis of the turbine and ‘y’ is the tangential co-ordinate as measured along the instantaneous direction of motion of the rotor blade. To reduce the bulk of the Tables incorporated herein, airfoil cross-sectional profiles will be numerically defined in x,y co-ordinates at only three radial stations along the radial co-ordinate ‘z’, these being profiles at the airfoil root end, mid-height and tip end. However, profiles between these stations can be readily obtained by those skilled in the art by a process of interpolation and smoothing.
The expression AN
2
represents the product of the area A of the annulus swept by the LP turbine blade airfoils at the outlet of the stage, multiplied by the square of the rotational speed N of the blades. The annulus area itself is defined as the difference in area of the circles delineated by the inner and outer radii of the blade airfoils. Exemplary numerical values for typical prior art turbines and a turbine produced according to the present invention will be given in the appropriate section of the following description.
The pitch dimension of a row of blades or vanes is the circumferential distance from one airfoil trailing edge to the adjacent airfoil trailing edge in the same row at a specified radial distance from the root end of the airfoil.
The axial width (W) of an airfoil is the axial distance between its leading and trailing edges, as measured along the rotational axis of the turbine. The pitch/width ratio (P/W) at the root perimeter is an important parameter which influences the efficiency of the blade or vane row, the number of blades or vanes (and therefore the cost) and the circumferential width of the rotor disc-post (i.e., it affects rotor disc stressing). In this connection, note that gas turbines typically operate at very high rotational speeds (for example 17,400 rpm). This can generate very high centrifugal forces, reaching 110,000G at the rotor tips. Both blades and vanes are also subject to very high temperatures. Turbines must be designed to withstand the stresses imposed by these conditions of use.
The tip/hub diameter ratio is an indicator of the comparative radial length of the blades compared to the overall diameter of the turbine. Its significance is that it represents the annular area available for passage of the working fluid.
Turbomachinery efficiencies compare the actual changes in the fluid between inlet and exit with the theoretical best ‘reversible’ change. Also, at the exit from the last stage, either total or static conditions can be used. This gives either ‘Total to Total’ or ‘Total to Static’ efficiency. The difference is the exit kinetic energy of the gas.
In concert with new airfoil designs, a turbine according to the invention includes an improved turbine nozzle shape.
Consider a gas turbine having a single high pressure (HP) stage followed by a low pressure (LP) section, the low pressure section including a plurality of individual stages. Known types of last LP stage discharging into an exhaust system tend to generate a non-uniform leaving energy and stagnation pressure profile which is detrimental to the overall performance of the last stage and exhaust. Hence, it would be advantageous
Alstom (Switzerland) LTD
Kirschstein et al.
Look Edward K.
McAleenan James M
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