This application claims the benefit of French Patent Application No. 1904171, filed on Apr. 18, 2019, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a method for configuring and positioning air passage holes through a wall of an aircraft gas turbomachine combustion chamber.
One of the major problems with these combustion chambers is the service life of the inner and outer walls.
It is known that in this field, a combustion chamber comprises:
The degradation of the inner and outer walls, which limits their service life, is particularly due to the thermal gradient between the hot (uncooled) and cold (cooled) zones of the combustion chamber.
It is also known to provide the inner and outer walls with multi-perforation holes allowing air to be brought into the furnace of the combustion chamber to limit these thermal gradients and therefore the hot zones.
Thus, it is preferable to limit as much as possible the non multi-perforated zones in order to have a material density as homogeneous as possible over the entire length of the wall considered.
Configuring and positioning (the) air passage holes through an aircraft gas turbomachine combustion chamber wall is therefore delicate and demanding.
Among the requirements could be that of not complicating the manufacturing process by adding particular multi-perforations around the holes, and therefore wishing to keep a “conventional” configuration, in line with an already existing configuration.
It is in this context that the invention proposes to reduce as far as possible these undrilled zones around the safety zone usually provided around the primary or dilution holes and to keep as many multi-perforation holes as possible by adapting the shape of the primary and dilution holes. The (All) through holes in this zone are deleted. Removing these holes involves undrilled zones around the safety zone.
A so-called “safety” zone around primary and/or dilution holes is a part of the wall that never is multi-perforated in order to prevent defects related to mechanical and thermal tolerances, cracking and the manufacture of the wall.
Typically, the inner and outer walls are each provided with a plurality of holes and miscellaneous air intake ports allowing air flowing around the combustion chamber to enter the combustion chamber.
Thus, in addition to multi-perforation holes, so-called “primary” and/or “dilution” holes are formed in these walls for this purpose. The air flowing through the primary holes helps to create an air/fuel mixture that is burnt in the chamber, while the air from the dilution holes is intended to help dilute the same air/fuel mixture.
More specifically, the invention thus provides for a method for configuring (or designing) and positioning air passage holes through an aircraft gas turbomachine combustion chamber wall, wherein at least one of a primary hole and a dilution hole is virtually positioned on the wall, with such method being more particularly characterized in that, before machining said at least one of a primary hole and a dilution hole:
In step c), the phrase “multi-perforation holes are virtually removed . . . ” implies that all, or only some, of the multi-perforation holes with a virtual inlet or outlet located in said first safety zone can be removed.
With the solution presented, we will be able to have more multi-perforation holes than we would have had without the invention. And so, all other things being equal, we are going to limit the thermal gradients and therefore the hot zones mentioned above.
On this subject, it may be wished that the primary or dilution hole(s) initially considered and positioned virtually on the defined wall is (are):
The use of such holes is nowadays well mastered. Starting from this reference can therefore be considered as a guarantee of safety, even if ovalized holes could for example be provided.
Concerning the “predetermined distance” and the definition, which depends on it, of said first safety zone, it will then be established from and around the axis of the primary or dilution hole in question.
In the same vein, it may be found appropriate that said at least one primary or dilution hole positioned virtually on the wall has an axis and that, in step a), said predetermined distance corresponds to a constant radius centered on said axis.
On this subject, if we consider that the surface on which the virtual steps are conducted and the different “definitions” made are planes (two-dimensional surfaces), then it is in this plane that this radius and the other distances involved will be considered (see attached figures).
Favorably, said first safety zone and modified safety zone will depend on said virtual positioning and distribution of the multi-perforation holes.
According to another characteristic, it is proposed:
This will make it possible to orientate, if desired, towards its final shape said primary or dilution hole, surrounded by its modified safety zone; in fact, it will be possible to choose that the shape of said hole essentially will reproduce (to scale, to the nearest rounded corners) that of said polygonal line.
Many different hole shapes are thus potentially accessible. However, it is preferable, again for a compromise between performance and relative simplicity of implementation, for the angles between the successive sections of the polygonal line to all go in the same direction: that of the closing of the line on itself.
Furthermore, with respect to said at least one primary or dilution hole (initially) positioned virtually on the wall, its section (S1) may be predetermined in order to maintain it. In this case, it may be usefully desired (step e) that, when redefining the shape of this same primary or dilution hole, said predetermined section will be selected.
This is once again a guarantee of safety and has been seen as an appropriate compromise between performance and relative simplicity of implementation. And one will be able to favor a preservation of the conditions initially defined with (the air passage section of) the original primary or dilution hole and the multi-perforation holes initially distributed and positioned.
That said, the final stage of shape redefinition may or may not be reached right away. Indeed, during (or at the end of) said step (e) it may be considered/decided that said at least one primary or dilution hole with its redefined shape is ultimately unsuitable. Two hypotheses were then more particularly selected:
It is then by iteration(s) that the configure (shape/section) and the positioning of the primary or dilution hole will finally be decided.
The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear when reading the following description, which is given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.
The combustion chamber 1 comprises:
The combustion chamber 1 is located, along the X axis of revolution of the turbomachine 10, downstream (AV) of a compressor, which may be a high-pressure compressor arranged axially after a low-pressure compressor. A ring-shaped air diffuser 11 is connected downstream of the compressor. The diffuser 11 opens into a space 13 surrounding an, here annular, combustion chamber 1. The space 13 is delimited by an outer casing 15 and an inner casing 17, both annular and coaxial to the X axis of the turbomachine. The combustion chamber 1 is held downstream by fixing flanges. The compressed air introduced into the furnace 18 of the combustion chamber 1 is mixed therein with fuel from injectors, such as the injectors 19. The gases from the combustion are directed to a (here high pressure) turbine located downstream (AV) of the outlet of the chamber 1, and first to a nozzle which is part of the stator of the turbomachine.
The inner 3 and outer 5 walls, of revolution are connected upstream to the annular transverse wall, or chamber end wall. They delimit with it (or with the ring of baffles 9) the furnace 18. In the example, (radially) outer 21 and inner 23 annular flanges, respectively, hold the chamber 1 at the downstream end, here by attachment to the outer 15 and inner 17 housings, respectively.
The inner wall 3 and/or outer wall 5 are crossed by primary holes 25 and dilution holes 27.
In relation to
In these figures, this surface or wall 3 can be assumed to be flat. It will therefore be understood that the width evoked is therefore a distance in the plane P) of the wall 3, in the example.
As shown in
The multi-perforation holes 29 have been distributed, including in the first safety zone 31 (width X), with, for each of these multi-perforation holes, virtual air inlets 290a and virtual air outlets 290b. On this subject, it must be understood that, for the implementation of the present method, both virtual air inlets 290a and virtual air outlets 290b are to be considered, independently of the (radially to the X axis) outer 3a or inner face 3b of the wall (here 3) considered. Indeed, as soon as the hole, here 25, crosses the whole wall 3, a weakening due to a too great proximity with surrounding multi-perforation (said adjacent) holes 29 can occur as much on the outer side 3a as on the inner side 3b. Thus, if the dotted lines of the multi-perforations 29 and their air outlets 290b indicate that, on the manufactured part, only the inlets 290a will be visible on the outer face 3a (idem on the face 3b with the outlets 290b), all the multi-perforations 29 and their inlets 290a and outlets 290b are to be taken into account.
In plane P) of the wall 3 considered here, the multi-perforations 29 have a predefined cross-section (S2) which can be common (or not) to all multi-perforations 29. In the example, it is common. And, still in the example, it is supposed to be circular.
In addition, the (each) primary hole 25 and/or dilution hole 27 shall be considered to be oriented perpendicular to the wall through which it is to pass; axis 25a in
On the other hand, the multi-perforations 29 may extend obliquely with respect to the plane P) of the wall 3 considered here, and therefore with respect to the orientation of the (each) primary hole 25 and/or dilution hole 27, materialized here by said axis 25a.
Having said this, it is therefore imperative to define as best as possible the uncooled zones around a hole 25 and to keep as many multi-perforation holes 29 around it as possible.
To this end, and before or after the above-mentioned definition, orientation and distribution of the multi-perforation holes 29 (step b), we will therefore:
In a step called c), we will then virtually remove the multi-perforation holes 29 with a virtual inlet 290a or outlet 290b located in said first safety zone 31, as shown in
In the example, twenty-three mufti-perforation holes or drills 29 within, or intersecting, the safety zone 31 were thus eliminated.
It is more than likely that then, as shown in
In this case, since the hole-free zone 33, which will therefore be non-(badly) cooled (in particular by the air having to pass through the remaining multi-perforations), is too large, we will virtually reintegrate at least some of the removed multi-perforations whose virtual inlet or outlet is located closest to the periphery 31a (outside) of said first safety zone 31; see markers 29a-29g
From then on, a second perimeter 35a passing through all the virtual inlets and outlets of all the multi-perforation holes (including of course the aforementioned 29a-29g) adjacent to said hole 25, and all around it, we will then be able to define towards this hole 25 a modified safety zone 35 (of width Xmini), of a different shape from the first safety zone, and of course without air passage hole (thus without any opening therefore); see
The two closed boundaries of this modified safety zone 35 are shown in
It can thus be seen that the cylindrical hole 25 is no longer adapted to the multi-perforation environment. The hole 25 therefore loses its cylindrical shape to approach a profile 250 (approximately) parallel to the security contour: second perimeter 35a.
In fact, during this step d22) of redefining the modified safety zone, marked 35, one will have a priori chosen to keep (at least some of) the holes 29a-29g of multi-perforations virtually reintegrated.
At this stage of presentation, let us assume that we have chosen to keep all the multi-perforation holes 29a-29g.
In any case, and also on the basis of the principle:
Typically, the primary hole(s) 25 or dilution hole(s) 27 initially considered will be cylindrical and circular in cross-section. Although other shapes are possible, they are more difficult to integrate and machine.
At least in this case, said predetermined distance X will preferably correspond to a constant radius centered on axis 25a of the hole initially provided, here 25.
Thus, the first safety zone 31 will be uniform around the hole, here 25, to be configured and positioned as well as possible.
Favorably, both this first safety zone 31 and the modified safety zone 35 will depend on said virtual positioning and distribution of the multi-perforation holes 29 and on an (initially) predetermined distance between any multi-perforation hole and the primary or dilution hole under consideration, here 25. It could be the above-mentioned distance X. The limits of distance X will be:
Thus, since the multi-perforation holes 29 have not changed between steps a) and e) above (
Since the primary or dilution hole 25 (initially) positioned virtually on the wall can then have a predetermined cross-section, it may be useful to hope that, when redefining the shape of this same primary or dilution hole, said predetermined cross-section is selected.
With regard to step e) of redefining the shape of said at least one primary or dilution hole, it may comprise a conservation of the predetermined section (S1) of this hole.
Thus, it will be possible to favor a preservation of the conditions initially defined with the original air passage section of the hole 25 and the initially distributed and positioned multi-perforation holes 29.
At this stage (e), once the modified safety zone 35, and thus the Xmini distance, has been chosen, it is possible that the initial section (S1) of the hole 25 will also be selected in the modified profile hole 250 and that this (these) modified profile hole(s) 250 will be suitable. In this case, the next step f1) will include stopping the process and making the final choice to retain this (these) modified profile hole(s) 250, with initial section (S1). This is the hypothesis used in
If, however, said predetermined section (S1) is finally unsuitable, a subsequent step (f2) is then carried out comprising, without changing said modified safety zone 35, a new redefinition of the shape of said at least one primary or dilution hole which is thus repositioned, with a change in said predetermined section (S1), which is a priori smaller.
It may also be considered that the modified safety zone associated with the modified profile hole 250 cannot/will not be maintained. In this case, a step f3) comprising (at least) a reiteration of step d21) including a virtual reintegration of more or less multi-perforation holes than in the previous step d21) will be conducted, followed by a reiteration of steps d22) and e).
The initial situation is always assumed to be as shown in
In this
From the second perimeter 135a (which thus passes through all the virtual inlets and outlets of all the multi-perforation holes adjacent to and surrounding said selected “primary or dilution” hole 125), we have here defined a so-called modified, rectangular, safety zone 135 without air passage holes, or openings. In both directions of the same plane P) as before, we find the safety distance Xmini.
Furthermore, it is within the closed inner contour 135b of the modified safety zone 135 that the final shape 350 of the selected primary or dilution hole was inscribed; see
We can see in
The rectangular shape of the modified safety zone 135 resulted in a final rectangular shape 350. For an efficiency in the approach and as we have, in the example, wished to keep a constant Xmini width all along the second perimeter 135a (in both directions of the same plane P), the two closed limits 135a,135b are parallel to each other. Furthermore, the conservation also chosen in the example of a hole of section S1 induced a real distance X which, as previously, is therefore such that X=Xmini+Δmini being the distance, in the plane P, necessary to reach a rectangular hole 350 of section S1 and with rounded corners taking into account certain imperatives, such as the manufacturing conditions.
Once the (each) hole 250 or 350 has been defined (shape, positioning, size . . . ), with its surrounding mufti-perforation holes 29 or 129 also defined, the relevant zones of walls 3 and/or 5 can be machined.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1904171 | Apr 2019 | FR | national |