Gas Turbine Bleed Air Particle Separator Using Toroidal Cavity

Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines face challenges in removing particles such as dust and sand from the bleed air, which can be present in harsh environments, leading to contamination of secondary air streams used within the engine.

Innovation Solution

A toroidal cavity surrounding the compressor impeller gas path with circumferentially interspaced bleed apertures is designed to impart a tangential velocity to the bleed air, centrifuging particles radially outward and conveying them to a particle outlet, while clean air is extracted through a radially inwardly positioned outlet, thereby separating particles from the air stream.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If particles are removed from bleed air using conventional filtration methods, then particle contamination is reduced, but device complexity and pressure loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle contaminationVSAvoidseparator structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts particles from the bleed air stream by diverting the air flow into a toroidal cavity where centrifugal forces separate particles from the air. The cleaned air is then extracted through a clean air outlet while particles are removed through a particle outlet, effectively taking out the harmful particles without complex filtration components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses pneumatic principles by utilizing the kinetic energy and tangential velocity of the bleed air itself to create centrifugal separation. The air flow dynamics within the toroidal cavity generate the necessary forces for particle separation without mechanical filters or complex pneumatic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If particles are removed from bleed air using conventional filtration methods, then particle contamination is reduced, but pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle contaminationVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts particles from the bleed air stream by diverting the air flow into a toroidal cavity where centrifugal forces separate particles from the air. The cleaned air is then extracted through a clean air outlet while particles are removed through a particle outlet, effectively taking out the harmful particles without complex filtration components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses pneumatic principles by utilizing the kinetic energy and tangential velocity of the bleed air itself to create centrifugal separation. The air flow dynamics within the toroidal cavity generate the necessary forces for particle separation without mechanical filters or complex pneumatic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a toroidal cavity with tangential flow is used to centrifuge particles, then separation efficiency increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle separation efficiencyVSAvoidcavity structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The toroidal cavity serves multiple functions: it acts as a flow passage for the bleed air, generates centrifugal forces through its curved geometry, provides a separation zone for particle-air separation, and directs both cleaned air and particles to their respective outlets. This multi-functionality achieves high separation efficiency without requiring additional complex components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses the curved toroidal geometry of the cavity to generate centrifugal forces that separate particles from the air stream. The curved path of the air flow naturally creates the necessary radial acceleration for particle separation, utilizing geometric curvature rather than mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 effectively removes particles from the bleed air, ensuring that the extracted clean air is substantially free of contaminants, with a separation efficiency of above 95% being achievable in many applications.

Implementation Method 1

the bleed apertures allowing bleed air from the compressor impeller gas path to flow into the cavity, during operation of the gas turbine engine, with a tangential velocity component sufficient to at least partially centrifuge particles present within the bleed air into the radially outer narrow tip of said cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal separation: Centrifugal Separation

Data Source

PatentUS8092145B2Particle separator and separating method for gas turbine engine

Publication Date: 2012.01.10 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP

AI summary

A system and method for particle separation in a gas turbine engine centrifugal impeller bleed air system using a tangential velocity component of the compressor bleed air to centrifuge the particles radially outwardly and convey the particles circumferentially, away from a clean air outlet and towards a particle outlet where the particles are extracted from the bleed air.