Gas Turbine Bleed Air Flow Controller for De-Icing and Core Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face issues with weight addition and thermal damage due to compressor bleed air exhaustion, which also generates noise, and require efficient de-icing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine engine design incorporating a compressor bleed valve system with a flow controller that provides varying mass flow rates of bleed air for de-icing and optimizing engine operation, using a dual-valve configuration and an icing detector to manage bleed air distribution efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If compressor bleed air is exhausted through outlets in the outer casing into the bypass duct, then pressure is released from compressor stages, but weight is added due to reinforced aperture, seal and seal land
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bleed air exhaust function from the outer casing by directing it to exhaust to the atmosphere through the compressor casing instead. This eliminates the need for reinforced apertures, seals and seal lands in the outer casing, thereby removing the associated weight while maintaining the pressure release function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flow controller as an intermediary device between the compressor bleed valve and the atmosphere. This flow controller manages the bleed air flow rate to optimize both de-icing and compressor operation, enabling the system to achieve reliable pressure release without requiring heavy reinforcement structures.
2Reliability
If compressor bleed air is exhausted into the bypass duct, then pressure is released from compressor stages, but thermal damage to the nacelle may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bleed air exhaust from the bypass duct system and redirects it to exhaust directly to the atmosphere through the compressor casing. This eliminates the thermal interaction between hot bleed air and the nacelle structure, preventing thermal damage while maintaining effective pressure release.
3Reliability
If compressor bleed air is exhausted into the bypass duct, then pressure is released from compressor stages, but additional noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bleed air exhaust from the bypass duct system and redirects it to exhaust through the compressor casing to the atmosphere. This separates the noise source from the nacelle and bypass duct structure, reducing the noise impact while maintaining effective pressure release from the compressor stages.
4Reliability
If bleed air flow rate is increased for de-icing, then de-icing effectiveness is improved, but engine operation optimization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic flow control system that adjusts the bleed air flow rate based on real-time requirements. The flow controller can modulate between higher flow rates for de-icing effectiveness and lower flow rates for engine operation optimization, allowing the system to adapt dynamically to changing conditions rather than operating at a fixed flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow rate parameter of bleed air dynamically based on operational requirements. By controlling the flow rate to vary between different levels, the system can optimize de-icing effectiveness when needed while minimizing impact on engine operation efficiency when de-icing is not the priority.
5Device complexity
If single valve configuration is used for bleed air control, then device complexity is reduced, but flow rate control flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single valve control function into two separate valves: a compressor bleed valve for controlling overall bleed air flow from the compressor, and a flow controller for managing the distribution and flow rate to de-icing conduits. This segmentation provides flexible flow rate control while keeping each individual valve relatively simple in design.
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 design reduces weight, minimizes thermal damage, and optimizes engine operation while effectively managing bleed air for both de-icing and operational efficiency, thereby addressing the challenges of compressor bleed air exhaustion and noise generation.
Implementation Method 1
a de-icing conduit, configured to receive the bleed air
Implementation Method 2
a flow controller, configured to provide bleed air to the de-icing conduit of the at least one component in response to either or both of a requirement to de-ice the component and a requirement to release bleed air from the compressor to optimise operation of the core
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A gas turbine engine comprising: an engine core comprising a compressor; a compressor bleed valve in communication with the compressor and configured to release bleed air from the compressor; at least one component provided at the inlet of the engine core having a de-icing conduit, configured to receive the bleed air; and a flow controller, configured to provide bleed air to the de-icing conduit of the at least one component in response to either or both of a requirement to de-ice the component and a requirement to release bleed air from the compressor to optimise operation of the core. The flow controller is configured to provide a first mass flow rate of bleed air when the bleed air is provided in response to a requirement to de-ice the component and a second mass flow rate of bleed air, different from the first mass flow rate, when the bleed air is provided in response to a requirement to release bleed air from the compressor to optimise operation of the core, and to provide the higher of the first and second mass flow rates of bleed air when the bleed air is required both for de-icing the component and to optimise operation of the core.