Vortex chambers for clearance flow control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJoshy John, Sanjeev Kumar Jain, Sachin Kumar Rai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is provided and includes a first member with a flow diverting member extending from a surface thereof and a second member disposed proximate to the first member with a clearance gap area defined between a surface of the second member and a distal end of the flow diverting member such that a fluid path, along which fluid flows from an upstream section and through the clearance gap area, is formed between the surfaces of the first and second members. The second member is formed to define dual vortex chambers at the upstream section in which the fluid is directed to flow in vortex patterns prior to being permitted to flow through the clearance gap area.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first member with a flow diverting member extending from a surface thereof;
- and
- a second member disposed proximate to the first member with a clearance gap area defined between a surface of the second member and a distal end of the flow diverting member such that a fluid path, along which fluid flows from an upstream section and through the clearance gap area, is formed between the surfaces of the first and second members, the second member being formed to define:
- dual vortex chambers at the upstream section in which the fluid is directed to flow in vortex patterns prior to being permitted to flow through the clearance gap area.
A turbine for providing tip clearance flow control, the turbine comprising:
- a rotatable turbine blade having a rail extending from a surface thereof;
- and
- a turbine casing perimetrically surrounding the rotatable turbine blade with a clearance gap area defined between an interior surface of the casing and a distal end of the rail such that a fluid path is formed along which fluid flows from an upstream section and through the clearance gap area, the turbine casing being formed to define:
- dual vortex chambers at the upstream section in which the fluid is directed to flow in vortex patterns prior to being permitted to flow through the clearance gap area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.