EP 1 818 511 A2 "Tp MOOG 9 4) EP 1 818511 A2 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (43) Date of pubication: 61) Intec 15.08.2007 Bulletin 2007133 Fo1D 25/3060 FoaD 2ajagteeeon (21) Application number: 07101951.7 (22) Date of fling: 08.02.2007 (84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: ATBEBG CH CYCZDEDKEEESFIFRGBGR | + Nolchetf, Nick A. HU IE IS ITLILT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI Chandler, AZ 85249 (US) SKTR Designated Extension States: AL BAHR MK YU (80) Priority: 09.02.2006 US 350537 (71) Applicant: Honeywell international Inc. Morristown, NJ 07962 (US) * Sloviaky, John A. Chandler, AZ 85226 (US) + Plummer, Michon N. Chandler, AZ 85224 (US) (74) Representative: Haley, Stephen Gill Jennings & Every LLP Broadgate House ‘7 Eldon Street London EC2M 7LH (GB) (54) (87) Acompressor(122) includes adeswid assembly (206) to improve asrodyaamis coupting with the combus- tor (124). The assembly (206) includes an annular hous- Ing and a piuralty of vanes (224), The annular housing Includes an inner and an outer annular wall (220,222) disposed concentc to each other, and a fiowpath (228) defined therebetween. The plurality of vanes (224) are disposed in the flowpath (228) in a substantially annular pattern, Each vane has a leading edge (802), a tring Leaned deswirl vanes behind a centrifugal compressor in a gas turbine engine edge (904), aconvex surface (808), and concave surface (906), and each of the convex and concave surfaces (308,306) extends between the leading and traling edg- 8 (802,304). Adaltionally, each vane (224) extends be- ‘tween and is angled relative to the inner and the outer ‘annular walls (220,222) such that the concave surface (806) faces the outer annular wall (222) and the convex surface (308) faces the inner annular wall (220). The vanes (224) preferably have a uniform axialcross section {or ease of manufacturing1 EP 1818511 A2 2 Description [0001] The present invention relates to @ gas turbine engine and, more particularly to deswirl assembly hav- ingleaned deswirlvanes forse inthe gasturbine engine, [0002] A gas tursine engine may be used to power various types of vehicles and systems. A typical gas tur bine engine includes aan section, acompressorsection, ‘a combustor section, « turbine section, and an exhaust section. The an section induces ar from the surrounding ‘environment into the engine and accelerates a fraction ofthe air toward the compressor section. The compres: sor section compresses the pressure ofthe airto a rel alively high level and directs the air to the combustor section. A steady stream of ful is injected into the com bbustor section, and the injected fuel i ignited to sign cantly increase the energy of the compressed alt. The high-energy compressed airthen flows into and through the turbine section, causing rotationally mounted turbine blades therein to rotate and generate energy. The air exiting the turbine section is exhausted from the engine Via the exhaust section, and the energy remaining in the ‘exhaust air aids the thrust generated by the air flowing through a bypass plenum. [0003] In some engines, the compressor section is im: plemented with a centifugal compressor. A centritugal Compressor typically includes at least one impeller that Is rotationally mounted to a rotor and surrounded by @ shroud. When the Impeller rotates, it compresses and imparts tangential velocity to the air received from the fan section andthe shroud directs the ar racially outward into a diffuser. The diffuser decreases the ragial and tan genta velocity ofthe sirandincreases the staticpressure ofthe alr and directs the air into a deswir assembly. The ddoswir assembly includes an annular housing having a plurality of straight radially extending vanes mounted therein that straighten and reduce the tangential velocity Component ofthe airflow before it enters the combustor section. The combustor section In some engines is im plemented with an axial through flow combustor that in cludes an annular combustor disposed within a combus: tor housing that defines a plenum. The straightened air enters the plenum and travels axially through the annular ‘combustor wher it is mixed with fuel and ignited, [0004] Recently, conventional deswiri assemblies have Included downcanted outiets to improve aerody: ‘namic coupling between the difuser and comoustor. However, thas beenfoundthatthese deswirtassemblies {generate greater flow angle vatiation across the span of the lowpath atthe deswirl vane leading edge and there: foremay not adequately condition airflow toasutfiiently ow mach number in an acceptably efficient manner un less the overall axial length and/or radial envelope of te ‘assembly is increased, Because engines are continually designed to be smaller, the size increase may not be ‘acoeptableinnewerairerat As result theconfiguation ofthe deswirl assembly has had to be redesigned. One preferred configuration Includes vanes that are shaped so thatthe vane can accept a large variation in air angle at its leading edge. The vanes may also be configured such thatthe pressure side of each vane faces racially inwardly. However, although tis configuration optimizes airflowthrough the deswir assembly, manufacture of the ‘assembly is relatively time-consuming and costly be cause each vane may need tobe individually formed and shaped. [0005] Hence, there is @ need for an improved down- canted deswir assembly thtincludes aplurelty of vanes ‘that are configured to aerodynamically couple a centri gal compressor and an axial through flow combustor. Additionally, itis desirable for the deswirl assembly to be relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture. More- cover, it is desirable for the deswit assembly to sultably direct and condition the air owing therethrough for opt- ‘mal engine performance, [0006] The present invention provides a deswitl as: sembly for receiving air low froma difuser. The deswir ‘assembly includes an annular housing and a plurality of vanes. The annular housing includes an inner annular wall, an outer annular wall disposed concentric to the inner annular wall and aflowpath definedtherebetween, ‘The plurality of vanes is disposed in the flowpath in a substantially annular pattern. Each vane has a leading edge, a traling edge, a convex surface, and concave surface, and each of the convex and concave surfaces extends between the leading and tralling edges. Add- tionally, each vane extends between andis angled rela tive tothe inner andthe outer annular walls Such that the concave surface faces the outer annular wall and the convex surface faces the inner annular wall [0007] In one embodiment, and by way of example on- ly, the deswiti assembly including an annular housing, and a frst and a second plurality of vanes. The annular housing includes an inner annular wal, an outer annular ‘wall disposed concentric to the inner annular wall, and a flowpath defined therebetween. The first plurality of vanes is disposed inthe flowpath in @ substantially an- rnularpattern,and each vane has leading edge, atrlling ‘edge, a convex surface, and concave surface, each of the convexandiconcave surfaces extending between the leading and tailing edges, each vane extends between {nd is angled relative tothe inner and the outer annular walls such that the concave surface faces the outer an- ruler wall andthe convex surface faces te inner annular ‘wall and each vane has an axial cross section shape, ‘and each axial cross section shape is substantially the same. The second plural of vanes is disposed in the ‘lowpath in a substantialy annular pattern downstream of the first plurality of vanes. Each vane fas a leading edge, a tralling edge, a convex surface, and concave surface, each of the convex and concave surfaces ex: tends between the leading and traling edges, and each vvane extends between ands angled relative tothe inner ‘andthe outer annular walls such thatthe concave surface faces the outer annularwallandthe convex-surfacetaces the inner annular wal. Adalionally, each vane ofthe sec-8 EP 1818511 A2 4 cond plurality of vanes has an axial cross section shape, ‘and each axial cross saction shape is substantially the [0008] _In stil another embodiment, a system is provid: ‘edforaerodynamically couplingairflow froma centrifugal ‘compressor to an axial comustor, where the compres: sor and combustor are disposed about a longitudinal ax- Is. The system includes a dffuser, a deswir assemoly, ‘combuster inner and outer annular liners, a combustor dome, and @ curved annular pate. The aiffuser has an Inlet, an outlet and a flow path extending therebetween, Where the diffuser inlets in flow communication withthe Centritugal compressor, and the difuser flow path ex- tends radially outward from the longitudinal axis. The deswir assembly includes an annular housing and a plu ralty of vanes. The annular housing includes an inner ‘annular wall, an outer annular wall disposed concenttic to the Inner annular wall, and a flowpath defined there: between. The pluralty of vanes is disposed in the flow: path ina substantially annular pattern. Each vane has @ leading edge, a raling edge, aconvex surface, and con ‘cave surface, and each of the convex and concave sur faces extends between the leading and taling edges. ‘Adationally, each vane extends between and s angled rolativeto the inner and the outer annular was such that the concave surface faces the outer annular wall andthe convex surface faces the inner annular wal, The com: bustor inner annular liner is disposed about the longitu dinal axis, and the inner annular liner has an upstream ‘end, The combustor outer annular liners disposed con Ccontic tothe comustor inner annular liner and forms ‘combustion plenum therebetween. The outer annular in €erhas an upstream end, The combustor dome is coupled to and extends between the combustor inner and outer annular liner upstream ends. The curved annular plate 's coupledtothe combustor inner and outer annular liner Upstream ends to form a combustor subplenum therabe- ‘ween, and the curved annular plate has a first opening ‘and a second opening formed therein. The frst opening Is signed with the deswit assembly outlet to recelve air discharged therefrom. [0009] Other independent features and advantages of the preferred deswiri assembly will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunc: tion with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles ofthe invention [0010] FIG. 1 lea simpitied cross section side view of ‘an exemplary mult-spoo! turbofan gas turbine et engine ‘according to an embodiment of he present invention; [0011] FIG. 2s cross section view ofa portion of an ‘exemplary combustor that may be used inthe engine of FIG. 1; [0012] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of a portion of an ex: ‘emplary deswir assembly that may be implemented into the combustor shown in FIG. 2 forward looking aft; [0013] FIG. 4 is the portion of the exemplary deswirt ‘assembly shown in FIG, 8 aft looking forward; end [0014] FIG. & is @ top view of the exemplary deswit assembly shown in FIG. 3. [0015] Beforeproceeding with he detalled description, itis to be appreciated that the described embodiment is ‘ot lited to use in conjunction with a particular type of turbine engine, Thus, although the present embodiment Is, for convenience of explanation, depicted and de- sctibed as being implemented in a muit-spoo! turbofan gas tursine jet engine, it will be appreciate that it can be implemented in various other types of turbines, and in various other systems and environments. [0016] An exemplary embodiment of a mult-spooltur- ofan gas turbine jet engine 100 is depicted in FIG. 1 ‘andincludes an intake section 102, acompressor section 104, a combustion section 108, a turbine section 108, and an exhaust section 110, ‘The Intake section 102 includes a fan 112, which is mounted in a fan case 114, The fan 112 draws air ito ‘the intake section 102 and accelerates it. A faction of the accelerated air exhausted from the fan 112 is directed through a bypass section 116 disposed between the fan case T14andan enginecow! 118, andprovides a forward thrust. The remaining fraction of alr exhausted from the ‘an 112s directed into the compressor section 104, [0017] The compressor section 104 includes two com- pressors, an intermediate prescure compressor 120, and 2 high pressure compressor 122. The intermediate pres- sure compressor 120 raises the pressure of the air di- rected Into it from the fan 112, and drects the com- pressed airinto the high pressure compressor 122. The high pressure compressor 122 compresses the ar still further, and dicts the high pressure air into the com: bustion section 108. In the combustion section 106, hich includes an annular combustor 124, the high pres- sure aris mixed with fuel and combusted. The combust- {ed alris than directed ino the turbine section 108. [0018] The turbine section 108 includes three turbines clsposed in axialfiow series, a high pressure turbine 126, ‘anintermediate pressure turbine 128, andalow pressure turbine 130. The combusted fromthe combustion sec- tion 106 expands through each turbine, causing Itt ro- tate. The aii then exhausted through a propulsion no2- zie 192 disposed in the exhaust section 110, providing ‘ckitional forward thrust. As the turbines rotate, each drives equipmentinthe engine 100 via concentrically ais- posed shafts or spools. Specifically, the high pressure ‘turbine 126 drives the high pressure compressor 122 via ‘high pressure spool 134, the intermediate pressure tu. bine 128 ives the intermediate pressure compressor 120 via an intermediate pressure spool 196, and the low pressure turbine 1 30 drives the fan 112 via a low pres- sure spool 198, [0019] Turningnowto FIG. 2, an exemplary cross seo- tion of the area between the high pressure compressor 122.and annular combustor 124isilustrated, In adltion tothecompressor 122 and comioustor 124, FIG. 2depicts aitfuser204 anda deswi assembly 206, each disposed ‘about a longitudinal axis 207. The high pressure com- pressor 122 is preferably a centrifugal compressor and5 EP 1818511 A2 6 includes an impeller 208 and a shroud 210 disposed in compressor housing 211. The impeller 208, as alluded to above, is driven by the high pressure turbine 128 and rotates about the longitudinal axis 207. The shroud 210 Is disposed around the Impeller 208 and defines an im pelle discharge flow passage 212therewiththat extends radially outwardly [0020] The ciffuser 204 is coupled tothe shroud 210 ‘and is configured to decrease the velocity and increase the static pressure of air that is recelved therefrom. In this regard, any one of numerous conventional difusers 204 sultabe for operating with a centrifugal compressor ‘may be employed. in any case, the diffuser 204 includes an inlet214, an outlet 216, and a lowpath 218 that each communicates with the passage 212, and the flow path 218 is configured to direct the received airflow radially ourwardly [0021] The deswit assembly 208 communicates with the difuser204 andis configuredto substantially remove ‘wit from air received therefrom, to thereby decrease the Mach number of the airflow. The deswit assembly 206 includes an inner annular wall 220, an outer annular wall 222, and two pluraities of vanes 224, 226 disposed therebetween. The walls 220, 222 define a flow path 228 that i configured to reditect the ar from is radially out ward direction to a racially inward and axially down stream direction. In this regard, the walls 220, 222 are formed such thatthe flow path 228 extends between an Inlet 230 and outlet 222 n an are 233 so that when the air exits the outlet 232, itis directed at an angle and to: ward the longitudinal axis 207 andthe annularcombustor 124, Asthe angle ofthe arc 283s increased the variation ofthe er angle between the inner well 220 and out wall 222s Increased. [0022] As briefy mentioned above, the two plurals of vanes 224, 208 are cisposed between the walls 220, 222, To secure the vanes 224, 226 tothe assembly 206, ‘each wall 220, 222 includes two sets of slots 294, 236, 298, 240 that are formed in annular patterns slong two ‘axial positions, Preferably, the slots 234, 296, 238, 240 are formed downstream of tne are 233, Each ofthe vanes 204, 226 includes atleast a top 242,244 and a bottom 246, 248 that extend through the slots 234, 236, 238, 240. The vanes 226, 228 may be secured to the walls 220, 222 in any one of numerous fashions, such as, for ‘example, by brazing [0023] To conattion the airfiow to a suffcienty low Mach number, each vane preferably has a substantially Identical predetermined shape and is postioned in the flow path 228 at a predetermined angle relative to the Wwalts 220, 222, Exemplary vanes 300, which are shown as being implemented into the two pluraities of vanes 224, 226, are depicted in FIGs. 9 and 4. As briefly men tioned above, FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the deswirl assembly 200 looking atthe vanes 300 from forward to af, while FIG, 4s the deswirl assembly shown in FIG, 3 looking atthe vanes 300 from aft to forward. [0024] Each vane 300includes.aleading edge 202and a traling edge $04. A concave pressure surface 308 and ‘aconvexsuction surface 308 extendbetweenthe leading ‘nd traling edges 302, 304. The vanes 300 preferably each havea uniformly shaped curvedaxial cross-section {rom top 310 to bottom 312. In this regard, a number of the vanes 300 having substantially identical shapes may bbe mass produced from a single sheet of material. Spe- cifically, the sheet of material may be suitably pressed into an appropriate curve shape to form the concave and convex surfaces 306, 308 and a plurality of the vanes ‘300 may be cut from the single sheet of material [0025] | Asmentioned previously, each vane 200 of the ‘wo plualities of vanes 224, 226 is disposed at an angle relative tothe walls 220, 222. Preferably, the vanes S00 tre each placed such thatthe concave pressure surface 306 faces outwartly toward the outer annular wall 222 ‘and the convex suction surface 308 faces inwardly to- ‘ward the inner annular wall 220. Angling the vanes 300 in this preterred embodiment reduces the variation in air ‘angle between the walls 220,222. In one exemplary eri- bodiment, the vanes $00 ate disposed such that an angle between the concave pressure surface 208 the inner an- ‘ular wall220 is about 110.8°, However, itwillbe appre- ciated that the particular angle at which the vanes 224, 226 are disposed depends on the overall configuration ofthe walle 220, 222. [0026] The degree to which the vanes 224, 226 are ‘angled may also determine how the two pluralities of vanes 224, 226 are placed relative to each another, In ‘one example, as shows in FIGs. 8 and 4, the vanes of the first pluralty of vanes 224 are equally spaced apart ‘rom one another and the traling edge of each vane is disposed around a first circumferential postion 242 ‘around the inner annular wall 220, while the vanes ofthe second pluraly of vanes 226 are also equally spaced ‘par from one another but the leading edge of each is cisposed around a second circumferential position 244, Although the first and second circumferential positions 242, 244 are shown in this embodiment as nor-overlap- ping and the frst creumferential postion 242s disposed Upstream of the second clreumterential postion 244, the first circumferential position 242 may altematively be dis- posed downstream ofthe secondcircumferential position 244, or may overiap. [0027] Additionally, the second plurality of vanes 226 are preferably staggered between the fist pluralty of ‘vanes 224. Forinstance, as shown in FIG. § viewing the ‘vanes 300 from forward 250 to aft 252, one vane 226b of the second plurality of vanes 226 is preferably ais- posed between two vanes 224a, 224b ofthe first plurality of vanes 224 and biased toward the pressure surface 06 of vane 224b. in one exemplary embodiment, a dis- tance 254 between vane 2260 of the second plurality of ‘vanes 226 and vane 2248 of the first plurality of vanes 204 is about 35% of the distance 256 between vanes 2248, 2240 ofthe frst plurality of vanes 224. it will be ‘appreciated, however, thatthe particular distances be- ‘ween all of the vanes may largely depend on the angling7 EP 1818511 A2 8 thereof relative to the walls 220, 222. [0028] It wil further be appreciated that although two purities of vases 226, 228 are included in the embod- iment shown in FIG. 2, the deswirl assembly 200 may alternatively only include a single plurality of vanes, In sill other embodiments, more than two pluralties of vanes 226, 228 may need to be employed. [0029] Animproveddowncanteddeswirlassemblyhas ‘now been provided thet includes a pluraly of vanes that are configured to aerodynamically couple @ centritugal ‘compressor and an axial through-flow combustor, Addi tionally, the deswiel assembly is relatively Inexpensive ‘and simple to manufacture and is capable of directing and conditioning the air flowing therethrough for optimal engine performance [0030] Whilethe invention has been described with et ference to a preferred embodiment, twill be understood by those skiled in the art that various changes may be ‘made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In edition, many modifications may be made to adapt toapaniculer situation ormmateralto the teachings of the Invention without departing from the essential scope thereat. Therefore, its intended that the invention natbe limitedto the partcular embodiment disclosed asthe best ‘mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thet the invention will include all embodiments falling Within the scope of the appended claims, Claims 1. Adeswirl assembly (206) for receiving airflow trom a diffuser, the deswir assembly (206) comprising an annular housing including an inner annular wall (220), an outer annular wall (222) disposed ‘concentric to the inner annular wall (220), and a flowpath (228) defined therebetween; and fa plurality of vanes (224) dsposed in the flow: path (228) in @ substantially annular pattern, each vane (224) having a leading edge (902), a trailing edge (304), a convex surtace (308), and ‘concave surface (906), each of the convex and concave surfaces (308, 306) extendingbetween the leading and traling edges (202, 204), each vvane (2240) extending between and angled ral ative to the inner and the outer annular walls (220, 222) such thatthe concave surface (306) faces the outer annular wall (222) and the con: vvex surface (308) faces the inner annular wall (220), 2, The deswir assembly (206) ofclaim 1, wherein each vane (224) has an axial cross section shape, and ‘each axial cross section shape is substantially the seme, 3. The deswirl assemily (206) of claim 1, further com- prising a second plurality of vanes (226) cisposed in the lowpath (228) ina substantially annular pattem downstream of the first plural of vanes (224). ‘The deswirl assembly (206) of claim 1, wherein the trailing edges (904) of the vanes of the fist plurality of vanes (224) ate cisposed around a frst crcum- ferential position (242) around the nner annular wall (220) and the leading edges (302) of the vanes of the second pluralty of vanes (226) are disposed ‘round @ second circumferential position (244) around the inner angular wall (220) ‘The deswirl assembly (206) of claim 4, wherein the first and second circumferential positions (242, 244) do not overap, ‘The deswirl assembly (206) of claim 4, wherein the first circumferential postion (242) is cisposed down- stream of the second circumferential position (244) The deswirl assembly (206) of claim 4, wherein the vanes ofthe second plural of vanes (226) are each staggered between vanes of the fist pluralty of vanes (224). The deswir assembly (206) of claim 7, wherein at leastone vane (2260) of the second pluralty of vanes (226) is disposed between two vanes (224a, 2246) ofthe ist pluraty of vanes (224) and first distance (254) between the at least one vane (2260) of the second plurality of vanes and one (2246) ofthe two vanes (224a, 224b) ofthe fistpluralty of vanes (224) Is less than a second distance (256) between the two vanes (224a, 224b) of the ist plurality of vanes (224, The deswidl assembly of claim 8, wherein the first distance (254) is about 35% of the second distance (256),100 wiiseis idaFIG. 2 wiiseis idawiiseis ida