Autonomously Actuated Valve for High Pressure Compressor Bleed Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine compressor bleed ports struggle to provide sufficient flow pressures for secondary air circuits when extracting air from forward high pressure compressor stages, leading to reduced driving pressures.
Innovation Solution
An autonomously actuated valve system, such as a poppet valve, is integrated into the bleed path to augment lower pressure compressor bleed air with higher pressure air from downstream stages, enhancing flow pressures during high-pressure operations like take-off and climb.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If bleed air is extracted from forward HPC stages, then the negative cycle impact is reduced, but the driving pressure for secondary flow circuits decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed system is segmented into multiple independent bleed ports at different compressor stages (forward stages for low cycle impact, downstream stages for high driving pressure). The autonomously actuated valve allows selective activation of downstream bleed ports to supplement driving pressure when needed, rather than relying on a single bleed location.
Solution Approach 2:
The bleed system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one with autonomously actuated valves that automatically open or close based on real-time pressure conditions. This allows the system to adaptively optimize both cycle impact and driving pressure across different operating conditions.
2Stress or pressure
If an autonomously actuated valve is added to the bleed path, then the flow pressure is augmented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomously actuated valve is designed to automatically sense pressure conditions and actuate without external control systems. The valve uses local pressure differential sensing to self-regulate, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms while still achieving pressure augmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomously actuated valve serves as an intermediary component that automatically mediates between the high-pressure downstream bleed source and the lower-pressure forward stage bleed, activating only when pressure supplementation is needed without requiring complex external control systems.
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 solution allows cruise bleed to meet pressurization requirements using a lower pressure compressor stage, potentially reducing weight and axial compressor length, while ensuring adequate secondary flow circuit pressures.
Implementation Method 1
an autonomously actuated valve disposed in the bleed path
Data Source
AI summary
Gas turbine engine compressor bleed assembly includes annular bleed plenum between annular outer and inner casings circumscribing compressor flowpath of compressor, upstream and downstream bleed ports disposed through inner casing and between compressor flowpath and plenum at upstream and downstream stages. Bleed path extends from downstream bleed port through bleed plenum and out bleed outlet disposed through outer casing. Autonomously actuated valve such as poppet valve disposed in bleed path or downstream bleed port. Autonomously actuated or poppet valve may be set to open at take-off and/or climb. Bleed outlet may be customer and domestic or engine bleed outlet disposed through outer casing and in fluid bleed air communication with bleed plenum. Another assembly may include annular forward and aft bleed outlets connected to plenums. Bleed path extends from downstream bleed port through plenums and out forward bleed outlet.