IP Library Granted Patent US 11,970,979
Granted Patent B2
US 11,970,979 · App. 17/979,057 · Granted Apr 30, 2024

Turbine engine with shockwave attenuation

Inventors: Christopher Ryan Johnson (Fairfield, OH); Paul Hadley Vitt (Liberty Township, OH); Eric Joseph Schroeder (Loveland, OH); Carlos Gilberto Fernandez-Soto (Fairfield Township, OH)
Assignee: General Electric Company
F02C7/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,970,979
App. No.
17/979,057
Granted
Apr 30, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A turbine engine and method of operating includes an engine core with a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in axial flow arrangement. A flow path extends through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow direction for a working airflow through the engine core.

Claims (26)

1. A turbine engine, comprising:

an engine core comprising a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in axial flow arrangement;

a flow path extending through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow direction for a working airflow through the engine core;

a component comprising an outer surface with at least one attenuation structure protruding into the flow path; and

a rotatable set of airfoils in one of the compressor or the turbine, whereby rotation of the set of airfoils forms the working airflow having a shockwave propagating onto the outer surface of the component and at least partially attenuated by the at least one attenuation structure;

wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises at least one of a set of raised ridges in the outer surface or a set of raised panels in the outer surface, the at least one of the set of raised ridges or the set of raised panels arranged to form a set of honeycomb structures.

2. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises at least one of a scaled structure, a ramped structure, a curved structure, or a bowed wall portion.

3. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises a set of scaled structures covering at least a portion of the outer surface and protruding into the flow path.

4. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises a set of ramped structures with ramp ends protruding into the flow path.

5. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises a set of curved structures with rounded surfaces protruding into the flow path.

6. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises a convex bowed wall portion extending over the outer surface and protruding into the flow path.

7. The turbine engine of claim 1 , further comprising a second component comprising a second attenuation structure attenuating a reflected shockwave flowing thereon, the second attenuation structure comprising one of a second set of honeycomb structures, a raised ridge, a scaled structure, a ramped structure, a curved structure, or a bowed wall portion.

8. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises an airfoil with the outer surface defining a pressure side and a suction side and extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge.

9. The turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure is located on the pressure side of the airfoil.

10. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a turbine center frame having at least one of an airfoil, an inner band, or an outer band.

11. The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the shockwave comprises a pressure wave within a subsonic flow.

12. A method of operating a turbine engine having an engine core comprising a compressor, combustor, and turbine in axial flow arrangement, whereby a working airflow passes through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow path through the engine core, the method comprising:

generating a shockwave in the working airflow that propagates onto an outer surface of a component within the turbine engine, the outer surface comprising at least one attenuation structure protruding into the flow path; and

directing the shockwave over the at least one attenuation structure to at least partially attenuate the shockwave;

wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises at least one of a set of raised ridges in the outer surface or a set of raised panels in the outer surface, the at least one of the set of raised ridges or the set of raised panels arranged to form a set of honeycomb structures.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the component comprises one of an airfoil, an inner band, or an outer band.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one attenuation structure comprises at least one of a scaled structure, a ramped structure, a curved structure, or a bowed wall portion.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the component comprises an airfoil with the outer surface defining a pressure side and a suction side and extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising directing a reflected portion of the shockwave over a second attenuation structure on a second component to attenuate the reflected portion.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second attenuation structure comprises one of a second set of honeycomb structures, a raised ridge, a raised panel, a scaled structure, a ramped structure, a curved structure, or a bowed wall portion.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the component comprises a pair of circumferentially-spaced airfoils, and wherein the directing further comprises directing the shockwave between the pair of circumferentially-spaced airfoils.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2022
From: JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER RYAN; VITT, PAUL HADLEY; SCHROEDER, ERIC JOSEPH; FERNANDEZ-SOTO, CARLOS GILBERTO
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 061626/0465 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17016670 · Sep 10, 2020
Related Publication 20230059927A1 · Feb 23, 2023
Cited By (1)
US 12,631,188