Boost Compressor and Fuel Pump Integration for Gas Turbine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently managing cooling air and fuel distribution, particularly in high-heat areas, where existing systems often result in suboptimal performance and efficiency due to inadequate pressure boosting and airflow control.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a tap to deliver compressed air through a heat exchanger, with a boost compressor and power turbine configuration, utilizing valves to control airflow and pressure, and a fuel pump driven by the turbine, allowing for adjustable airflow and fuel delivery based on power operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If cooling air is tapped from the main compressor section and used directly, then the system is simple, but the cooling air pressure is insufficient for effective cooling of high-heat components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the boost compressor and fuel pump into a single integrated unit sharing a common drive shaft. The boost compressor increases cooling air pressure while the fuel pump delivers fuel to the combustor, both driven by the power turbine. This merging reduces overall system complexity despite adding the boost compressor function, as the shared drive mechanism eliminates the need for separate drive systems for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The power turbine serves multiple functions: it drives both the boost compressor and the fuel pump simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single turbine to perform multiple critical tasks (boosting cooling air pressure and fuel delivery) that would otherwise require separate drive mechanisms, thereby managing system complexity while achieving the required pressure boosting.
2Reliability
If a boost compressor is added to increase cooling air pressure, then cooling effectiveness improves, but the system complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The boost compressor and fuel pump are merged into a single integrated assembly with shared housing and common drive shaft. This reduces the number of independent components and simplifies installation while maintaining the pressure-boosting function needed for reliable cooling of high-heat components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated unit performs multiple functions (cooling air compression and fuel pumping) through a single component assembly, improving cooling effectiveness without proportionally increasing system complexity. The power turbine drives both functions simultaneously, ensuring reliable operation of critical cooling systems.
3Ease of operation
If the fuel pump is driven by a shaft rotating with the turbine, then the system is compact, but the fuel delivery control flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates controllable valve mechanisms that dynamically adjust fuel delivery and cooling air flow based on operational requirements. The valves allow the integrated unit to adapt fuel pumping rate and compressor output according to engine load and cooling demands, providing operational flexibility despite the compact shared-drive configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system monitors engine operating conditions and adjusts valve positions to optimize fuel delivery and cooling air flow in real-time. This feedback control enables the compact integrated drive mechanism to achieve flexible fuel delivery control by dynamically responding to changing operational requirements through automated valve adjustment.
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 enhances engine efficiency by optimizing cooling and fuel delivery, improving performance during varying power operations by adjusting airflow and fuel supply, thereby increasing overall system efficiency and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A tap taps air compressed by the main compressor section, and is connected for delivering the tapped air through a first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
A portion of the tapped air from the tap is connected to be delivered to a power turbine. The power turbine is connected to drive both the boost compressor and the fuel pump
Implementation Method 3
delivering the tapped air through a first heat exchanger and at least a portion of that tapped air to a boost compressor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A gas turbine engine (100) includes a main compressor section (102), a combustor (108), and a main turbine section (110). A fuel pump (124) delivers fuel to the combustor (108). A tap (106) taps air compressed by the main compressor section (102), and is connected for delivering the tapped air through a first heat exchanger (112) and to a boost compressor (116). Air downstream of the boost compressor (116) is connected to cool at least one component. Driving compressed air is connected to be delivered to a power turbine (130). The power turbine (130) is connected to drive both the boost compressor (116) and the fuel pump (124).