Structures and Methods for Forcing Coupling of Flow Fields of Adjacent Bladed Elements of Turbomachines, and Turbomachines Incorporating the Same
AssigneeConcepts ETI, Inc.
InventorDavid Japikse
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Abstract
Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided.
Claims22
A method of designing a close-coupling flow guide (CCFG) for a turbomachine having first and second bladed elements and a design operating range, the method comprising:
- selecting at least one location proximate the first and second bladed elements for locating at least one CCFG;
- and
- designing the at least one CCFG to have a configuration that increases aerodynamic feedback over the design operating range between a flow field of the first bladed element and a flow field of the second bladed element to thereby couple the flow fields of the first and second bladed elements and increase performance of the turbomachine.
A method of designing a turbomachine having a first bladed element upstream of a second bladed element, the first bladed element having a plurality of first blades with trailing edges and the second bladed element having a plurality of second blades with leading edges, the method comprising:
- adding a first structure to the turbomachine at a location downstream of the first bladed element;
- and
- configuring the first structure to have an aerodynamic feedback effect on a flow field of the first bladed element to thereby improve the performance of the turbomachine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.