Impeller shroud with thermal actuator for clearance control in a centrifugal compressor
First Claim
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1. A compressor shroud assembly in a turbine engine comprising:
- a static compressor casing;
a thermal actuator comprising;
one or more linkage assemblies mounted to said casing and being spaced around the circumference thereof;
an annular thermal drive member mounted to said linkage assemblies; and
an impeller shroud for encasing a rotatable centrifugal compressor and maintaining a clearance gap between the impeller shroud and the rotatable centrifugal compressor, wherein the impeller shroud is slidably coupled at a forward end to said casing and mounted to said linkage assemblies, said impeller shroud moving relative to the rotatable centrifugal compressor in an axial direction while substantially maintaining a radial alignment when said thermal actuator is actuated.
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Abstract
A system for controlling the clearance distance between an impeller blade tip of a centrifugal compressor and a radially inner surface of an impeller shroud in a turbine engine. The system comprises a thermal driver coupled between the impeller shroud and engine casing by hinged linkages. The thermal driver includes an annular ring and annular seal which together define thermal driver cavity. Relatively warm or relatively cool air supplied to the thermal driver cavity cause expansion and contraction, respectively, of the annular ring which is translated by linkages into axially forward and aft motion, respectively.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A compressor shroud assembly in a turbine engine comprising:
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a static compressor casing; a thermal actuator comprising; one or more linkage assemblies mounted to said casing and being spaced around the circumference thereof; an annular thermal drive member mounted to said linkage assemblies; and an impeller shroud for encasing a rotatable centrifugal compressor and maintaining a clearance gap between the impeller shroud and the rotatable centrifugal compressor, wherein the impeller shroud is slidably coupled at a forward end to said casing and mounted to said linkage assemblies, said impeller shroud moving relative to the rotatable centrifugal compressor in an axial direction while substantially maintaining a radial alignment when said thermal actuator is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A compressor shroud assembly in a turbine engine comprising:
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a static compressor casing; a thermal actuator comprising; one or more linkage assemblies mounted to said casing and being spaced around the circumference thereof; a thermal drive member mounted to said linkage assemblies; and an impeller shroud for encasing a rotatable centrifugal compressor and maintaining a clearance gap between the impeller shroud and the rotatable centrifugal compressor, wherein the impeller shroud is mounted at a forward end to said casing and mounted to said linkage assemblies, said impeller shroud moving relative to the rotatable centrifugal compressor in a cantilevered manner from said forward end thereof when said thermal actuator is actuated. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of dynamically changing a clearance gap between a rotatable centrifugal compressor and a shroud encasing the rotatable centrifugal compressor, said method comprising:
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mounting a thermal driver comprising a ring and a plurality of linkage assemblies to a static casing; mounting a shroud to the thermal driver; and actuating the thermal driver to thereby move the shroud relative to a rotatable centrifugal compressor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification