Arcuate Fuel Passage Rotational Acceleration

Solution Overview

Problem

Turbine engine fuel systems face issues with liquid fuel puddling and vapor lock due to mismatched sizing for vaporized or liquid fuel states, leading to inconsistent fuel flow and composition at the injector nozzle.

Innovation Solution

A system with an arcuate fuel passage providing rotational acceleration to deposit liquid fuel on the passage wall, combined with a controller that selectively routes main or pilot fuel based on phase determination, ensuring uniform fuel composition and preventing puddling or vapor lock.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fuel passages are sized for vaporized fuel operation, then vapor lock is prevented, but liquid fuel puddles in the passages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor lock preventionVSAvoidfuel flow uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel passage cross-sectional area is made variable along its length, transitioning from a first cross-sectional area in a first region to a second cross-sectional area in a second region. This dynamic geometry allows the passage to accommodate different fuel phases: the larger first region prevents vapor lock during vaporized fuel operation, while the smaller second region prevents liquid fuel puddling during liquid operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between vapor lock prevention and fuel flow uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If fuel passages are sized for liquid fuel operation, then liquid puddling is prevented, but vapor lock occurs when fuel is vaporized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel flow uniformityVSAvoidvapor lock prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel passage cross-sectional area is made variable along its length, transitioning from a first cross-sectional area in a first region to a second cross-sectional area in a second region. This dynamic geometry allows the passage to accommodate different fuel phases: the larger first region prevents vapor lock during vaporized fuel operation, while the smaller second region prevents liquid fuel puddling during liquid operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between vapor lock prevention and fuel flow uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If fuel passage geometry is optimized for one phase, then that phase flows uniformly, but the other phase experiences blockage or restriction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel delivery efficiencyVSAvoidoperational reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel passage cross-sectional area is made variable along its length, transitioning from a first cross-sectional area in a first region to a second cross-sectional area in a second region. This dynamic geometry allows the passage to accommodate different fuel phases: the larger first region prevents vapor lock during vaporized fuel operation, while the smaller second region prevents liquid fuel puddling during liquid operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between vapor lock prevention and fuel flow uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The system ensures consistent fuel delivery by maintaining fuel in a liquid phase and adjusting fuel routing to match operating conditions, preventing puddling and vapor lock, thus ensuring uniform fuel composition and efficient operation across varying conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The arcuate fuel passage includes a passage diameter and a radius of curvature that provides sufficient rotational acceleration to the main fuel such that a liquid portion of the main fuel is deposited on an outer wall of the arcuate fuel passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS9222676B2Supercritical or mixed phase fuel injector

Publication Date: 2015.12.29 ROLLS ROYCE CORP

AI summary

An apparatus is disclosed including a main fuel supply fluidly coupled to a main fuel valve and an arcuate fuel passage receiving main fuel through the main fuel valve. The arcuate fuel passage includes a passage diameter and a radius of curvature which provides sufficient rotational acceleration to the main fuel such that a liquid portion of the main fuel is deposited on an outer wall of the arcuate fuel passage. The apparatus includes a fuel injector nozzle that receives the main fuel from the arcuate fuel passage, and injects the main fuel into a combustion chamber for a turbine engine. The apparatus further includes a pilot fuel supply fluidly coupled to a pilot fuel passage and a fuel selector structured to selectively provide the main fuel or the pilot fuel to the fuel injector nozzle.