Nonlinearly stacked low noise turbofan stator
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsWilliam B. Schuster, Karen B. Kontos, Donald S. Weir, Nick A. Nolcheff, John A. Gunaraj
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Abstract
A nonlinearly stacked low noise turbofan stator vane having a characteristic curve that is characterized by a nonlinear sweep and a nonlinear lean is provided. The stator is in an axial fan or compressor turbomachinery stage that is comprised of a collection of vanes whose highly three-dimensional shape is selected to reduce rotor-stator and rotor-strut interaction noise while maintaining the aerodynamic and mechanical performance of the vane. The nonlinearly stacked low noise turbofan stator vane reduces noise associated with the fan stage of turbomachinery to improve environmental compatibility
Claims15
A stator vane for use in a gas turbine engine, the vane having a curved shape comprising:
- a hub point;
- a shroud point;
- and
- a curved portion connecting the hub point and the shroud point, the curved portion described by a (i) nonlinear sweep curve that begins at the hub point and terminates at the shroud point, the shroud point displaced axially aft relative to the hub point in the sweep curve and (ii) a nonlinear lean curve that begins at the hub point and terminates at the shroud point, the shroud point displaced circumferentially relative to the hub point in the lean curve,
- wherein the nonlinear sweep curve and the nonlinear lean curve are each characterized by fourth order or higher polynomial equations.
A low noise stator vane for use in a gas turbine engine positioned downstream of a rotor assembly, the vane comprising:
- a leading edge which defines a leading edge curve having a leading edge sweep and a leading edge lean, the leading edge sweep and the leading edge lean each being nonlinear curves;
- and
- a trailing edge which defines a trailing edge curve having a trailing edge sweep and a trailing edge lean, the trailing edge sweep and the trailing edge lean each being nonlinear curves,
- wherein the leading edge sweep and the leading edge lean are each characterized by fourth order or higher polynomial equations, which may be different.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.