Gas turbine engine diffuser
AssigneeHamilton Sunstrand Corporation
InventorsJames C. Napier, Anthony C. Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary diffuser includes a plurality of air flow channels defined by a corresponding plurality of vanes. The vanes extend from a first side of the diffuser and define a width of the air flow channel between the corresponding plurality of vanes. The first side has at least one tapered surface extending from an inner radial position to an outer radial position. The distance between a tapered surface and a top side of the plurality of the vanes defines a depth of the air flow channel. The width of the air flow channel varies relative to the depth of the air flow channel along the length of the air flow channel.
Claims20
A diffuser comprising:
- a first side;
- a plurality of air flow channels defined by a corresponding plurality of vanes extending from the first side;
- and
- at least one tapered surface within the air flow channel, the air flow channels having a width between the corresponding plurality of vanes and a depth from a top side of the corresponding plurality of vanes to the tapered surface, the width varying relative to the depth along the air flow channel.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a compressor section including an impeller;
- a combustor section;
- a turbine section;
- and
- a diffuser section including a diffuser in communication with the compressor section and a shroud, the diffuser having a plurality of air flow channels defined by a plurality of vanes extending from a first side of the diffuser, a bottom surface that tapers from an inner radial position to an outer radial position, and the shroud, the plurality of air flow channels having a width defined between corresponding ones of the plurality of vanes and a depth from a top side of the corresponding ones of the plurality of vanes to the bottom surface, the width varying relative to the depth.
A method for directing airflow comprising:
- receiving air flow in a radial direction by a diffuser having a plurality of vanes defining corresponding air flow channels;
- varying a depth of the air flow channel in response to a changing width of the air flow channel to maintain a desired air flow channel area;
- communicating the air flow through the plurality of air flow channels to deswirl vanes on an outer periphery of the diffuser;
- and
- providing air flow in an axial direction to a combustor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.