70A Constructional arrangement and operation

TTP

B1-L3

ATA 70A

Beech 90 Series

B2-L1

Constructional arrangement and operation


The  engine  is divided into eight major sections as follows:

 

1.   Compressor air inlet

 

2.   Compressor

 

3.   Combustion chamber

 

4.   Compressor turbine

 

5.   Power turbines

 

6.   Exhaust

 

7.   Reduction gearbox

 

8.   Accessory drive gearbox

 

Compressor Air Inlet

 

The compressor air inlet, at the rear of the engine, forms the main air inlet to the gas generator. The inlet includes a circular light alloy casting forming a plenum chamber to allow air to enter the compressor. An integral oil tank is part of this assembly, immediately to the rear of the inlet plenum chamber. The inlet assembly houses the No. 1 (aft) compressor bearing. A circumferential screen is around the air inlet to prevent foreign objects from entering the compressor. The function of the compressor air inlet is to direct the ram airflow from the nacelle air inlet to the compressor assembly. It also supports the #1 bearing, accessory gearbox, and forms the oil tank.


The annular configuration of the PT6 inlet case facilitates  the  protection  against  FOD.  Since the compressor rotor intake is not in line with the flight path, air coming in to the engine has to make a sharp turn prior to entering the inlet. This, combined with the inertial anti-ice system, and inlet screen, prevent FOD from entering the engine.

 The inlet case struts are anti-iced through heat conduction from the oil contained in the oil tank.


Compressor

 

The compressor section is contained in the rear portion of the gas generator case just forward of the compressor air inlet. The compressor  rotor  assembly,  rotating  inside  a three-stage stator housing, is made up of three axial stages and one centrifugal stage. From stage to stage the compressor progressively increases air pressure to supply combustion air for engine operation and to supply compressed air for engine cooling, bearing cavity sealing, compressor bleed valve operation, and aircraft pneumatic services.

 The compressor rotor assembly consists of three axial stages and one centrifugal impeller joined together by six tie rods and spacers. The impeller and first stage blades are made of titanium while the remaining parts are steel.

 Each axial stage of compression accelerates the air and alternately slows the air mass as it passes through  the  first three  stages  of  compression. The  centrifugal  compressor  design  causes  the air mass to slow as the air is forced through the diffuser tubes decreasing  the air mass speed and increasing compressor discharge pressure or P3 air available for engine operation, cooling air, and service air.

 Only the first stage blades may be blended at field level. All blade repair must be documented and the repaired blade must be tracked using a blade drawing to show where the repairs are made. The engine compressor should be washed at regular intervals to maximize performance and prevent corrosion.


Combustion Section

 

The combustion section consists of a reverse- flow, annular combustion chamber in the front section of the gas generator case and surrounds the compressor turbine. The combustion chamber liner is held in place by the two igniter plugs and the 14 fuel nozzle adapters. Air from the compressor enters the combustion chamber through machined holes to provide airflow patterns conducive to combustion chamber insulation and for producing the desired turbulence to support proper fuel atomization and flame propagation. The function of the combustion chamber is to support and contain combustion and hot gas flow. During engine operation, the expanding gases flow in a rearward direction through the large exit duct, attached to and aft of, the combustion chamber, and reverses the gas flow 180° to flow forward through the small exit duct to the compressor turbine guide vane assembly.

CAUTION: Do not remove the two igniter plugs and the 14 nozzle adapters at the same time. These components secure the combustion liner in position and their concurrent  removal  may  allow   the liner to shift, possibly necessitating the splitting of the engine to reposition the combustion chamber.


Turbine Section

 

A two-stage reaction turbine arrangement is made up of two separate and independent rotors. Though aerodynamically connected, they are mechanically  separate  units. The  first stage  turbine  is called the compressor turbine and is rigidly connected to the four-stage compressor through the rotor shaft. The compressor and the compressor turbine combination form the rotating assembly of the gas generator. The second turbine stage is splined to the aft end of a shaft, which drives the propeller reduction gearbox .

 An inlet guide vane assembly precedes each stage of the turbine to direct the gas flow to its associated turbine disc at an angle that creates maximum energy extraction. The compressor turbine inlet guide vane has cored passages through which compressor air flows for cooling purposes. The compressor turbine rotates in a close-tolerance shrouded housing to ensure maximum operational efficiency. The power turbines rotate within the turbine stator housing which is bolted at its front end to the exhaust duct.

 As the compressor and power turbines are separate units, their functions are also separate. The rotating compressor turbine, whose rpm is expressed as Ng or N1, extracts energy from the hot gas stream to drive the compressor and accessory gearbox while the power turbines extract the remaining energy from the hot gas stream to drive the propeller through the reduction gearbox. The rotating power turbine rpm is referred to as Nf. The compressor turbine and the power turbine operate at different speeds and rotate in different directions.


Reduction Gearbox

 

The reduction gearbox (RGB) is comprised of a two-stage planetary reduction gear system. A semi-flexible coupling interconnects the two planetary reduction gear assemblies and dampens any vibrations between the two assemblies. Input to the RGB is from the power turbine rotor shaft. The propeller shaft, supported by a thrust ball type bearing at the front of the RGB, drives the propeller. Accessory drive pads for the primary/(Nf) fuel topping governor, the overspeed governor, and a propeller tachometer generator are at the 12 o’clock, 9 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions  at  the  front  of  the  RGB,  as  viewed from the rear of the engine. The primary function of the reduction gear assembly is to reduce the high rotational output of the power turbine shaft (33,000 rpm) at takeoff to the maximum value (2,200/1900 rpm depending on engine type) for the propeller. The reduction ratio of the power turbine rpm to propeller rpm is approximately 15:1 on the PT6A-21 and 17.3:1 on the PT6A-135. The direction of the propeller rotation, as viewed from the rear of the engine, is clockwise.

Accessory Gearbox (Chapter 83)

 

The accessory gearbox (AGB) consists of a gear train assembly on the aft end of the engine. An oil tank compartment is between the compressor inlet case and the AGB and is isolated from the AGB by an oil-tight diaphragm plate. The gas generator rotor shaft extends through a sealed passage in the oil tank to the AGB to drive the accessories, which include:

 

 Oil  pressure  pump  (80–100/85-105  psi), depending on engine type

 Four oil scavenge pumps

 Fuel control unit (FCU)

 High-pressure engine-driven fuel pump

 

 DC   starter-generator/centrifugal   engine breather impeller

 

 Ng    (gas    generator    rpm)    tachometer generator

Accessory Gearbox (Chapter 83)

 

The accessory gearbox (AGB) consists of a gear train assembly on the aft end of the engine. An oil tank compartment is between the compressor inlet case and the AGB and is isolated from the AGB by an oil-tight diaphragm plate. The gas generator rotor shaft extends through a sealed passage in the oil tank to the AGB to drive the accessories, which include:

 

 Oil  pressure  pump  (80–100/85-105  psi), depending on engine type

 Four oil scavenge pumps

 Fuel control unit (FCU)

 High-pressure engine-driven fuel pump

 

 DC   starter-generator/centrifugal   engine breather impeller

 

 Ng    (gas    generator    rpm)    tachometer generator


Engine Bearings (Chapter 79)

 

There are six main bearings throughout the length of the engine used to support the rotating mass of the gas generator and power sections. Three are ball and three are roller. Bearings No. 1, 4, and 6 are ball bearings and support thrust loads generated by the compressor rotor (rearward) and power turbines (forward) and the propeller (forward). Bearings No. 2, 3, and 5 are roller bearings. They support radial loading and permit axial rotor movement required for thermal expansion.

 

ROTOR                                         SUPPORTED BY

 

Compressor  shaft                              No.  1  ball        No. 2 roller

 

Power turbine shaft                             No. 3 roller        No. 4 ball

 

Propeller shaft                                     No. 5 roller        No. 6 ball


Stations

 

Seven station numbers are assigned to the locations in the engine starting from the engine inlet. Either a T or a P designating them as a temperature or pressure station area prefixes each station number. They are labeled numerically starting from the rear of the engine.

 

 

Flanges

 

The flanges on the engine are the mating faces where the main engine components are joined together. They are labeled alphabetically starting from the front of the engine. Three are field accessible.

 

Flange letter identification and functions are as follows:

 A—Attaches the RGB front and rear housings to the exhaust case. Overhaul/ depot level only.

 B—Attaches RGB housing to the No. 3 bearing housing. Overhaul/depot level only.

 C—Attaches the exhaust case to the gas generator case. Field accessible for hot section inspection maintenance.

 D—Attaches the power turbine vane assembly to the exhaust case. Field accessible for hot section inspection maintenance.

E—Joins the compressor turbine vane assembly together. Field accessible for hot section inspection maintenance.

 F—Attaches the inlet case to the gas generator case. Overhaul/depot level only.

 G—Attaches the AGB to the  inlet  case.  Field accessible, though considered heavy maintenance.


Bearing Labyrinth Seals (Chapter 79)

Bearing compartments for bearings No. 1, 2, and 3 are sealed to prevent oil migration into the gas path using air, or labyrinth-type, seals. Each air seal consists of two separate parts, one stationary and one rotating (compressor rotor or power turbine shaft).  One  part  incorporates  machined  knife-edged grooves. A small clearance is maintained between the stationary and rotating components to create a high velocity, turbulent compressor bleed-air flow that pushes the oil toward the center of the bearing cavity effectively containing the lubrication oil within the seal cavity. On the No. 3 bearing, there is one seal assembly on the rear side of the bearing cavity. On the No. 2 bearing, there is one seal assembly on the front side and two seals on the rear side of the bearing cavity. On the No. 1 bearing, there is only one seal and it is on the forward side of the cavity. The compressor P2.5 is used to seal the No. 1 bearing and P3 air is used for the No. 2 and 3 bearings. There is no mechanical contact between the stationary and rotating components.

 

Labyrinth Seal Malfunctions

Certain conditions can affect the performance of the labyrinth seals (Figure 72-13). They include, but are not limited to:

 Lack of airflow through the labyrinth seal.

 

 Wear on the stator knife edges due to rotor imbalance or bearing distress.

 

 Oil  coking  in  the  grooves  between  the knife edges, diminishing air turbulence across the seal which can lead to oil migration into the gas path.

 

Flooding of bearing cavity due to mal- function in the oil scavenge system.


Identifying a suspect labyrinth seal can be accomplished by observing the following symptoms:

SYMPTOM                                        CAUSE 

Compressor contamination,  

oil  smell  in cabin,

oily bleed valve exhaust..................No. 1 bearing

 

Oil smell in cabin............................No. 2 bearing (rear)

 

Coking around No. 2 bearing and compressor turbine area, possible smoke on start and shutdown.........................................No. 2 bearing (front)

 

Possible   smoke   on  star and  shutdown,  oil residue or heavy smoking in the exhaust duct and stacks...............................................No. 3 bearing



PTP 

Beech 90 Series

B1

LOC


B2

LOC


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