US20100166562A1 - Turbine blade root configurations - Google Patents
Turbine blade root configurations Download PDFInfo
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- US20100166562A1 US20100166562A1 US12/346,334 US34633408A US2010166562A1 US 20100166562 A1 US20100166562 A1 US 20100166562A1 US 34633408 A US34633408 A US 34633408A US 2010166562 A1 US2010166562 A1 US 2010166562A1
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- Prior art keywords
- rotor blade
- edge
- dovetail
- platform
- suction
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D5/00—Blades; Blade-carrying members; Heating, heat-insulating, cooling or antivibration means on the blades or the members
- F01D5/12—Blades
- F01D5/14—Form or construction
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D5/00—Blades; Blade-carrying members; Heating, heat-insulating, cooling or antivibration means on the blades or the members
- F01D5/30—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers
- F01D5/3007—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers of axial insertion type
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D5/00—Blades; Blade-carrying members; Heating, heat-insulating, cooling or antivibration means on the blades or the members
- F01D5/30—Fixing blades to rotors; Blade roots ; Blade spacers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01D—NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES
- F01D5/00—Blades; Blade-carrying members; Heating, heat-insulating, cooling or antivibration means on the blades or the members
- F01D5/34—Rotor-blade aggregates of unitary construction, e.g. formed of sheet laminae
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2240/00—Components
- F05D2240/80—Platforms for stationary or moving blades
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2250/00—Geometry
- F05D2250/30—Arrangement of components
- F05D2250/31—Arrangement of components according to the direction of their main axis or their axis of rotation
- F05D2250/312—Arrangement of components according to the direction of their main axis or their axis of rotation the axes being parallel to each other
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2250/00—Geometry
- F05D2250/70—Shape
- F05D2250/71—Shape curved
Definitions
- This present application relates generally to apparatus, methods and/or systems concerning improved turbine blade root configurations. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present application relates to apparatus, methods and/or systems pertaining to turbine blades that combine axial entry, linear dovetails with curved platforms.
- nested is a common term that refers to a condition wherein the curvature of neighboring airfoils overlaps. This overlap generally means that the turbine blades, if aligned as they might be when installed in a rotor wheel of a conventional turbine engine, cannot be separated with an axial or a linear movement of one of the blades because of the interference between the nested airfoils, i.e., the airfoils would make contact and prevent separation in this manner.
- the present application thus describes a rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein the root includes a linear dovetail and a curved platform.
- the present application further describes a rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein: the root comprises a shank and a dovetail; the shank extends from the dovetail and comprises a platform at an radial outward surface; the dovetail includes one or more tangs; the platform comprises an axially and circumferentially oriented surface that defines, at least in part, the inner most radial boundary of the flow path through the turbine; the dovetail is linear; and the platform is curved.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary turbine engine in which certain embodiments of the present invention may be used;
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the compressor section of the gas turbine engine of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the turbine section of the gas turbine engine of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turbine assembly of a gas turbine engine in which certain embodiments of the present invention may be used;
- FIG. 5 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to conventional design
- FIG. 6 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to another conventional design
- FIG. 7 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a gas turbine engine 100 .
- gas turbine engines operate by extracting energy from a pressurized flow of hot gas that is produced by the combustion of a fuel in a stream of compressed air.
- gas turbine engine 100 may be configured with an axial compressor 106 that is mechanically coupled by a common shaft to a downstream turbine section or turbine 110 , and a combustor 112 positioned between the compressor 106 and the turbine 110 .
- the following invention may be used in all types of turbine engines, including, for example, gas turbine engines, steam turbine engines, and aircraft engines.
- the invention will be described in relation to a gas turbine engine, though this description is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting in any way.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a view of an exemplary multi-staged axial compressor 118 that may be used in a gas turbine engine.
- the compressor 118 may include a plurality of stages. Each stage may include a row of compressor rotor blades 120 followed by a row of compressor stator blades 122 .
- a first stage may include a row of compressor rotor blades 120 , which rotate about a central shaft, followed by a row of compressor stator blades 122 , which remain stationary during operation.
- the compressor stator blades 122 generally are circumferentially spaced one from the other and fixed about the axis of rotation.
- the compressor rotor blades 120 are circumferentially spaced and attached to the shaft such that, when the shaft rotates during operation, the compressor rotor blades 120 rotates about it.
- the compressor rotor blades 120 are configured such that, when spun about the shaft, they impart kinetic energy to the air or working fluid flowing through the compressor 118 .
- the compressor 118 may have many other stages beyond the stages that are illustrated in FIG. 2 . Additional stages may include a plurality of circumferential spaced compressor rotor blades 120 followed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced compressor stator blades 122 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of an exemplary turbine section or turbine 124 that may be used in the gas turbine engine.
- the turbine 124 also may include a plurality of stages. Three exemplary stages are illustrated, but more or less stages may present in the turbine 124 .
- Each stage may include a plurality of turbine buckets or turbine rotor blades 126 , which rotate about the shaft during operation, and a plurality of nozzles or turbine stator blades 128 , which remain stationary during operation.
- the turbine stator blades 128 generally are circumferentially spaced one from the other and fixed about the axis of rotation.
- the turbine rotor blades 126 may be mounted on a turbine wheel (not shown) for rotation about the shaft (not shown).
- each additional stage may include a row of turbine stator blades 128 followed by a row of turbine rotor blades 126 .
- rotor blades is a reference to the rotating blades of either the compressor 118 or the turbine 124 , which include both compressor rotor blades 120 and turbine rotor blades 126 .
- stator blades is a reference to the stationary blades of either the compressor 118 or the turbine 124 , which include both compressor stator blades 122 and turbine stator blades 128 .
- blades will be used herein to refer to either type of blade.
- the term “blades” is inclusive to all type of turbine engine blades, including compressor rotor blades 120 , compressor stator blades 122 , turbine rotor blades 126 , and turbine stator blades 128 .
- the rotation of compressor rotor blades 120 within the axial compressor 118 may compress a flow of air.
- energy may be released when the compressed air is mixed with a fuel and ignited.
- the resulting flow of hot gases from the combustor 112 then may be directed over the turbine rotor blades 126 , which may induce the rotation of the turbine rotor blades 126 about the shaft, thus transforming the energy of the hot flow of gases into the mechanical energy of the rotating blades and, because of the connection between the rotor blades in the shaft, the rotating shaft.
- the mechanical energy of the shaft may then be used to drive the rotation of the compressor rotor blades 120 , such that the necessary supply of compressed air is produced, and also, for example, a generator to produce electricity.
- FIG. 4 depicts a portion of a turbine assembly 130 of the gas turbine engine 100 .
- the turbine assembly 130 may be mounted downstream from the combustor (not shown in FIG. 4 ) for receiving hot combustion gases 131 therefrom.
- the turbine assembly 130 generally comprises a disk 132 having a plurality of turbine rotor blades 126 securely attached thereto.
- the turbine rotor blade 126 comprises an airfoil 136 that extends radially from a root 138 , which it generally is integral therewith.
- a platform 140 is disposed at the base of the airfoil 136 and generally is also integral therewith.
- the turbine assembly 130 is axisymmetrical about an axial centerline axis 141 .
- An annular shroud 142 surrounds the blades 126 and is suitably joined to a stationary stator casing (not shown).
- the shroud 142 provides a relatively small clearance or gap between it and the rotor blades 126 , which limits the leakage of combustion gases 131 over the blades 126 during operation.
- the airfoil 136 generally includes a concave pressure sidewall or pressure side 143 and a circumferentially or laterally opposite, convex suction sidewall or suction side 144 . Both the pressure sidewall 143 and the suction sidewall 144 extend axially between a leading edge 146 and a trailing edge 148 . The pressure sidewall 143 and the suction sidewall 144 further extend in the radial direction between the radially inner root 138 at the platform 140 and a radially outer blade tip 150 .
- the root 138 generally includes a shank 152 , the outer radial surface of which is the platform 140 , and a dovetail 154 .
- the dovetail 154 is the inner radial section of the root 138
- the shank 152 is the section that connects the dovetail 154 to the airfoil 136 .
- the dovetail 154 has a side entry type configuration that includes a plurality of tangs 156 , which generally provides the root 138 with a serrated cross-section.
- the shank 152 extends from the outer radial portion of the dovetail 154 to the outer radial surface of the shank 152 , which, as stated, is the platform 140 .
- the root 138 may be described as having a trailing edge or face 158 and a leading edge or face 160 , and, as illustrated, the root 138 may extend in a linear direction from the trailing face 158 to the leading face 160 .
- the root 138 may be described as having a pressure face 162 and a suction face 164 , which correspond, respectively, with the pressure side 143 and the suction side 144 of the airfoil 136 .
- the disc 132 may have a plurality of dovetail grooves 166 formed around its circumference.
- Each of the dovetail grooves 166 may be formed as a mate to the dovetails 154 of the rotor blades 126 such that each of the dovetails 154 may be axially inserted into the dovetail groove 162 . It will be appreciated that the configuration of the dovetail 154 /dovetail groove 166 connects the rotor blades 126 to the disc 132 and prevents the radial displacement of the rotor blades 126 during operation.
- the dovetail 154 may be linear, i.e., have a linear orientation from the trailing face 158 to the leading face 160 , and the dovetail groove 162 may be linearly oriented as well. Formed in this manner, the rotor blades 126 may be axially inserted into the dovetail grooves 162 a linear fashion. As discussed in more detail below, a curved configuration for the root is also possible.
- Turbine rotor blades are the rotating blades within the turbine section of the turbine engine. This description is exemplary only, as embodiments of the invention described herein are not limited to usage with only turbine rotor blades.
- the present invention also may be applied to compressor rotor blades 120 , which, generally, are the rotating blades within the compressor section of the turbine engine. Accordingly, reference herein to “rotor blades,” without further specificity, is meant to be inclusive of both turbine rotor blades and compressor rotor blades. And, examples that are applied to turbine rotor blades are not meant to exclude usage of the present invention in compressor rotor blades.
- FIG. 5 depicts a rotor blade with a conventional linear root 138 .
- the linear root 138 includes a platform 140 and a dovetail 154 that have a linear orientation from the trailing face 158 to the leading face 160 of the root 138 . More particularly, the pressure face 162 and the suction face 164 of the root 138 are not curved and generally run in a straight manner from the trailing face 158 to the leading face 160 . It will be appreciated that the linearly oriented platform 140 is approximately rectilinear in shape. Each edge of the platform 140 may be identified by its relationship to the trailing face 158 , leading face 160 , the pressure face 162 , and the suction face 164 .
- the platform 140 may be described to include a trailing edge 170 , a leading edge 172 , a pressure edge 174 , and a suction edge 176 .
- the pressure edge 174 is generally linear or straight.
- the suction edge 176 is generally linear or straight.
- the dovetail 154 also may extend from the trailing face 158 to the leading face 160 in an approximate linear manner.
- Other portions of the shank 152 also may be linear.
- performance criteria for airfoil design may require that airfoils become “nested” when positioned in an assembled configuration. When this is the case, removing blades linearly (which is what would be the case with linear configurations similar to FIG. 5 ) becomes impossible.
- FIG. 6 depicts a rotor blade with a conventional curved root 138 .
- the curved root may include a curved platform 140 and a curved dovetail 154 .
- the pressure face 162 and the suction face 164 of the root 138 are curved.
- the pressure edge 174 of the platform 140 may form a concave curve.
- the suction edge 176 of the platform 140 may form a similar curve, though it may be a convex curve.
- the dovetail 154 also may form a similar curve.
- Other portions of the shank 152 may form a similar curve.
- the curvature for all of these components may be similar and, generally, is an arc of a circle.
- FIG. 7 depicts a rotor blade with a curved platform 140 and a linear dovetail 154 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
- the dovetail 154 may be substantially similar to the dovetail 154 of FIG. 5 . That is, the dovetail 154 may be substantially linear and be configured to mate with a substantially linear dovetail groove 166 .
- the linear dovetail 154 and dovetail groove 166 may be aligned such that, on installation, each runs parallel with the centerline axis 141 . In other embodiments, the linear dovetail 154 and the dovetail groove 166 may be skewed in relation to the direction of the centerline axis 141 .
- the platform 140 may be curved, i.e., substantially similar to the platform 140 configuration of FIG. 6 .
- the pressure edge 174 of the platform 140 may form a curve, which in preferred embodiments is a concave curve.
- the suction edge 176 of the platform 140 may form a similar curve, though the suction edge 176 may form a convex curve.
- the curvature of the suction edge 176 and the pressure edge 174 may be substantially the same, though offset by the width of the platform 140 . In this manner, the pressure edge 174 of one blade may engage the suction edge 176 of a neighboring blade so that the platform 140 of the neighboring blades forms a smooth substantially continuous surface.
- the trailing edge 170 and the leading edge 172 of the platform 140 may remain linear, though this is not required.
- the portions of the shank 152 below the platform generally may form a transition between the curved platform 140 and the linear dovetail 154 .
- the curvature of the pressure edge 174 and the suction edge 176 may be approximately the same.
- the curve of the pressure edge 174 and the suction edge 176 may form the arc of an approximate circle.
- root configurations consistent with the present invention may provide advantages associated linear root configurations, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 5 , while also providing advantages associated with curved root configurations, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 6 .
Abstract
A rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein: the root comprises a shank and a dovetail; the shank extends from the dovetail and comprises a platform at an radial outward surface; the dovetail includes one or more tangs; the platform comprises an axially and circumferentially oriented surface that defines, at least in part, the inner most radial boundary of the flow path through the turbine; the dovetail is linear; and the platform is curved.
Description
- This present application relates generally to apparatus, methods and/or systems concerning improved turbine blade root configurations. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present application relates to apparatus, methods and/or systems pertaining to turbine blades that combine axial entry, linear dovetails with curved platforms.
- The conventional configuration and design of turbine blades that have large root chords and cambers generally result in the airfoils of the blades becoming “nested.” As one of ordinary skill year will appreciate, “nested” is a common term that refers to a condition wherein the curvature of neighboring airfoils overlaps. This overlap generally means that the turbine blades, if aligned as they might be when installed in a rotor wheel of a conventional turbine engine, cannot be separated with an axial or a linear movement of one of the blades because of the interference between the nested airfoils, i.e., the airfoils would make contact and prevent separation in this manner.
- To address this issue, conventional turbine blades often are designed with curved platforms and dovetails. This allows neighboring turbine blades whose airfoils are nested to be separated because, during separation, the turbine blade follows a curved route and, thereby, avoids the neighboring airfoil. However, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, turbine blades with platforms and dovetails that are curved present operational issues of their own, including, for example, increased difficulty and complexity of manufacture. In addition, as one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, with turbine blades that have platforms and dovetails that are curved, it is difficult or impossible to remove sets of neighboring blades from the turbine wheel at the same time because of the interference that necessarily occurs between the curved platforms and roots of neighboring blades. As a result, there remains a need for an improved turbine blade, and particularly an improved design for the root (i.e., the dovetail, shank and/or platform components) of the turbine blade that allows for more efficient manufacture, assembly, and/or operation.
- The present application thus describes a rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein the root includes a linear dovetail and a curved platform.
- The present application further describes a rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein: the root comprises a shank and a dovetail; the shank extends from the dovetail and comprises a platform at an radial outward surface; the dovetail includes one or more tangs; the platform comprises an axially and circumferentially oriented surface that defines, at least in part, the inner most radial boundary of the flow path through the turbine; the dovetail is linear; and the platform is curved.
- These and other features of the present application will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
- These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely understood and appreciated by careful study of the following more detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary turbine engine in which certain embodiments of the present invention may be used; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the compressor section of the gas turbine engine ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the turbine section of the gas turbine engine ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a turbine assembly of a gas turbine engine in which certain embodiments of the present invention may be used; -
FIG. 5 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to conventional design; -
FIG. 6 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to another conventional design; -
FIG. 7 is a view of a turbine blade that includes a dovetail and a platform configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application. - Referring now to the figures,
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of agas turbine engine 100. In general, gas turbine engines operate by extracting energy from a pressurized flow of hot gas that is produced by the combustion of a fuel in a stream of compressed air. As illustrated inFIG. 1 ,gas turbine engine 100 may be configured with anaxial compressor 106 that is mechanically coupled by a common shaft to a downstream turbine section orturbine 110, and acombustor 112 positioned between thecompressor 106 and theturbine 110. Note that the following invention may be used in all types of turbine engines, including, for example, gas turbine engines, steam turbine engines, and aircraft engines. Hereinafter, the invention will be described in relation to a gas turbine engine, though this description is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting in any way. -
FIG. 2 illustrates a view of an exemplary multi-staged axial compressor 118 that may be used in a gas turbine engine. As shown, the compressor 118 may include a plurality of stages. Each stage may include a row ofcompressor rotor blades 120 followed by a row ofcompressor stator blades 122. Thus, a first stage may include a row ofcompressor rotor blades 120, which rotate about a central shaft, followed by a row ofcompressor stator blades 122, which remain stationary during operation. Thecompressor stator blades 122 generally are circumferentially spaced one from the other and fixed about the axis of rotation. Thecompressor rotor blades 120 are circumferentially spaced and attached to the shaft such that, when the shaft rotates during operation, thecompressor rotor blades 120 rotates about it. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, thecompressor rotor blades 120 are configured such that, when spun about the shaft, they impart kinetic energy to the air or working fluid flowing through the compressor 118. The compressor 118 may have many other stages beyond the stages that are illustrated inFIG. 2 . Additional stages may include a plurality of circumferential spacedcompressor rotor blades 120 followed by a plurality of circumferentially spacedcompressor stator blades 122. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of an exemplary turbine section orturbine 124 that may be used in the gas turbine engine. Theturbine 124 also may include a plurality of stages. Three exemplary stages are illustrated, but more or less stages may present in theturbine 124. Each stage may include a plurality of turbine buckets orturbine rotor blades 126, which rotate about the shaft during operation, and a plurality of nozzles orturbine stator blades 128, which remain stationary during operation. Theturbine stator blades 128 generally are circumferentially spaced one from the other and fixed about the axis of rotation. Theturbine rotor blades 126 may be mounted on a turbine wheel (not shown) for rotation about the shaft (not shown). The direction of flow of the hot gases through the hot gas path is indicated by the arrow. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, theturbine 124 may have many other stages beyond the stages that are illustrated inFIG. 3 . Each additional stage may include a row ofturbine stator blades 128 followed by a row ofturbine rotor blades 126. - Note that as used herein, reference, without further specificity, to “rotor blades” is a reference to the rotating blades of either the compressor 118 or the
turbine 124, which include bothcompressor rotor blades 120 andturbine rotor blades 126. Reference, without further specificity, to “stator blades” is a reference to the stationary blades of either the compressor 118 or theturbine 124, which include bothcompressor stator blades 122 andturbine stator blades 128. The term “blades” will be used herein to refer to either type of blade. Thus, without further specificity, the term “blades” is inclusive to all type of turbine engine blades, includingcompressor rotor blades 120,compressor stator blades 122,turbine rotor blades 126, andturbine stator blades 128. - In use, the rotation of
compressor rotor blades 120 within the axial compressor 118 may compress a flow of air. In thecombustor 112, energy may be released when the compressed air is mixed with a fuel and ignited. The resulting flow of hot gases from thecombustor 112 then may be directed over theturbine rotor blades 126, which may induce the rotation of theturbine rotor blades 126 about the shaft, thus transforming the energy of the hot flow of gases into the mechanical energy of the rotating blades and, because of the connection between the rotor blades in the shaft, the rotating shaft. The mechanical energy of the shaft may then be used to drive the rotation of thecompressor rotor blades 120, such that the necessary supply of compressed air is produced, and also, for example, a generator to produce electricity. -
FIG. 4 depicts a portion of aturbine assembly 130 of thegas turbine engine 100. Theturbine assembly 130 may be mounted downstream from the combustor (not shown inFIG. 4 ) for receivinghot combustion gases 131 therefrom. Theturbine assembly 130 generally comprises adisk 132 having a plurality ofturbine rotor blades 126 securely attached thereto. Typically, theturbine rotor blade 126 comprises anairfoil 136 that extends radially from aroot 138, which it generally is integral therewith. Aplatform 140 is disposed at the base of theairfoil 136 and generally is also integral therewith. Theturbine assembly 130 is axisymmetrical about anaxial centerline axis 141. Anannular shroud 142 surrounds theblades 126 and is suitably joined to a stationary stator casing (not shown). Theshroud 142 provides a relatively small clearance or gap between it and therotor blades 126, which limits the leakage ofcombustion gases 131 over theblades 126 during operation. - The
airfoil 136 generally includes a concave pressure sidewall orpressure side 143 and a circumferentially or laterally opposite, convex suction sidewall orsuction side 144. Both thepressure sidewall 143 and thesuction sidewall 144 extend axially between aleading edge 146 and a trailingedge 148. Thepressure sidewall 143 and thesuction sidewall 144 further extend in the radial direction between the radiallyinner root 138 at theplatform 140 and a radiallyouter blade tip 150. - As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the
root 138 generally includes ashank 152, the outer radial surface of which is theplatform 140, and adovetail 154. Thedovetail 154 is the inner radial section of theroot 138, while theshank 152 is the section that connects thedovetail 154 to theairfoil 136. As illustrated, thedovetail 154 has a side entry type configuration that includes a plurality oftangs 156, which generally provides theroot 138 with a serrated cross-section. Theshank 152 extends from the outer radial portion of thedovetail 154 to the outer radial surface of theshank 152, which, as stated, is theplatform 140. Like theairfoil 136, theroot 138 may be described as having a trailing edge or face 158 and a leading edge orface 160, and, as illustrated, theroot 138 may extend in a linear direction from the trailingface 158 to the leadingface 160. In addition, theroot 138 may be described as having apressure face 162 and asuction face 164, which correspond, respectively, with thepressure side 143 and thesuction side 144 of theairfoil 136. - The
disc 132 may have a plurality ofdovetail grooves 166 formed around its circumference. Each of thedovetail grooves 166 may be formed as a mate to the dovetails 154 of therotor blades 126 such that each of the dovetails 154 may be axially inserted into thedovetail groove 162. It will be appreciated that the configuration of thedovetail 154/dovetail groove 166 connects therotor blades 126 to thedisc 132 and prevents the radial displacement of therotor blades 126 during operation. As illustrated, thedovetail 154 may be linear, i.e., have a linear orientation from the trailingface 158 to the leadingface 160, and thedovetail groove 162 may be linearly oriented as well. Formed in this manner, therotor blades 126 may be axially inserted into the dovetail grooves 162 a linear fashion. As discussed in more detail below, a curved configuration for the root is also possible. - Note that the present invention is discussed in relation to its usage in
turbine rotor blades 126. Turbine rotor blades, as stated, are the rotating blades within the turbine section of the turbine engine. This description is exemplary only, as embodiments of the invention described herein are not limited to usage with only turbine rotor blades. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the present invention also may be applied tocompressor rotor blades 120, which, generally, are the rotating blades within the compressor section of the turbine engine. Accordingly, reference herein to “rotor blades,” without further specificity, is meant to be inclusive of both turbine rotor blades and compressor rotor blades. And, examples that are applied to turbine rotor blades are not meant to exclude usage of the present invention in compressor rotor blades. - Similar to that shown in
FIG. 4 ,FIG. 5 depicts a rotor blade with a conventionallinear root 138. Thelinear root 138 includes aplatform 140 and adovetail 154 that have a linear orientation from the trailingface 158 to the leadingface 160 of theroot 138. More particularly, thepressure face 162 and thesuction face 164 of theroot 138 are not curved and generally run in a straight manner from the trailingface 158 to the leadingface 160. It will be appreciated that the linearly orientedplatform 140 is approximately rectilinear in shape. Each edge of theplatform 140 may be identified by its relationship to the trailingface 158, leadingface 160, thepressure face 162, and thesuction face 164. Accordingly, theplatform 140 may be described to include a trailingedge 170, aleading edge 172, apressure edge 174, and asuction edge 176. Per conventional linear design, thepressure edge 174 is generally linear or straight. Similarly, thesuction edge 176 is generally linear or straight. As stated, thedovetail 154 also may extend from the trailingface 158 to the leadingface 160 in an approximate linear manner. Other portions of theshank 152 also may be linear. As described, performance criteria for airfoil design may require that airfoils become “nested” when positioned in an assembled configuration. When this is the case, removing blades linearly (which is what would be the case with linear configurations similar toFIG. 5 ) becomes impossible. -
FIG. 6 depicts a rotor blade with a conventionalcurved root 138. The curved root may include acurved platform 140 and acurved dovetail 154. In this case, thepressure face 162 and thesuction face 164 of theroot 138 are curved. Thepressure edge 174 of theplatform 140 may form a concave curve. Thesuction edge 176 of theplatform 140 may form a similar curve, though it may be a convex curve. As stated, thedovetail 154 also may form a similar curve. Other portions of theshank 152 may form a similar curve. The curvature for all of these components may be similar and, generally, is an arc of a circle. -
FIG. 7 depicts a rotor blade with acurved platform 140 and alinear dovetail 154 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, thedovetail 154 may be substantially similar to thedovetail 154 ofFIG. 5 . That is, thedovetail 154 may be substantially linear and be configured to mate with a substantiallylinear dovetail groove 166. In some embodiments, thelinear dovetail 154 and dovetail groove 166 may be aligned such that, on installation, each runs parallel with thecenterline axis 141. In other embodiments, thelinear dovetail 154 and thedovetail groove 166 may be skewed in relation to the direction of thecenterline axis 141. While thedovetail 154 is linear, theplatform 140, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, may be curved, i.e., substantially similar to theplatform 140 configuration ofFIG. 6 . Specifically, as illustrated, thepressure edge 174 of theplatform 140 may form a curve, which in preferred embodiments is a concave curve. Similarly, thesuction edge 176 of theplatform 140 may form a similar curve, though thesuction edge 176 may form a convex curve. In preferred embodiments, the curvature of thesuction edge 176 and thepressure edge 174 may be substantially the same, though offset by the width of theplatform 140. In this manner, thepressure edge 174 of one blade may engage thesuction edge 176 of a neighboring blade so that theplatform 140 of the neighboring blades forms a smooth substantially continuous surface. - As illustrated, the trailing
edge 170 and theleading edge 172 of theplatform 140 may remain linear, though this is not required. The portions of theshank 152 below the platform generally may form a transition between thecurved platform 140 and thelinear dovetail 154. As stated, in some preferred embodiments, the curvature of thepressure edge 174 and thesuction edge 176 may be approximately the same. In addition, in some preferred embodiments, the curve of thepressure edge 174 and thesuction edge 176 may form the arc of an approximate circle. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, root configurations consistent with the present invention may provide advantages associated linear root configurations, such as the one illustrated inFIG. 5 , while also providing advantages associated with curved root configurations, such as the one illustrated inFIG. 6 . - From the above description of preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims. Further, it should be apparent that the foregoing relates only to the described embodiments of the present application and that numerous changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the application as defined by the following claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims (20)
1. A rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein the root includes a linear dovetail and a curved platform.
2. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein the linear dovetail comprises one or more tangs and is configured to engage a linear dovetail groove.
3. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein the root comprises a shank, the shank extending from the dovetail and comprising the platform at an radial outward surface;
wherein:
the platform comprises an axially and circumferentially oriented surface that defines, at least in part, the inner most radial boundary of the flow path through the turbine; and
the airfoil extends in an outward radial direction from the platform.
4. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein the linear dovetail is configured to engage a linear dovetail groove that is one of parallel in relation to the direction of the centerline axis and skewed in relation to the direction of the centerline axis.
5. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein:
the platform comprises a pressure edge that coincides with a pressure side of the airfoil and a suction edge that coincides with a suction side of the airfoil; and
both the pressure edge and the suction edge are curved.
6. The rotor blade according to claim 5 , wherein the pressure edge comprises a concave curve and the suction edge comprises a convex curve.
7. The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the curvature of the concave curve of the pressure edge and the curvature of the convex curve of the suction edge is substantially the same.
8. The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the curvature of the pressure edge and the curvature of the suction edge is configured such that, upon the proper installation of the rotor blade and a second similarly formed rotor blade that is installed in an adjacent position to the rotor blade, the suction edge of the rotor blade engages the pressure edge of the second rotor blade so that the platforms of the adjacent rotor blades form a substantially continuous surface.
9. The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the curvature of the pressure edge and the curvature of the suction edge is configured such that, upon the proper installation of the rotor blade and a second similarly formed rotor blade that is installed in an adjacent position to the rotor blade, the pressure edge of the rotor blade engages the suction edge of the second rotor blade so that the platforms of the adjacent rotor blades form a substantially continuous surface.
10. The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the curvature of the concave curve of the pressure edge and the curvature of the convex curve of the suction edge comprises the arc of an approximate circle.
11. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein:
the root comprises a shank, the shank extending from the dovetail and comprising the platform at an radial outward surface; and
the shank forms a transition between the curved platform and the linear dovetail.
12. The rotor blade according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor blade is configured to operate as one of a rotor blade in the turbine of the turbine engine and a rotor blade in the compressor of the turbine engine.
13. A rotor blade for a turbine engine comprising a root and, extending in a radial direction from the root, an airfoil, wherein:
the root comprises a shank and a dovetail;
the shank extends from the dovetail and comprises a platform at an radial outward surface;
the dovetail includes one or more tangs;
the platform comprises an axially and circumferentially oriented surface that defines, at least in part, the inner most radial boundary of the flow path through the turbine;
the dovetail is linear; and
the platform is curved.
14. The rotor blade according to claim 13 , wherein the linear dovetail is configured to engage a linear dovetail groove that is one of parallel in relation to the direction of the centerline axis and skewed in relation to the direction of the centerline axis.
15. The rotor blade according to claim 13 , wherein:
the platform comprises a pressure edge that coincides with a pressure side of the airfoil and a suction edge that coincides with a suction side of the airfoil; and
both the pressure edge and the suction edge are curved.
16. The rotor blade according to claim 15 , wherein the pressure edge comprises a concave curve and the suction edge comprises a convex curve.
17. The rotor blade according to claim 16 , wherein the curvature of the pressure edge and the curvature of the suction edge is configured such that, upon the proper installation of the rotor blade and a second similarly formed rotor blade that is installed in an adjacent position to the rotor blade, the suction edge of the rotor blade engages the pressure edge of the second rotor blade so that the platforms of the adjacent rotor blades form a substantially continuous surface.
18. The rotor blade according to claim 16 , wherein the curvature of the pressure edge and the curvature of the suction edge is configured such that, upon the proper installation of the rotor blade and a second similarly formed rotor blade that is installed in an adjacent position to the rotor blade, the pressure edge of the rotor blade engages the suction edge of the second rotor blade so that the platforms of the adjacent rotor blades form a substantially continuous surface.
19. The rotor blade according to claim 16 , wherein the curvature of the concave curve of the pressure edge and the curvature of the convex curve of the suction edge comprises the arc of an approximate circle.
20. The rotor blade according to claim 13 , wherein the rotor blade is configured to operate as a rotor blade in the turbine of the turbine engine.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/346,334 US20100166562A1 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2008-12-30 | Turbine blade root configurations |
DE102009059319A DE102009059319A1 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2009-12-23 | Turbinenschaufelfußkonfigurationen |
JP2009296942A JP2010156338A (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2009-12-28 | Turbine blade root configuration |
CN200910266732A CN101782000A (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2009-12-29 | Turbine blade root configurations |
KR1020090133261A KR20100080452A (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2009-12-29 | Turbine blade root configurations |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/346,334 US20100166562A1 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2008-12-30 | Turbine blade root configurations |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100166562A1 true US20100166562A1 (en) | 2010-07-01 |
Family
ID=42221136
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/346,334 Abandoned US20100166562A1 (en) | 2008-12-30 | 2008-12-30 | Turbine blade root configurations |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100166562A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2010156338A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100080452A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101782000A (en) |
DE (1) | DE102009059319A1 (en) |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120156045A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | General Electric Company | Methods, systems and apparatus relating to root and platform configurations for turbine rotor blades |
US20120215417A1 (en) * | 2009-10-06 | 2012-08-23 | Snecma | System for controlling the angular position of stator blades and method for optimizing said angular position |
US20140308134A1 (en) * | 2013-04-11 | 2014-10-16 | Snecma | Turbomachine vane cooperating with a vane retention disk |
US9239062B2 (en) | 2012-09-10 | 2016-01-19 | General Electric Company | Low radius ratio fan for a gas turbine engine |
US10641111B2 (en) * | 2018-08-31 | 2020-05-05 | Rolls-Royce Corporation | Turbine blade assembly with ceramic matrix composite components |
US10670038B2 (en) * | 2017-05-19 | 2020-06-02 | Safran Aircraft Engines | Blade made of composite material with integrated platform for an aircraft turbine engine |
US11242755B2 (en) | 2018-12-07 | 2022-02-08 | Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. | Axial flow turbomachine and blade thereof |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US8827643B2 (en) * | 2011-10-26 | 2014-09-09 | General Electric Company | Turbine bucket platform leading edge scalloping for performance and secondary flow and related method |
US9745851B2 (en) * | 2015-01-15 | 2017-08-29 | General Electric Company | Metal leading edge on composite blade airfoil and shank |
DE102020216436A1 (en) * | 2020-12-21 | 2022-06-23 | MTU Aero Engines AG | Rotor disc and blade for an aero engine gas turbine compressor or turbine stage |
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US3986793A (en) * | 1974-10-29 | 1976-10-19 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Turbine rotating blade |
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2008
- 2008-12-30 US US12/346,334 patent/US20100166562A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2009
- 2009-12-23 DE DE102009059319A patent/DE102009059319A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-12-28 JP JP2009296942A patent/JP2010156338A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-12-29 KR KR1020090133261A patent/KR20100080452A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2009-12-29 CN CN200910266732A patent/CN101782000A/en active Pending
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US3378230A (en) * | 1966-12-16 | 1968-04-16 | Gen Electric | Mounting of blades in turbomachine rotors |
US3986793A (en) * | 1974-10-29 | 1976-10-19 | Westinghouse Electric Corporation | Turbine rotating blade |
US4767275A (en) * | 1986-07-11 | 1988-08-30 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Locking pin system for turbine curved root side entry closing blades |
US5017091A (en) * | 1990-02-26 | 1991-05-21 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Free standing blade for use in low pressure steam turbine |
US5913660A (en) * | 1996-07-27 | 1999-06-22 | Rolls-Royce Plc | Gas turbine engine fan blade retention |
US6682306B2 (en) * | 2001-08-30 | 2004-01-27 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Moving blades for steam turbine |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120215417A1 (en) * | 2009-10-06 | 2012-08-23 | Snecma | System for controlling the angular position of stator blades and method for optimizing said angular position |
US8649954B2 (en) * | 2009-10-06 | 2014-02-11 | Snecma | System for controlling the angular position of stator blades and method for optimizing said angular position |
US20120156045A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | General Electric Company | Methods, systems and apparatus relating to root and platform configurations for turbine rotor blades |
US9239062B2 (en) | 2012-09-10 | 2016-01-19 | General Electric Company | Low radius ratio fan for a gas turbine engine |
US20140308134A1 (en) * | 2013-04-11 | 2014-10-16 | Snecma | Turbomachine vane cooperating with a vane retention disk |
US9567861B2 (en) * | 2013-04-11 | 2017-02-14 | Snecma | Turbomachine vane cooperating with a vane retention disk |
US10670038B2 (en) * | 2017-05-19 | 2020-06-02 | Safran Aircraft Engines | Blade made of composite material with integrated platform for an aircraft turbine engine |
US10641111B2 (en) * | 2018-08-31 | 2020-05-05 | Rolls-Royce Corporation | Turbine blade assembly with ceramic matrix composite components |
US11242755B2 (en) | 2018-12-07 | 2022-02-08 | Mitsubishi Power, Ltd. | Axial flow turbomachine and blade thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR20100080452A (en) | 2010-07-08 |
CN101782000A (en) | 2010-07-21 |
DE102009059319A1 (en) | 2010-07-01 |
JP2010156338A (en) | 2010-07-15 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BOYER, BRADLEY T.;REEL/FRAME:022040/0799 Effective date: 20081223 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |