Passive control of gas turbine clearances using ceramic matrix composites inserts
First Claim
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1. A clearance control ring assembly, comprising:
- a stator component disposed opposite a rotor component within a gas turbine engine;
a clearance control ring being formed of a single structure and extending circumferentially disposed radially outward of at least a portion of said stator component, said clearance control ring having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of said at least a portion of said stator component; and
at least one spring disposed between the stator component and the clearance control ring, the at least one spring configured to provide a radial bias and an axial bias to the clearance control ring;
wherein said at least a portion of said stator component is limited from thermal expansion and limited from growth relative to said rotor component.
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Abstract
A passive clearance control limits thermal expansion between stator components relative to rotor components. A control ring controls clearance in a passive manner and is located on or adjacent to stationary components which thermally expand during engine operation. The control ring is formed of material having low coefficient of thermal expansion such as CMCs (Ceramic Matrix Composites) and therefore limits, inhibits or restrains expansion of the adjacent stator components as temperatures increase. Limiting expansion of the stator component reduces rotor/stator clearances and limits parasitic leakage of fluid along the flowpath through the engine core.
15 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A clearance control ring assembly, comprising:
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a stator component disposed opposite a rotor component within a gas turbine engine; a clearance control ring being formed of a single structure and extending circumferentially disposed radially outward of at least a portion of said stator component, said clearance control ring having a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of said at least a portion of said stator component; and at least one spring disposed between the stator component and the clearance control ring, the at least one spring configured to provide a radial bias and an axial bias to the clearance control ring; wherein said at least a portion of said stator component is limited from thermal expansion and limited from growth relative to said rotor component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification