Rapid active clearance control system of inter stage and mid-seals

A turbine engine, the turbine engine comprising:

• a case surrounding at least part of the turbine engine;
• a nozzle to contain airflow, the nozzle including a first pressure sensor at a first location on a tip of the nozzle and a second pressure sensor at a second location on the tip of the nozzle;
• an actuator to control a clearance between a rotor and the nozzle, wherein the actuator is positioned at a third location outside of the case;
• a rod coupled to the actuator and the nozzle through an opening in the case at the third location, the rod to move the nozzle based on contraction or expansion of a multilayer stack of material;
• and
• a controller to calculate and set the clearance between the rotor and the nozzle by supplying an electrical current to the multilayer stack in the actuator.

An apparatus to control clearance for a turbine engine, the apparatus comprising:

• a means for surrounding at least part of the turbine engine;
• a means for containing airflow including a first pressure sensor at a first location on a tip of the means for containing and a second pressure sensor at a second location on the tip of the means for containing;
• a means for controlling a clearance between a rotor and the means for containing, wherein the means for controlling is positioned at a third location outside the means for surrounding;
• a means for moving the means for containing based on contraction or expansion of a multilayer stack of material, the means for moving coupled to the means for controlling and the means for containing through an opening in the means for surrounding at the third location;
• and
• a means for calculating and setting the clearance between the rotor and the means for containing by supplying an electrical current to the multilayer stack in the means for controlling.