Air intake of a turbojet engine nacelle comprising guide vanes

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for using an aircraft turbojet engine comprising an air inlet comprising a plurality of rectifier vanes, each rectifier vane being mounted such that it can move between a retracted position to assist the thrust phase and a deployed position in which the rectifier vane protrudes from the inner wall in a radially inward direction in order to rectify the reverse air flow of the inner wall to assist a thrust-reverse phase, in which method at least one rectifier vane is in the retracted position during a turbojet engine thrust phase, the method comprising, during a thrust-reverse phase of the turbojet engine, a step of moving the rectifier vane to the deployed position.

Claims

1. A method for operating an aircraft turbojet engine, the aircraft turbojet engine extending along an axis X oriented from upstream to downstream in which an internal air flow circulates from upstream to downstream during a thrust phase and a reverse air flow from downstream to upstream during a thrust reversal phase, said turbojet engine comprising a variable pitch fan, comprising a plurality of fan vanes, configured to perform a thrust reversal, and a nacelle comprising an air intake extending circumferentially about the axis X, and comprising an internal wall facing the axis X and configured to guide the internal air flow and the reverse air flow, and an external wall opposite to the internal wall and configured to guide an external air flow, the internal wall and the external wall being connected to each other by an air intake lip so as to form an annular cavity, the air intake comprising a plurality of guide vanes positioned upstream of the variable pitch fan, each guide vane being movably mounted between (1) a retracted position to promote the thrust phase, and (2) an extended position in which the guide vane projectingly extends from the internal wall in a radially internal direction towards axis X in order to guide the reverse air flow from the internal wall to promote a thrust reversal phase, and in which the guide vane comprises a thick leading edge positioned downstream and a thin trailing edge, relative to the thick leading edge, positioned upstream; the method comprising, during the thrust reversal phase of said turbojet engine, changing a pitch of the variable pitch fan and moving the plurality of guide vanes from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide vanes of the air intake of the turbojet engine are distributed circumferentially about axis X.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air intake of the turbojet engine comprises at least one moving member configured to move one of the plurality of guide vanes from the retracted position to the extended position.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of guide vanes of the air intake of the turbojet engine is translationally and/or rotationally mounted in the air intake.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the guide vanes of the air intake of the turbojet engine comprises an aerodynamic profile.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the air intake of the turbojet engine comprises a cover member movably mounted between an operating position, in which said cover member covers one of the plurality of guide vanes in the retracted position so as to ensure an aerodynamic profile during thrust, and a storage position, in which said cover member is offset from its operating position so that the one of the plurality of guide vanes is in the extended position.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide vanes of the air intake of the turbojet engine extend into the annular cavity of the air intake in the retracted position.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, a length of at least one of the plurality of guide vanes is less than ⅓ of a length of one of the fan vanes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be better understood from the following description, which is given solely by way of example, and refers to the appended drawings given as non-limiting examples, in which identical references are given to similar objects and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation in a longitudinal cross-section view of a turbojet engine nacelle operating in thrust, according to prior art,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation in a longitudinal cross-section view of a turbojet engine nacelle operating in reverse thrust, according to prior art,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic representation in a longitudinal cross-section view of a turbojet engine nacelle operating in thrust, according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic representation in a longitudinal cross-section view of a turbojet engine nacelle operating in reverse thrust, according to the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic representation in a transverse cross-section view of an air intake comprising a row of guide vanes on the air intake lip in the retracted position,

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic representation in a transverse cross-section view of an air intake comprising a row of guide vanes on the air intake lip in the extended position,

(8) FIG. 7A and

(9) FIG. 7B are schematic representations in a longitudinal cross-section view of an air intake comprising a guide vane on the air intake lip in a first retracted position and a second extended position,

(10) FIG. 7C is a schematic representation in a longitudinal cross-section view of an air intake comprising a guide vane to which a cover member is secured,

(11) FIG. 8 is a partial schematic representation of the air intake in a plane of revolution when the guide vanes are in the extended position,

(12) FIG. 9A,

(13) FIG. 9B,

(14) FIG. 9C and

(15) FIG. 9D are schematic representations of the extension kinematics of a rotating guide vane,

(16) FIG. 10A,

(17) FIG. 10B,

(18) FIG. 10C and

(19) FIG. 10D are schematic representations of extension kinematics of a translating guide vane along an extension axis tilted with respect to the radial direction,

(20) FIG. 11A and

(21) FIG. 11B are schematic representations of an air intake comprising a passive moving device.

(22) It should be noted that the figures set out the invention in detail to implement the invention, said figures may of course serve to further define the invention where appropriate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(23) With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a turbojet engine 1 according to the invention extending along an axis X oriented from upstream to downstream and comprising a fan 11 rotatably mounted about axis X in an external shell 12 defining an air stream is represented. In a known manner, the fan 11 is configured, during a thrust phase, to accelerate an air flow circulating from upstream to downstream in the turbojet engine 1, known as the internal air flow F-INT (FIG. 3), and during a thrust reversal phase, to accelerate an air flow circulating from downstream to upstream in the turbojet engine 1, known as the reverse air flow F-INV (FIG. 4). In practice, the reverse air flow F-INV circulates from downstream to upstream in a radially external portion of the air stream, in particular, over ⅓ of the air stream radius. An internal air flow F-INT always circulates from upstream to downstream in a radially internal portion of the air stream, in particular, over ⅔ of the air stream radius. The internal air flow F-INT ensures a sufficient flow rate to avoid any pumping phenomenon of the turbojet engine.

(24) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the turbojet engine 1 comprises a nacelle which comprises at its upstream end an air intake 2 extending circumferentially about axis X and comprising an internal wall 21, pointing to axis X and configured to guide the internal air flow F-INT and the reverse air flow F-INV, and an external wall 22, opposite to the internal wall 21 and configured to guide an external air flow F-EXT. The walls 21, 22 are connected by an air intake lip 23, comprising a leading edge, forming an annular cavity 20.

(25) In this example, the turbojet engine 1 comprises thrust reversing means, in particular, a variable pitch fan 11, or VPF, for reversing the air flow circulating in the turbojet engine 1 and thus creating a reverse thrust allowing deceleration of the aircraft during landing.

(26) According to the invention, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the air intake 2 comprises a plurality of guide vanes 3, each guide vane 3 being movably mounted between: a retracted position A to promote the thrust phase and an extended position B in which the guide vane 3 projectingly extends from the internal wall 21 along a radially internal direction in order to guide the reverse air flow F-INV from the internal wall 21 to promote the reverse thrust phase.

(27) Thus, the air intake 2 allows for two different roles during thrust and during reverse thrust. In the retracted position A, the guide vane 3 does not affect the aerodynamic performance of the leading edge 23 which has an aerodynamic profile. The thrust is thus optimal.

(28) Following its movement in the extended position B, each guide vane 3 allows for guiding the F-INV air flow which has been previously twisted by the fan 11 during a thrust reversal phase. A guided reverse air flow F-INVR thus circulates on the internal wall 21 of the air intake 21 which optimally opposes to the upstream air flow F. The performance of the reverse thrust phase is optimal.

(29) According to the invention, for the thrust reversal phase, the guide vanes 3 perform a function analogous to the vanes located in the secondary stream and known to those skilled in the art under the abbreviation “Outlet Guide Vane”.

(30) With reference to FIG. 5, an air intake 2 is represented, comprising several guide vanes 3 which are distributed at the circumference of the air intake 2 about axis X in such a way as to enable the thrust reversal phase to be improved. Preferably, the number of guide vanes 3 is large enough to allow guiding over the entire circumference of the air intake 2 and small enough to reduce weight and drag. Preferably, when the turbojet engine 1 comprises OGV type vanes, the number of guide vanes 3 for the thrust reversal phase is substantially equal to the number of OGV type vanes.

(31) Preferably, in order to modify guiding of the reverse air flow differently at the circumference of the air intake, the guide vanes 3 may not be identical or may be moved to different extension degrees. This advantageously allows the circumferential environment of the air intake to be taken into account, in particular to limit acoustic nuisance by directing the reverse air flow.

(32) Preferably, the guide vanes 3 are organized in rows, each row comprising a plurality of guide vanes 3 positioned at the same radial distance from axis X. Alternatively, the guide vanes 3 may be positioned at different radial distances to vary the guiding of the reverse air flow differently at the circumference of the air intake. As an example, a single row is represented in FIG. 5, but obviously the number of rows could be higher.

(33) The axial position of the guide vanes 3, that is the distance from the fan 11, can vary depending on the application. Indeed, the closer the guide vanes 3 are to the fan 11, the more effective the guiding. Conversely, the further the guide vanes 3 are from the fan 11, the lower the noise generated.

(34) With reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, an air intake 2 is represented, comprising a guide vane 3 movably mounted along a radial extension direction. However, it goes without saying that the extension direction could comprise a longitudinal or azimuthal component, the important thing being that the extension direction comprises at least a radial component. A predominantly radial extension direction is nevertheless preferred since it allows the guide vanes 3 to perform a function similar to the radially extending OGV vanes. The internal wall 21 comprises a passage opening 210 leading into the annular cavity 20 in which the guide vane 3 moves in the extended position B. The dimensions of the passage opening 210 are determined so as to minimize the clearance with the guide vane 3 in the extended position B. This limits circulation of the reverse air flow F-INV in the annular cavity 20 in the extended position B.

(35) In this example, the air intake 2 comprises a moving member 9 to translationally move the guide vane 3 from the retracted position A to the extended position B. By way of example, this moving member 9 is in the form of a moving member 9 which is active, for example, in the form of a pneumatic, hydraulic, electric or other actuator in order to allow a movement as a result of receiving a control command from a calculator. Preferably, the moving member 9 also allows the guide vane 3 to be translationally moved from the extended position B to the retracted position A. The air intake 2 may comprise one or more controllable moving members 9.

(36) As illustrated in FIG. 8, the guide vane 3 comprises, in a radial cross-sectional plane, a leading edge BA positioned downstream and a trailing edge BF positioned upstream. Preferably, the guide vane has an aerodynamic profile so as to guide the reverse air flow F-INV on the front side and the back side of the guide vane 3 and to obtain a guided reverse air flow F-INVR that circulates axially.

(37) Still referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the controllable moving member 9 allows the movable connection member 3 to be moved radially inwardly so that the guide vane 3 projectingly extends into the circulation of the reverse air flow F-INV that is twisted by the fan 11.

(38) According to an optional aspect of the invention, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the air intake 2 comprises a cover member 4 movably mounted between an operating position C1, in which said cover member 4 covers the guide vane 3 in the retracted position A so as to ensure an aerodynamic profile during thrust (FIG. 7A), and a storage position C2, in which said cover member 4 is offset from its operating position C1 so that the guide vane 3 is in an extended position B (FIG. 7B). In the retracted position A, the cover member 4 covers the guide opening 210 and does not cover it in the extended position B.

(39) Preferably, the cover member 4 is made of a material identical to the internal wall 21 and its shape is chosen to be an extension of the internal wall 21 so that the aerodynamic profile of the air lip 2 remains unchanged during thrust.

(40) In the example of FIGS. 7A-7B, the cover member 4 is translationally moved along the internal wall 21 upstream, from the operating position C1 to the storage position C2. However, it goes without saying that the cover member 4 could have other shapes and be moved in a different manner, in particular, along a circumferential direction. Furthermore, the cover member 4 may comprise one or more parts. Furthermore, the movement of the cover member 4 may be performed by the moving member 9 of the guide vane 3 or by any other moving member.

(41) In the extended position B, as illustrated in FIG. 7B and FIG. 8, the guide vanes 3 act on the reverse air flow F-INV in order to align it axially with the upstream air flow F and allow an optimal thrust reversal phase. The action of the fan 11 can thus participate effectively in the thrust reversal phase.

(42) Alternatively, with reference to FIG. 7C, the cover member 4 is mounted integral with the internal end of the guide vane 3 and is moved with the latter in the reverse air flow F-INV. Such an embodiment requires only the guide vane 3 to be moved, which is advantageous.

(43) Still referring to FIG. 7C, the guide vane 3 comprises, at its external end, a closure member 6 configured to at least partially fill the passage opening 210 of the internal wall 21 in which the guide vane 3 moves in the extended position B. Such a closure member 6 advantageously makes it possible to limit circulation of the reverse air flow F-INV in the annular cavity 20 of the air intake 2, in particular, via the clearance formed between the guide vane 3 and the guide opening 210. Of course, such a closure member 6 is also adaptable to other embodiments. The closure member 6 is preferably integral with the guide vane 3.

(44) In FIGS. 7A-7C, a guide vane 3 that is extended in a substantially radial direction has been represented. Nevertheless, the extension of the guide vanes 3 could be performed according to different kinematics.

(45) With reference to FIGS. 9A-9B, a first rotational kinematics is represented in which the guide vane 3 is pivoted about an azimuthal hinge axis 30 upstream. In the retracted position A (FIG. 9A), the guide vane 3 is aligned longitudinally downstream and then swung upstream to extend substantially radially in the extended position B (FIG. 9B). In the extended position B, the guide vane 3 does not necessarily extend radially but may be tilted downstream or upstream.

(46) Similarly, with reference to FIGS. 9C-9D, a second rotational kinematics is represented in which the guide vane 3 is pivoted about an azimuthal hinge axis 30 downstream. In the retracted position A (FIG. 9C), the guide vane 3 is aligned longitudinally upstream and then swung downstream to extend substantially radially in the extended position B (FIG. 9D). In the extended position B, the guide vane 3 does not necessarily extend radially but may be tilted downstream or upstream.

(47) A guide vane rotatably driven about an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to axis X (longitudinal rotation) has been set forth, but it goes without saying that the axis of rotation could be substantially parallel to axis X (lateral rotation). According to this alternative, the guide vane 3 is preferably placed in an azimuthal cavity in the retracted position A, in particular, pressed against the internal wall 21.

(48) Rotational kinematics is advantageous because it limits radial overall size in the retracted position A. It goes without saying that the guide vane 3 could also be moved according to a kinematics combining rotation and translation.

(49) According to one preferred aspect of the invention, the guide vane 3 forms a portion of the internal wall 21 that is pivoted in the extended position. In other words, the guide vane 3 is not located within the annular cavity 20 formed between the internal wall 21 and the external wall 22.

(50) A guide vane 3 that is translationally extended along a substantially radial direction has been represented in FIGS. 7A-7C. Of course, extension along a translational axis tilted downstream (FIGS. 10A-10B) or upstream (FIGS. 10A-10B) can also be contemplated.

(51) According to one aspect of the invention, extension of a guide vane 3 may be achieved by a moving member that is passive.

(52) With reference to FIGS. 11A-11B, a passive moving member is represented in the form of a pneumatic conduit 9′ formed in the annular cavity 20 and opening onto the guide vane 3 in order to move it by suction or blowing between the retracted position and the extended position.

(53) Preferably, the pneumatic conduit 9′ is connected to an overpressure source 90′ which, due to the pressure difference between the air stream and the pneumatic conduit 9′, allows the guide vane 3 to be moved by suction. The pressure in the air stream is lower due to the acceleration of the reverse air flow F-INV by the fan 11. In this example, the suction extension can be partial, as the aerodynamic forces in the air stream allow a full extension. A passive moving member is suitable for both translational and rotational kinematics.

(54) According to one aspect of the invention, the pneumatic conduit 9′ is fed by the reverse air flow. Preferably, during a thrust phase, the reverse air flow is no longer present, which automatically moves the guide vane 3 into the retracted position A.

(55) A method for operating the air intake 2 according to the invention previously set forth is described below. For the sake of clarity, the movement of a single guide vane 3 is set forth, but it goes without saying that several guide vanes 3 may be moved concomitantly or sequentially.

(56) During thrust, the fan 11 accelerates an internal air flow F-INT from upstream to downstream which is guided by the air intake 2 having an aerodynamic profile that promotes thrust. The guide vanes 3 are in the retracted position A during the thrust of the turbojet engine 1, so that the air intake 2 has an aerodynamic profile in order to guide the air flow. The use of a cover member 4 ensures an optimal aerodynamic profile during thrust.

(57) During a thrust reversal phase of said turbojet engine 1, in particular following a change in the pitch of the fan vanes 11, the moving member(s) 9 move the guide vanes 3 into an extended position B, in which the guide vanes 3 projectingly extend from the internal wall 21 in a radially inward direction in order to guide the reverse air flow F-INV from the internal wall 21 to promote the thrust reversal phase.

(58) Advantageously, such an operating method provides the aircraft with good performance both in thrust, where the internal air flow F-I NT is kept unchanged, and in reverse thrust, where the guide vanes 230 allow the reverse air flow F-INV to be untwisted. With reference to FIG. 8, the guided reverse air flow F-INVR circulates along the same direction but with an opposite sense to the upstream air flow F, thereby providing an effective reverse thrust phase.

(59) According to one aspect of the invention, only part of the guide vanes 3 is moved during the movement step to adapt to different operating conditions, for example, during braking.

(60) By virtue of the invention, the performance of the turbojet engine 1 is significantly improved during the thrust reversal phase while maintaining the existing performance during the thrust phase.