An aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air pipeline water removal device

Abstract

The present application belongs to the field of pivot sealing systems, and particularly relates to an aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line dewatering device, comprising an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-fuel heat exchanger, an air line dewatering device, a capillary throttling device, and a line dryer; the input end of the air-to-air heat exchanger is connected to the high-pressure compressor, and the output end is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger; the output end of the air-to-fuel heat exchanger is connected to the air line dewatering device; the bottom of the air line dewatering device is connected to the capillary throttling device, and the top is connected to the line dryer; the output end of the line dryer is connected to the ambient atmosphere in the engine compartment, and the output end of the capillary throttling device is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger. Liquid water in the air line can be removed without the use of monitoring and control means such as humidity sensors and valves.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of pivot sealing systems, and in particular relates to an aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device. Background Art

[0002] In aircraft engine pivot sealing systems, a stream of high-pressure hot air is often drawn between the high-pressure compressor stages. This air is initially cooled through an air-to-air heat exchanger with the engine's external cooler air. This air is then further cooled through an air-to-fuel heat exchanger with the low-temperature fuel. After cooling, the high-temperature, high-pressure air becomes low-temperature, high-pressure air, which then flows into the engine's bearing cavity for sealing. However, when the engine's intake air is humid, the air cooled by the heat exchanger experiences a significant drop in temperature, while the relative humidity remains unchanged. Once the relative humidity reaches 100%, water begins to leach from the air. Due to the high air velocity within the pipeline, reaching tens of meters per second, this air can carry liquid water droplets into the engine's bearing cavity, worsening the bearing's operating environment and shortening its service life.

[0003] Existing technical solutions involve rationally designing the air-to-air heat exchanger and the air-to-fuel heat exchanger based on the temperatures of the surrounding air and the low-temperature fuel, ensuring that the cooled air temperature meets the sealing temperature requirements while not being too low. However, this solution cannot fundamentally eliminate the liquid water contained in the cooled air pipeline; it can only minimize the amount of liquid water released, which still poses the risk of shortening bearing life.

[0004] Therefore, how to remove liquid water from the air line in the pivot sealing system is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide an aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device to solve the problem that the solutions in the prior art cannot fundamentally remove the liquid water contained in the cooled air line, resulting in a shortened bearing life.

[0006] The technical solution of the present application is: an aircraft engine fulcrum sealing system with an air pipeline dehydration device, comprising an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-fuel heat exchanger, an air pipeline dehydration device, a capillary throttling device and a pipeline dryer; the input end of the air-to-air heat exchanger is connected to the high-pressure compressor, and the output end is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger; the output end of the air-to-fuel heat exchanger is connected to the air pipeline dehydration device; the bottom of the air pipeline dehydration device is connected to the capillary throttling device, and the top is connected to the pipeline dryer; the output end of the pipeline dryer is connected to the ambient atmosphere in the engine compartment, and the output end of the capillary throttling device is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger; the air-to-air heat exchanger and the air-to-fuel heat exchanger can convert cold air into liquid water; the air pipeline dehydration device can control the liquid water to enter its interior along the tangential direction; the pipeline dryer can enter the water-containing air inside it for drying.

[0007] Preferably, the air pipeline dewatering device includes a cylinder, which includes a cylindrical section and a conical section. The conical section is integrally connected to the bottom of the cylindrical section. A water inlet pipe connected to the air-fuel heat exchanger is provided on the side wall of the cylindrical section. An overflow pipe connected to the pipeline dryer is provided at the top of the cylindrical section. An overflow port is provided at the top of the overflow pipe, and the overflow pipe is inserted into the cylindrical section; a bottom flow port connected to the capillary throttling device is provided at the bottom of the conical section.

[0008] Preferably, the diameter of the cylindrical section is between 2 times and 20 times the tangential inlet diameter; and the height of the cylindrical section is between 2 times and 20 times the tangential inlet diameter.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom angle of the cone section is between 5° and 50°, and the length of the overflow pipe inserted into the cylindrical section is between 0.2 times the diameter of the cylinder and 2 times the diameter of the cylinder.

[0010] Preferably, the diameter of the overflow port is between 0.5 and 2 times the diameter of the water inlet pipe, and the diameter of the underflow port is between 0.1 mm and 3 mm; at the same time, the diameter of the underflow port is constrained and calculated so that the maximum air mass flow rate of the underflow port does not exceed 3% of the total flow rate.

[0011] Preferably, the diameter of the capillary tube in the capillary throttling device is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, and the length of the capillary tube is between 1 cm and 10 cm.

[0012] Preferably, the pipeline dryer adopts a physical adsorption type desiccant.

[0013] The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device of the present application has the following advantages:

[0014] 1. Liquid water in the air pipeline can be removed without using monitoring and control measures such as humidity sensors and valves.

[0015] 2. An air line water removal device is used to remove large particles of liquid water from the air line. Through the rational design of the underflow port size, the angle at the bottom of the tapered portion of the cylinder, and the capillary tube, air leakage from the underflow port is minimized. The removed liquid water is used to cool the fuel-air heat exchanger shell, converting the liquid water, which is detrimental to the system, into coolant for the fuel-air heat exchanger shell.

[0016] 3. Use a physical adsorption pipeline dryer to remove small particles of liquid water in the air pipeline. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions provided by this application, the following is a brief introduction to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this application;

[0019] Figure 2 This is the structural principle diagram of the air pipeline water removal device for this application.

[0020] 1. Overflow port; 2. Cylinder; 3. Overflow pipe; 4. Cylindrical section; 5. Water inlet pipe; 6. Conical section; 7. Bottom flow port. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] An aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device, such as Figure 1, including an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-fuel heat exchanger, an air line dehumidifier, a capillary throttling device, and a line dryer. The air-to-air heat exchanger's input is connected to the high-pressure compressor, and its output is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger; the air-to-fuel heat exchanger's output is connected to the air line dehumidifier; the air line dehumidifier's bottom is connected to the capillary throttling device, and its top is connected to the line dryer; the line dryer's output is connected to the ambient atmosphere in the engine compartment, and the capillary throttling device's output is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger. The air-to-air heat exchanger and air-to-fuel heat exchanger can convert cold air into liquid water; the air line dehumidifier can control the tangential entry of liquid water into its interior; and the line dryer can enter and dry the water-laden air inside.

[0023] Preferably, the pipeline dryer uses a physical adsorption type desiccant.

[0024] The specific processing flow is as follows: the hot air from the high-pressure compressor first passes through an air-to-air heat exchanger with the engine's outer low-temperature air for the first cooling step, and then passes through an air-to-fuel heat exchanger with the low-temperature fuel for further cooling. After cooling, the high-temperature, high-pressure air becomes low-temperature, high-pressure air. When the engine's intake air humidity is high, the cold air cooled by the two-stage heat exchanger contains liquid water. By controlling the liquid water to enter the air line dewatering device tangentially, it is allowed to spirally flow within the air line dewatering device, removing large liquid water particles from the air. The line dryer then filters out small liquid water particles through physical adsorption, achieving the goal of removing liquid water from the air.

[0025] The capillary tube within the capillary throttling device reduces the amount of air leaking through underflow port 7. The capillary tube outlet faces the air-fuel heat exchanger shell. The water-containing cold air cools the shell, and the liquid water vaporizes on the shell surface, cooling the shell.

[0026] Since the mass flow rate of small water droplets is smaller than that of large water droplets, and since the air state in the pivot sealing system constantly switches with the engine state, when the relative humidity in the air pipeline is low, the dry air reversely dehumidifies the pipeline dryer by physical adsorption. Therefore, choosing a suitable pipeline dryer can ensure long-term use.

[0027] like Figure 2Preferably, the air pipeline dewatering device includes a housing 2, which comprises a cylindrical section 4 and a conical section 6. The conical section 6 is integrally connected to the bottom of the cylindrical section 4. A water inlet pipe 5 connected to the air-fuel heat exchanger is provided on the sidewall of the cylindrical section 4. An overflow pipe 3 connected to the pipeline dryer is provided at the top of the cylindrical section 4. The overflow pipe 3 has an overflow port 1 at the top and is inserted into the cylindrical section 4. The bottom of the conical section 6 has an underflow port 7 connected to the capillary throttling device. Liquid water enters the cylindrical section 4 through the water inlet pipe 5, and the dehydrated air flows upward through the overflow port 1 into the pipeline dryer.

[0028] Air containing water droplets enters the air pipe dewatering device through a tangential inlet at a certain speed. The air rotates inside the air pipe dewatering device, and the air containing water droplets moves toward the conical section of the dewatering device while rotating, with a movement path in a spiral shape. After the air containing water droplets enters the conical section 6, the movement radius of the air containing water droplets continues to decrease due to the influence of the contraction structure of the device. The rotation speed of the air containing water droplets continues to accelerate, and a pressure gradient is generated in the radial direction, with the pressure being the highest near the wall of the dewatering device. Since the radius of the bottom flow port 7 of the air pipe dewatering device is small, the air cannot be completely discharged from the bottom flow port 7. The top of the air pipe dewatering device is provided with an overflow port 1, and most of the dry air that does not contain water flows toward the overflow port 1 with lower pressure, with a spiral streamline, forming an internal vortex. Large particle water droplets are affected by centrifugal force. When the centrifugal force is greater than the air resistance encountered by the droplets, the droplets move toward the side wall of the dewatering device, separate from the air, and are discharged into the atmosphere through the bottom flow port 7.

[0029] Preferably, the diameter of the cylindrical section 4 is between 2 times and 20 times the tangential inlet diameter; and the height of the cylindrical section 4 is between 2 times and 20 times the tangential inlet diameter.

[0030] Preferably, the bottom angle of the cone section 6 is between 5° and 50°, and the length of the overflow pipe 3 inserted into the cylindrical section 4 is between 0.2 times the diameter of the cylinder 2 and 2 times the diameter of the cylinder 2.

[0031] Preferably, the diameter of the overflow port 1 is between 0.5 and 2 times the diameter of the water inlet pipe 5, and the diameter of the underflow port 7 is between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. Only the air flowing out of the overflow port 1 functions to seal the bearing cavity; air flowing out of the underflow port 7 is directly discharged into the atmosphere, resulting in waste of high-pressure air. Therefore, the diameter of the underflow port 7 must be constrained in calculations to ensure that the maximum air mass flow rate of the underflow port 7 does not exceed 3% of the total air flow.

[0032] Preferably, the diameter of the capillary tube in the capillary throttling device is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, and the length of the capillary tube is between 1 cm and 10 cm.

[0033] In summary, this application has the following advantages:

[0034] 1. Liquid water in the air pipeline can be removed without using monitoring and control measures such as humidity sensors and valves.

[0035] 2. An air line water removal device is used to remove large particles of liquid water from the air line. Through the rational design of the underflow port size, the angle at the bottom of the tapered portion of the cylinder, and the capillary tube, air leakage from the underflow port is minimized. The removed liquid water is used to cool the fuel-air heat exchanger shell, converting the liquid water, which is detrimental to the system, into coolant for the fuel-air heat exchanger shell.

[0036] 3. Use a physical adsorption pipeline dryer to remove small particles of liquid water in the air pipeline.

[0037] Finally, it should be noted that the drawings of the embodiments disclosed in the present invention only involve structures related to the embodiments disclosed in the present invention. Other structures can refer to common designs. In the absence of conflicts, the same embodiment and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0038] Finally: The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device, characterized by: The system comprises an air-to-air heat exchanger, an air-to-fuel heat exchanger, an air pipeline dewatering device, a capillary throttling device, and a pipeline dryer. The input end of the air-to-air heat exchanger is connected to the high-pressure compressor, and the output end is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger. The output end of the air-to-fuel heat exchanger is connected to the air pipeline dewatering device. The bottom of the air pipeline dewatering device is connected to the capillary throttling device, and the top is connected to the pipeline dryer. The output end of the pipeline dryer is connected to the ambient atmosphere in the engine compartment, and the output end of the capillary throttling device is connected to the air-to-fuel heat exchanger. The air-to-air heat exchanger and the air-to-fuel heat exchanger can convert cold air into liquid water. The air pipeline dewatering device can control the liquid water to enter the interior along a tangential direction. The pipeline dryer can dry the water-containing air entering the pipeline dryer.

2. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air pipeline dewatering device comprises a cylinder (2), the cylinder (2) comprises a cylindrical section (4) and a conical section (6), the conical section (6) is integrally connected to the bottom of the cylindrical section (4), a water inlet pipe (5) connected to an air-fuel heat exchanger is provided on the side wall of the cylindrical section (4), an overflow pipe (3) connected to a pipeline dryer is provided at the top of the cylindrical section (4), an overflow port (1) is provided at the top of the overflow pipe (3), and the overflow pipe (3) is inserted into the cylindrical section (4); and a bottom flow port (7) connected to a capillary throttling device is provided at the bottom of the conical section (6).

3. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the cylindrical section (4) is between 2 times the diameter of the tangential inlet and 20 times the diameter of the tangential inlet; the height of the cylindrical section (4) is between 2 times the diameter of the tangential inlet and 20 times the diameter of the tangential inlet.

4. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom angle of the cone section (6) is between 5° and 50°, and the length of the overflow pipe (3) inserted into the cylindrical section (4) is between 0.2 times the diameter of the cylinder (2) and 2 times the diameter of the cylinder (2).

5. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The diameter of the overflow port (1) is between 0.5 and 2 times the diameter of the water inlet pipe (5), and the diameter of the underflow port (7) is between 0.1 mm and 3 mm. At the same time, the diameter of the underflow port (7) is constrained and calculated so that the maximum air mass flow rate of the underflow port (7) does not exceed 3% of the total flow rate.

6. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the capillary tube in the capillary throttling device is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm, and the length of the capillary tube is between 1 cm and 10 cm.

7. The aircraft engine pivot sealing system with an air line water removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline dryer adopts a physical adsorption type desiccant.

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