Apparatus and method for active gap monitoring for a continuous flow machine
AssigneeMTU Aero Engines AG
InventorsStefan Morgenstern, Rudolf Stanka
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for active gap monitoring for a continuous flow machine, in particular an aircraft propulsion device, which has a rotor and a housing which surrounds the rotor forming a rotor gap, is disclosed. The apparatus having a cooling channel which is arranged on the external circumference of the rotor housing and is supplied with cooling air from a plenum. The cross section of the cooling channel decreases from the plenum in the circumferential direction. This ensures homogenous cooling and reduces the weight of the apparatus.
Claims22
An apparatus for active gap monitoring for a continuous flow machine which has a rotor and a housing which surrounds the rotor forming a rotor gap, comprising a cooling channel, wherein the cooling channel is a structure of two deformed metal halves which are connected at a crosspiece and wherein the cooling channel structure is fastened to an external circumference of the housing, wherein the cooling channel is supplied with cooling air from a plenum, and wherein a cross section of the cooling channel decreases from the plenum in a flow direction of the cooling air through the cooling channel.
A continuous flow machine, comprising:
- a rotor;
- a housing which surrounds the rotor, wherein the rotor and the housing define a rotor gap therebetween;
- and
- a cooling channel, wherein the cooling channel is a structure of two deformed metal halves which are connected at a crosspiece and wherein the cooling channel structure is fastened to an external circumference of the housing, and wherein a cross section of the cooling channel decreases from a plenum in a flow direction of cooling air through the cooling channel.
A method for controlling a gap between a rotor and a housing in a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:
- flowing a cooling air through a cooling channel, wherein the cooling channel is a structure of two deformed metal halves which are connected at a crosspiece and wherein the cooling channel structure is fastened to an external circumference of the housing, and wherein a cross section of the cooling channel decreases from a plenum in a flow direction of the cooling air through the cooling channel;
- cooling the housing by the cooling air;
- and
- controlling a length of the gap by the step of cooling the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.