Process for adjusting a flow capacity of an airfoil

Abstract

A process for adjusting a throat area (the flow capacity) between airfoils in an airfoil configuration such as a stator ring used in a small gas turbine engine. The airfoils are designed with an over-extending trailing edge forming a throat area sized such that a worst case tolerances design flow area would be achieved. A fluid with a flow rate representing the actual fluid for normal operation in the airfoil configuration is passed through the airfoil throats and the flow rate is measured. A specified portion of the leading edge of each airfoil is removed until the design flow rate through the airfoil configuration is achieved. A plurality of iterations of measuring flow rates and removing trailing edge material is performed until the design flow rate is achieved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.