Active Cooling Valve for Fuel Nozzle Proportional Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel injectors with passive flow scheduling valves are inadequate for actively controlling cooling flows, especially at low or no-flow conditions in high-performance combustors, where precise adjustment of fuel circuits is necessary to prevent coking and ensure efficient engine operation.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a separate, actively controlled valve in the cooling circuit that can regulate flow independently of inlet pressure, combined with a scheduling valve assembly that passively controls primary and secondary fluid circuits based on inlet pressure, allowing for staged flow output and thermal communication between the cooling and secondary circuits for selective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a passive flow scheduling valve is used, then the valve responds automatically to inlet pressure changes, but the cooling flow cannot be actively controlled at low or no-flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a passive flow scheduling valve with an active control valve in a single integrated system. The passive valve handles automatic pressure-responsive flow scheduling, while the active valve provides electronic control capability for cooling flows. This merging allows the system to achieve both automatic response and active control adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve assembly serves multiple functions: it performs automatic flow scheduling based on inlet pressure (passive function) and simultaneously enables active control of cooling flows (active function). This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different operational requirements while maintaining ease of operation.
2Loss of energy
If cooling flow is reduced or shut off at low flow conditions, then fuel efficiency is improved, but coking occurs in the fuel circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different flow conditions to different circuits: the main fuel circuit can be shut off or reduced at low flow conditions for fuel efficiency, while a separate cooling circuit maintains sufficient flow to prevent coking. This local differentiation of flow quality allows simultaneous achievement of fuel efficiency and prevention of harmful coking deposits.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel delivery system is segmented into at least two separate circuits: a main fuel circuit for primary fuel delivery and a cooling circuit for thermal management. This segmentation allows independent control of each circuit, enabling the main circuit to be optimized for fuel efficiency while the cooling circuit prevents coking through maintained flow.
3Measurement precision
If a separate active control valve is added to the cooling circuit, then precise control over cooling flows is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the active control valve with the existing passive flow scheduling valve assembly, integrating multiple control functions into a single compact unit. This merging approach achieves precise control capability while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity by sharing common components and housing.
4Temperature
If the cooling circuit is thermally connected to the secondary circuit, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the system requires additional thermal management infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary fuel circuit serves dual functions: it delivers fuel for combustion and simultaneously acts as a thermal conduction path for the cooling circuit. This multi-functionality improves cooling effectiveness by utilizing existing thermal pathways without requiring separate dedicated cooling infrastructure, thereby avoiding additional complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables fine, active control over cooling flows, preventing coking and allowing for independent management of fuel circuit cooling, ensuring efficient engine operation and adaptability to varying flight cycles, while maintaining fail-safety in case of electrical power loss.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling circuit acts to cool by thermal conduction of those circuits
Data Source
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AI summary
A system includes an injector (102) including a scheduling valve assembly (104) and a nozzle (106) in fluid communication with the scheduling valve assembly. The injector includes two fluid circuits, a primary circuit (110) and a secondary circuit (112), between the inlet of the injector and two respective outlets for staged flow output. A cooling circuit (113) is in fluid communication with the inlet of the injector. The cooling circuit is in thermal communication with the secondary circuit for selectively cooling the secondary circuit at low flow and no flow conditions of the secondary circuit. A separate valve (114, 214) is connected in fluid communication in the cooling circuit for controlling flow through the cooling circuit. The separate valve is configured for active control regardless of pressure at the inlet of the injector. The scheduling valve assembly is configured for passive control of the primary and secondary circuits based on pressure at the inlet of the injector.