Reference is made to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/502,079, entitled TURBINE SHROUD THERMAL DISTORTION CONTROL, filed on the same date as this application.
The present invention relates to an outer shroud assembly for use in a gas turbine engine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ceramic shroud assembly including a metal clamp ring shrink fitted around a ceramic shroud ring, where the metal clamp ring is configured to attach to a turbine engine casing.
As gas turbine engine operating temperatures have been elevated in order to increase engine efficiency, many metal alloy (“metal”) gas turbine engine components, such as a shroud or rotor blade, have been targeted to be replaced by ceramic equivalents. Ceramic materials are able to withstand higher operating temperatures and require less cooling than metals. Ceramic components are also generally less sensitive to thermal expansion than metal components because ceramic materials generally exhibit a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than a metal.
In one type of gas turbine engine, a static shroud ring is disposed radially outwardly from a turbine rotor, which includes a plurality of blades radially extending from a disc. The shroud ring at least partially defines a flow path for combustion gases as the gases pass from a combustor through turbine stages. There is typically a gap between the shroud ring and rotor blade tips in order to accommodate thermal expansion of both components during operation of the engine. The gap decreases during engine operation as the rotor blades thermally expand in a radial direction in reaction to high operating temperatures. It has been found that ceramic rotor blade tips experience a reduced radial displacement as compared to metal rotor blades because ceramic materials posses a lower CTE than metals. As a result, in a gas turbine engine incorporating ceramic rotor blades, there is a relatively large gap (or clearance) between the blade tips and the shroud ring. It is generally desirable to minimize the gap between a blade tip and shroud ring in order to minimize the percentage of hot combustion gases that leak through the tip region of the blade. The leakage reduces the amount of energy that is transferred from the gas flow to the turbine blades, which penalizes engine performance.
In order to minimize losses induced by relatively large clearances between rotor blade tips and static shroud rings, some gas turbine engines are able to reduce the clearance by utilizing a ceramic shroud ring rather than a metal shroud ring. A ceramic shroud ring undergoes less thermal distortion during engine operation than many metal shroud rings due to the higher stiffness, lower CTE, and higher thermal conductivity of ceramic materials as compared to metals. Furthermore, a ceramic shroud requires less cooling than a metal shroud because ceramic material is capable of withstanding higher operating temperatures.
In contrast to many metal shroud rings, it is difficult to attach a ceramic shroud ring to a metal gas turbine engine casing because the ceramic material exhibits a low ductility and a lower CTE than the metal casing. In general, stresses may generate at an interface between a ceramic component and a metal component because the ceramic and metal components react differently to the same temperature.
The present invention is a ceramic shroud assembly that allows a ceramic shroud to be attached to a metal gas turbine engine casing in a manner that compensates for a difference in CTEs between the ceramic and metal materials. The ceramic shroud assembly includes a metal clamp ring shrink fitted around a ceramic shroud and a compliant and insulating layer positioned between the ceramic shroud and the clamp ring. The metal clamp ring is configured to attach to the gas turbine engine casing, thereby attaching the ceramic shroud to the casing. The ceramic shroud assembly also includes a ring configured to axially restrain the ceramic shroud.
During operation of gas turbine engine 10, hot gases from combustion chamber 12 enter first high pressure turbine stage 14 through turbine inlet region 22. More specifically, the hot gases move downstream (indicated by arrow 24) in an aft direction past a plurality of nozzle vanes 16. Nozzle vanes 16 direct the flow of hot gases past rotor blades 18, which radially extend from a rotor disc (not shown), as known in the art. Rotor blades 18 may be attached to the rotor disk using a mechanical attachment, such as a dovetail attachment, or may be integral with the rotor (i.e., an integrally bladed rotor). As known in the art, shroud assembly 20 defines an outer surface for guiding the flow of hot gases through first compressor turbine stage 14, while platform 21 positioned on an opposite end of rotor blade 18 from shroud assembly 20 defines an inner flow path surface.
Ceramic shroud assembly 20 in accordance with the present invention includes clamp ring 26, ceramic shroud 28, interlayer 30, which is positioned between clamp ring 26 and ceramic shroud 28, and axial restraint ring 32. Shroud assembly 20 allows for relative movement between ceramic and metal parts (i.e., between metal casing 13 and ceramic shroud 28), which helps compensate for a difference in thermal growth between metal casing 13 and ceramic shroud 28. As discussed in the Background section, when metal casing 13 and ceramic shroud 28 are directly interfaced, stresses may generate at the interface because of the difference in CTE values between the ceramic and metal materials. The stresses may cause shroud 28 to fail. Furthermore, it is relatively difficult to attach ceramic shroud 28 to metal gas turbine engine casing 13 because the ceramic material exhibits a low ductility.
Shroud assembly 20 of the present invention allows ceramic shroud 28 to be attached to metal casing 13 using metal clamp ring 26, which is configured to attach to metal turbine casing 13, such as by a mechanical attachment means (e.g., bolts). As discussed in further detail below, metal clamp ring 26 is shrink fit around ceramic shroud 28 and interlayer 30, which allows metal clamp ring 26 and shroud 28 to be attached, yet allows for relative thermal growth therebetween without generating undue stress on shroud 28. Shrink fitting is a process in which heat is used to produce a very strong joint between two components, one of which is at least partially inserted into the other. In the present invention, clamp ring 26 is heated to a “preheat temperature,” which causes clamp ring 26 to expand. Upon expansion, ceramic shroud 28 and interlayer 30 are inserted into clamp ring 26. After clamp ring 26 cools, clamp ring 26 contracts, thereby compressing (or “clamping”) ceramic shroud 28 and interlayer 30. In this way, clamp ring 26 holds shroud assembly 20 together by interference fit.
Clamp ring 26 is formed of a metal, such as a nickel-base alloy. Front face 26A of clamp ring 26 abuts axial restraint ring 32, while aft face 26B abuts an aft surface of ceramic shroud assembly 20. Flange 26C of clamp ring 26 is configured to mate with casing 13. In alternate embodiments, flange 26C may extend from clamp ring 26 in a different direction or may be removed from clamp ring 26, depending on a structure of casing 13. In one embodiment, clamp ring 26 and turbine casing 13 exhibit similar CTE values. In another embodiment, clamp ring 26 and turbine casing 13 exhibit different CTE values and clamp ring 26 is attached to turbine casing 13 using an attachment means allowing for relative growth therebetween (e.g., a U-slot). However, in either embodiment, metal clamp ring 26 and metal casing 13 interface, rather than metal casing 13 interfacing directly with ceramic shroud 28, which helps prevent the formation of stresses at an interface between ceramic shroud 28 and metal casing 13.
Clamp ring 26 includes a plurality of cooling holes 27, which are circumferentially positioned near front face 26A. Similarly, casing 13 includes a plurality of cooling holes 36. In order to cool shroud 28, which is exposed to hot combustion gases, cooling air is bled from a compressor region of turbine engine 10 to plenum 34 and through cooling holes 36 in casing 13 and cooling holes 27 in clamp ring 26. Air seal 38 may optionally be placed near aft face 26B of clamp ring 26 in order to help direct cooling air from cooling holes 36 through cooling holes 27, and minimize cooling air leakage.
Ceramic shroud 28 is a continuous uninterrupted annular ring having a substantially constant thickness (measured in a radial direction). Of course, in alternate embodiments, shroud 28 may also be formed of a plurality of split shroud segments in an annular arrangement. However, a continuous ring improves sealing about the outer flow path through first compressor stage 14, which helps increase the efficiency of turbine engine 10 by minimizing leakages of hot gases. Ceramic shroud 28 may be formed of any suitable material known in the art, such as silicon nitride.
Interlayer 30 is formed of a thermally insulating and compliant material exhibiting a relatively high compressive yield stress (e.g., greater than about 6×106 kilopascals (kPa)). In one embodiment, interlayer 30 is formed of mica, which exhibits a through thickness CTE of about 15×10−6/° C. to about 20×10−6/° C.
During operation of gas turbine engine 10, high operating temperatures cause clamp ring 26 and shroud 28 to expand (i.e., thermal growth). Clamp ring 26 is formed of a metal, while shroud 28 is formed of a ceramic material, and due to the difference in CTE values between metals and ceramics, clamp ring 26 is likely to encounter more thermal growth than shroud 28 during operation of gas turbine engine 10. In order to help absorb the thermal growth mismatch and help prevent stresses from forming between clamp ring 26 and shroud 28 due to the difference in CTE values, interlayer 30 is positioned between clamp ring 26 and shroud 28. Interlayer 30 is formed of a compliant and thermally insulative material. The compliancy of interlayer 30 helps absorb the thermal growth mismatch between clamp ring 26 and 28. Because interlayer 30 is also thermally insulative, interlayer 30 also helps isolate clamp ring 26 from combustion gases and heat flow from shroud 28 (which is at a high temperature due to the flow of hot gases between platform 21 and shroud 28) to clamp ring 26. Finally, interlayer 30 also helps prevent any chemical reaction between clamp ring 26 and shroud 28, which are formed of different materials.
Interlayer 30 includes first portion 30A and second portion 30B. A thickness of first portion 30A is greater than a thickness of second portion 30B. In the embodiment illustrated in
Axial restraint ring 32 abuts front face 26A of clamp ring 26A and front face 28A of shroud 28, and helps restrain shroud 28 in an axial direction. Details of one embodiment of axial restraint ring 32 are described in reference to
After heating clamp ring 26, shroud 28 and interlayer 30, which are typically at room temperature (approximately 21-23° C.) (i.e., unexpanded), are introduced into expanded clamp ring 26. In one embodiment, interlayer 30 is attached to shroud 28 before being introduced into clamp ring 26. Because clamp ring 26 is expanded to radius R2, shroud 28 and interlayer 30, which are approximately at room temperature, are able to fit within clamp ring 26. First portion 30A of interlayer 30 has outer radius R3, while second portion 30B of interlayer 30 has outer radius R4, which is less than radius R3. In one embodiment, outer radius R3 of first portion 30A is approximately equal to radius R2 of heated and expanded clamp ring 26.
The preheat temperature of clamp ring 26 affects a clamp load which is applied to ceramic shroud 28 and interlayer 30. Generally, the higher the preheat temperature, the higher the clamp load and the higher the stress in clamp ring 26 for a given radius at the preheat temperature (after metal clamp ring 26 is brought back down to room temperature). This relationship is attributable to the fact that in a typical shrink fit process, the amount clamp ring 26 expands (i.e., the difference between R1 and R2) is generally proportional to the amount clamp ring 26 shrinks upon being returned to room temperature. The more clamp ring 26 shrinks, the greater the stresses generated in clamp ring 26 and the greater the load clamp ring 26 exerts on shroud 28. As a result of the relationship between clamp ring 26 expansion, stresses in clamp ring 26, and clamp loads, the preheat temperature is chosen based on the desirable stresses and clamp loads. The preheat temperature is preferably low enough to prevent metal clamp ring 26 from exceeding its yield limit or creep strength. On the other hand, the preheat temperature is preferably high enough to achieve a clamp load that is sufficient enough to hold shroud assembly 20 together during all engine 10 (
A finite element analysis was conducted with respect to one embodiment of gas turbine engine 10 (
The finite element analysis was conducted with respect to three preheat temperatures, which are listed in Column 1 of Table 1. Column 2 lists the maximum Von Mises stress values for clamp ring 26 after clamp ring 26 is heated to the respective preheat temperature listed in Column 1 to reach a radius R3 from radius R2 and subsequently cooled to room temperature. Column 3 lists, for each of the preheat temperatures, the maximum Von Mises stress value for metal clamp ring 26 during gas turbine engine 10 (
As seen from the data listed in Table 1, as the preheat temperature increases, the Von Mises stress in clamp ring 26 and clamp load applied by clamp ring 26 increase at both room temperature and engine 10 steady-state conditions. Both the Von Mises stress and clamp load drop from room temperature conditions to steady-state conditions because clamp ring 26 expands in response to the increased operating temperatures, and clamp ring 26 expands more than shroud 28 due to the difference to CTE of ceramic shroud 28 and metal clamp ring 26. When clamp ring 26 expands more than shroud 28, the amount of interference fit between clamp ring 26 and shroud 28 is decreased. In one embodiment, clamp ring 26 is formed of Inconel 783, which is an oxidation-resistant nickel-based superalloy. Inconel 783 exhibits a yield stress of about 7.58×106 kPa (about 110 ksi per square inch (ksi)). At each of the preheat temperatures in Table 1, the maximum Von Mises stress for clamp ring 26 is below the yield stress of Inconel 783. Therefore, for clamp ring 26 formed of Inconel 783, preheat temperatures ranging from about 204° C. to about 316° C. are suitable.
Maintaining a suitable clamp load during engine transient conditions (i.e., when a transition is made from one engine power output level to another) is also in important factor in determining the preheat temperature. Due to different CTE and heat transfer characteristics of metal clamp ring 26 and ceramic shroud 28, a thermal response of metal clamp ring 26 and ceramic shroud 28 to the same power output level can differ, which may impact the clamp load. For example, during engine start-up, ceramic shroud 28 typically heats up faster than metal clamp ring 26 because of a more rapid change in heat transfer boundary conditions of shroud 28. That is, because shroud 28 is directly exposed to hot combustion gases, shroud 28 tends to heat up and expand faster than clamp ring 26. When shroud 28 expands faster than clamp ring 26, clamp load and stress in clamp ring 26 increases because shroud 28 pushes against clamp ring 26. Therefore it is important to know what is the minimum clamp load during engine transient.
Engine start-up and shut-down were simulated using finite element analysis in order to determine the load exerted by clamp ring 26 on shroud 28, and the Von Mises stress of clamp ring 26. Table 2 illustrates the results of the finite element analysis for stresses and clamp loads during engine 10 start-up conditions:
Table 3 illustrates the results of the finite element analysis for stresses and clamp loads during engine 10 shutdown conditions:
In the embodiment in which clamp ring 26 is formed of Inconel 783, the stresses in clamp ring 26 remain below the yield stress of Inconel 783 (about 7.58×105 kPa) during engine 10 start-up and shutdown conditions when the preheat temperature of clamp ring 26 is up to about 316° C. Thus, for an Inconel 783 clamp ring 26 (or a material exhibiting similar properties), a preheat temperature of about 316° C. is suitable.
During engine 10 shutdown, shroud 28 contracts faster than clamp ring 26 and it is critical to maintain a minimum clamp load. As shown in Table 3, at engine 10 shutdown, minimum clamp loads drop compared to clamp loads at steady-state engine 10 operating conditions (detailed in Table 1). A concern at engine 10 shutdown is whether clamp ring 26 will apply sufficient clamp load on shroud 28. As previously discussed, the preheat temperature is dependent upon the desirable clamp loads. For example, if a clamp load of approximately 7.18 kN needs to be maintained at all times to maintain the integrity of shroud assembly 20, the lower limit of a preheat temperature is about 260° C.
It is also desirable for ceramic shroud 28 to remain under compression for substantially all engine conditions because ceramic material is stronger in a compressive stress state than in a tensile stress state. For an Inconel 783 clamp ring 26, it has been found that if the preheat temperature is selected in the range of about 260° C. to about 316° C., ceramic shroud 28 remains under compression for all engine conditions, while at the same time, clamp ring 26 operates below its yield limit.
Radial cuts 46 in axial restraint ring 32 define a plurality of radial tabs 48 that are configured to push against front face 28A of shroud 28 (shown in
Taper angle S of shroud 58 is governed by a frictional coefficient that is necessary to keep shroud 58 located axially (i.e., prevent shroud 58 from moving in aft (or downstream) direction 24 or upstream direction 25). For a high coefficient of friction (e.g., 0.6), taper angle S may be up to 31° with respect to line 66 without compromising the axial location of shroud 58. Although there is a radial component to the force with which clamp ring 56 compresses shroud 58, the embodiment of shroud assembly 54 in
While a shroud assembly in accordance with the present invention has been described in reference to a first high pressure turbine stage, the inventive shroud assembly is suitable for incorporation into any turbine stage of a gas turbine engine, as well as any other application of a shroud ring.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description, not limitation. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as bases for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This invention was made with Government support under contract number W31P4Q-05-D-R002, awarded by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command Operation and Service Directorate. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.
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