NACELLE AIR INTAKE AND NACELLE COMPRISING SUCH AN AIR INTAKE
20220042456 · 2022-02-10
Assignee
Inventors
- Virginie Emmanuelle Anne Marie Digeos (Moissy Cramayel, FR)
- Marc VERSAEVEL (MOISSY CRAMAYEL, FR)
- Paul OLDHAM (MOISSY CRAMAYEL, FR)
- Patrick Boileau (Moissy Cramayel, FR)
Cpc classification
F02C7/047
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05D2230/60
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B64D2033/0206
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Y02T50/60
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F02C7/045
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05D2220/323
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05D2260/963
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
Abstract
An air intake for a nacelle for an aircraft engine includes a front lip connecting a substantially cylindrical internal wall and a substantially cylindrical external wall, and at least one acoustic structure including acoustic cells. The acoustic structure is situated in the space delimited by the internal wall, the external wall and the front lip. The acoustic structure is an added part secured to the air intake. The acoustic cells of the acoustic structure are arranged facing a region of the internal wall or of the lip at a predetermined distance so that the acoustic cells of the acoustic structure are not in contact with the internal wall or the lip while providing an acoustic attenuation function.
Claims
1. An air intake for an aircraft engine nacelle, the air intake including: a substantially cylindrical inner wall; a substantially cylindrical outer wall; a front lip connecting the substantially cylindrical inner wall and the substantially cylindrical outer wall; an at least one acoustic structure comprising acoustic cells, the acoustic structure being located in a space delimited by the substantially cylindrical inner wall, the substantially cylindrical outer wall and the front lip, wherein the acoustic structure is fixed to the air intake, the acoustic cells of the acoustic structure being arranged facing an area of the substantially cylindrical inner wall and/or the front lip at a predetermined distance configured so that the acoustic cells of the acoustic structure are not in contact with the substantially cylindrical inner wall and/or the front lip.
2. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance separating the acoustic cells from said area of the substantially cylindrical inner wall and/or the front lip is less than 1.5 mm.
3. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic structure is fixed at a downstream end on at least one of an angle iron, a flange, and a partition.
4. The air intake according to claim 3, wherein the acoustic structure is mounted in cantilever with respect to the iron angle, flange, or partition.
5. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic structure is fixed at an upstream end with at least one of the substantially cylindrical inner wall and the front lip.
6. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic structure has a cellular structure and an acoustically resistive skin.
7. The air intake according to claim 6, wherein the acoustic structure is formed from a metal alloy.
8. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic structure is formed by at least one of brazing, additive manufacturing, stamping, forming of inserts, molding, and injection.
9. The air intake according to claim 1, further comprising a de-icing system configured so as to guide air flow through at least one of orifices located upstream of the acoustic structure, perforations of the substantially cylindrical inner wall, and the front lip in an area located facing the acoustic structure forming a perforated skin for said acoustic structure.
10. The air intake according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic structure is fixed to the air intake by at least one of rivets, welding, and gluing.
11. A nacelle for an aircraft engine comprising an air intake according to claim 1.
12. A method for manufacturing an air intake according to claim 1, the method comprising: manufacturing the front lip and all or part of the substantially cylindrical inner and/or the substantially cylindrical outer walls; manufacturing the acoustic structure; and assembling the acoustic structure with said manufactured wall forming the front lip and all or part of the substantially cylindrical inner and/or substantially cylindrical outer walls.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0051] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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[0070] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0071] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
[0072] In all of these figures, identical or similar references designate identical or similar members or groups of members.
[0073] As represented in
[0074] The nacelle 1 comprises an upstream section 2 with an air intake lip 3, a median section 4 surrounding a fan 5 of an engine 6 such as a bypass turbojet engine and a downstream section 7 accommodating a thrust reverser system (not visible), the nacelle serving to channel the air flows generated by the engine 6.
[0075] The air intake 3 is divided into two parts, namely on the one hand, an intake lip 31 adapted to allow improved capture towards the turbojet engine of the necessary air to the supply the fan and the inner compressors of the turbojet engine, and on the other hand, a downstream structure 32, 33 on which the lip is attached and intended to properly channel the air towards the blades of the fan. The assembly is attached upstream of a fan casing belonging to the median section 4 of the nacelle 1.
[0076] The downstream section 7 comprises an inner structure 8 (also called “inner fixed structure” or “IFS”) surrounding the upstream portion of the turbojet engine 6, an outer structure (also called “outer fixed structure” or “OFS”) 9 forming the cold flow channel and fixed relative to the engine, and a movable cowl including thrust reversal means. The inner structure or IFS 8 as well as the outer structure or OFS 9 are fixed relative to the movable cowl.
[0077] The IFS 8 and the OFS 9 delimit a flow path 10 allowing the passage of an air flow 12 penetrating the nacelle 1 at the level of the air intake lip 3.
[0078] The nacelle 1 includes a top 14 intended to receive an attachment engine pylon making it possible to fix said nacelle 1 to a wing of the aircraft. To do this, said top 14 includes means for fixing said engine pylon.
[0079] The turbojet engine nacelle is in particular suspended from the engine pylon, by means of a beam at the level of this top 14.
[0080] The nacelle 1 ends with an ejection nozzle 21.
[0081] As represented more specifically in
[0082] In other words, the air intake 3 has a substantially annular structure comprising the outer wall 33 ensuring the outer aerodynamic continuity of the nacelle 1 and the inner wall 32 ensuring the inner aerodynamic continuity of the nacelle 1, in particular with the fan casing at the median section 4.
[0083] The air intake lip 31 provides the junction between these two walls 32, 33 and can in particular be integrated into the inner 32 and/or outer 33 wall, thus forming a main wall of the air intake 3.
[0084] In other words, the walls 31, 32, 33 can be formed in one piece or integrally, thus forming the main wall of the air intake.
[0085] In order to reduce the noise pollution generated by the turbojet engine, at least part of the inner wall 32 of the air intake 3 is equipped with an acoustic structure 40, which is located in the space delimited by the main wall, namely the inner wall 32, the outer wall 33 and the front lip 31.
[0086] This acoustic 40 or acoustic attenuation structure is in the form of a cellular core panel forming a cellular structure whose cells delimit acoustic cells 41, the acoustic structure 40 further comprising a solid inner skin 42 ensuring in particular the mechanical resistance of the panel.
[0087] This acoustic structure 40 is preferably formed from a metal alloy. If the temperatures involved allow it, other materials can be used. These materials can also depend on the used manufacturing method, for example by thermoplastic molding, by additive manufacturing in aluminum, etc.
[0088] The air intake 3 further comprises, at the level of one of its walls 31, 32, 33 of the main wall, in particular at the level of an area 43 extending from the inner wall 32 to the lip 31, perforations 44 (not illustrated in these
[0089] This perforation area 43 of the air intake 3 locally forms a perforated skin or acoustic skin intended to be exposed to noise and which, associated with the acoustic structure 40, forms a resonator or Helmholtz resonator capable of trapping sound waves.
[0090] Moreover, the acoustic structure 40, formed in particular by the cellular core structure 41 and by the solid skin 42 is an attached part, manufactured separately from the main wall of the air intake 3 and fixed to said air intake 3 by fixing means 60.
[0091] Because this acoustic structure 40 is an attached part, it is possible to independently manufacture the air intake 3 of the nacelle 1 and said acoustic structure 40, then to assemble them together in a subsequent manufacturing step, regardless of their respective materials. This avoids in particular the implementation of a common manufacturing step, for example brazing, of the two parts together and all the constraints associated with such manufacturing.
[0092] The acoustic structure 40 is arranged opposite the wall extending from the inner wall 32 to the wall of the lip 31, that is to say the part of the air intake 3 oriented from the side of the air intake flow path, and placed at a predetermined distance configured so that the acoustic cells 41 of the acoustic structure 40 are not in contact with this main wall, this while ensuring an acoustic attenuation function.
[0093] Such a predetermined distance forms a space between the acoustic cells on the one hand, and the wall of the air intake 3 locally forming a pierced skin 43, makes it possible to facilitate the assembly of the air intake 3 with less impact on the lip 3.
[0094] This distance d is selected so as to be large enough to inhibit contact of the acoustic cells 41 with the main wall, even in the presence of vibrations during the use phase.
[0095] Conversely, this distance d is selected so as to be sufficiently small to guarantee the Helmholtz resonance in the acoustic cells 41 forming a cavity, the area 43 of the inner wall 32 and/or the wall of the lip 31 having perforations 44 facing the acoustic cells 41 to allow the air lapping the air intake 3 to produce this phenomenon of air resonance in the cavities of the acoustic structure 40.
[0096] In this aspect, this predetermined distance d is substantially equal to 1.5 mm.
[0097] The air intake 3 is fixed to the nacelle by means of a fixing flange. More precisely, the median section 4 of the nacelle 1 includes an inner panel exposed to the air flow and locally delimiting the flow path of the cold flow by surrounding the fan 5, this panel forming a fan casing.
[0098] The inner wall 32 of the air intake 3 is intended to be fixed to a fan casing (not visible) of the turbojet engine and thus to constitute a fixed part of the upstream section 2.
[0099] Moreover, the outer wall 33 of the air intake 3 is intended to be fixed to an outer wall of the median section.
[0100] The junction between the fan casing and the inner wall 32 of the air intake 3 is provided by means of at least one fixing flange, the flanges being distributed homogeneously circumferentially with respect to the air intake 3.
[0101] Each of the mounting flanges includes a rear part (not illustrated) located at an upstream end of a wall of the turbojet engine, for example of the fan casing, and a front portion secured to the inner wall 32 of the air intake, these two parts being secured to each other so as to allow the centering and fixing of the air intake 3 on the nacelle 1.
[0102] In this aspect (
[0103] Advantageously, the upstream end of the acoustic structure 40 can be fixed to the main wall, in particular to the inner wall 32 or that of the lip 31, by upstream fixing means 62.
[0104] Alternatively, to reduce the mass, the acoustic structure 40 can be mounted in cantilever (see
[0105] The fixing means, or fastening device, 60, 61, 62 of the acoustic structure 40 forming a shroud to the nacelle 1 are for example rivets and/or a welding and/or a gluing.
[0106] According to the various forms illustrated in
[0107] Upstream of the acoustic structure 40, the acoustically resistive skin 42 is configured to laterally cover the acoustic cells 41.
[0108] In the configuration illustrated in
[0109] It will be noted that the acoustic structure 40 in general, in particular the acoustically resistive skin 42 and the acoustic cells 41 can be formed in one and the same part. This is particularly the case when the part is the result of additive manufacturing or injection type manufacturing.
[0110] In the configuration illustrated in
[0111] In comparison,
[0112] In this way, the so-called acoustically resistive rear skin 42 is configured to laterally cover the acoustic cells 41 upstream and downstream of the cellular core 41 and has upstream and downstream projecting ends forming fixing tabs to be each locally contiguous to the inner wall 32 of the air intake 3 or they are crossed by rivets 62.
[0113] In these forms illustrated in
[0114] Alternatively,
[0115] These angle irons are illustrated in detail in
[0116] The air intake 3 further includes at least part of a de-icing system 51 and generating a flow of de-icing air from the air intake 3, generally comprising a tube 52 housed in an internal space 50 (see
[0117] The air intake 3 may include a partition 80 which forms an annular volume behind the front lip 31 delimiting with it and, where appropriate with the inner 32 and outer 33 walls depending on the geometry, a generally annular “D”-shaped volume.
[0118] This partition 80 is preferably connected to the inner wall 32 at the level of the fixing flange 70 (see
[0119] In general, the air intake 3 is configured so as to guide a flow of hot air generated by the de-icing system through orifices 34 located upstream of the acoustic structure 40 (see for example
[0120] With reference to
[0121] This boundary layer of hot air makes it possible to heat the inner wall 32 and/or the wall of the lip 31 to inhibit the formation of ice, or to perform de-icing guaranteeing good acoustic attenuation despite the conditions favorable to the formation of ice.
[0122] In particular, the film of hot air causes a deflection of the air droplets arriving upstream, which moves them away from the area 43 presenting the perforations facing the acoustic cells, as well as an evaporation of the droplets which have passed through this film, which are disposed on this panel.
[0123] The pattern of these orifices 34 and the shape of these orifices 34, in particular the diameter, the distribution, the taper or the inclination of these orifices 34, are adjusted so as to improve the thickness of the boundary layer of hot air, and to promote the deviation of the trajectory of the drops relative to the main wall of the nacelle, in particular of the inner wall 32 and/or the wall of the lip 31.
[0124] In the examples illustrated, the upstream portion of the front lip 31 and the part facing radially outwards do not have an acoustic structure and are heated in the usual way by the circulation of hot air in the annular volume 50.
[0125] A compromise is thus obtained allowing an acoustic structure to be placed as far upstream as possible on the air intake 3 of the nacelle 2, ensuring good acoustic performance, with an efficient de-icing system consuming a limited hot air flow, and with aerodynamic losses which remain low.
[0126] In order to obtain a boundary layer of hot air including an appropriate flow, allowing it to permanently lap this area 43 forming an acoustic skin on the acoustic structure 40, it is advantageous to adjust the flow of hot air as a function of the turbojet engine operating conditions by flow rate adjustment means.
[0127] In fact, if the boundary layer is detached from this wall, there is no longer any effective de-icing.
[0128] In particular on take-off of the aircraft, a high pressure of hot air supplied by the compressor of the turbojet engine is obtained, and the depression at the level of the lip 31 is important, then a low hot air injection flow rate will be achieved.
[0129] When descending, a lower hot air pressure supplied by the compressor is obtained, and the depression at the level of the lip 31 is also low, and a high hot air injection flow rate will then be achieved.
[0130] According to an alternative and/or complementary aspect, the space formed between the cellular cells 41 and the inner wall 32 (and/or the wall 31) communicates with the inner space 50 of the lip so that the air heated in this volume by the de-icing system can circulate towards this space to be evacuated through the perforations 44 of the inner wall 32.
[0131] In the case where the acoustic structure is in cantilever, whose fixing means 60, 61 are located only downstream of the acoustic cells 41 (see
[0132] In the case where the acoustic structure 40 has an upstream fixing means 62, said upstream fixing means 62 can form an obstacle to this fluid communication.
[0133] In this case, this fixing means such as an angle iron (see
[0134] It will be noted that the use of an acoustic structure 40 in cantilever presents an important advantage given that such a means of fixing downstream of the acoustic structure forming a suspension system is compatible with an electric de-icing system whose positioning can be located as closely as possible between the acoustic cells 41 and the acoustic skin 43 formed locally by the main wall, in the predetermined space of 1.5 mm for example.
[0135] Such an air intake according to the present disclosure is particularly advantageous in terms of the manufacturing method. Such a method for manufacturing the air intake 3 comprises the following steps:
[0136] on the one hand, a step of manufacturing a lip 31 and all or part of the inner 32 and/or outer 33 walls;
[0137] on the other hand, a step of manufacturing the acoustic structure 40.
[0138] The acoustic structure 40 is formed for example by brazing, additive manufacturing, stamping, forming of inserts, molding or injection. Of course, this list is not exhaustive and other manufacturing method can be used.
[0139] These two steps being separate, the choice of materials for their manufacture can be simpler, more suitable and more controlled while allowing savings.
[0140] Once these two parts have been manufactured, manufacture continues with a step of assembling the acoustic structure 40 with said manufactured wall forming the lip 31 and all or part of the inner 32 and/or outer 33 walls.
[0141] The present disclosure is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that one skilled in the art is able to carry out different variant forms without however departing from the scope of the invention.
[0142] It will be noted for example that the acoustic structure can be formed integrally with the partition 80 and/or the flange 70. In this case, the means for fixing the acoustic structure to the air intake can be formed by those of the partition 80 and/or the flange 70 at the air intake
[0143] In this case, the partition 80 and the flange 70 designate portions of the same part. Examples of this aspect of the present disclosures with such a part are illustrated in
[0144] More specifically,
[0145] The air intake 3 is configured so as to guide this air flow F through bores or orifices 34 located upstream of the acoustic structure 40.
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[0148] In the case of brazing, this is only possible for the downstream fixing means 61 at the level of the flange 70. As regards the upstream fixing means 62, others fixing means are implemented to avoid the drawbacks associated with brazing the acoustic structure with the lip.
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[0150] Nonetheless, a seal 90 is interposed between the upstream end of the acoustic structure, in particular of the tab formed in the upstream extension of the acoustically resistive skin 42 laterally covering the acoustic cells 41, and the main wall of the air intake. This allows a lighter solution than using upstream fixing means 62.
[0151] Finally,
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[0154] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word “about” or “approximately” in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.
[0155] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”
[0156] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.