Secondary CO2 Flow Control for Supercritical Pump Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal fluid pumps in high-pressure applications, such as aircraft and gas turbine engines, face performance issues due to the presence of liquid carbon dioxide, which can lead to viscous drag and bearing failure in non-liquid fluid bearings, particularly during startup and operation.
Innovation Solution
A secondary flow control system is implemented to monitor and control the phase of carbon dioxide, converting liquid CO2 to supercritical CO2 before entering the secondary flow network of the fluid pump, using sensors and valves to ensure a supercritical state is maintained, thereby preventing liquid CO2 from entering the bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid carbon dioxide is present in the fluid pump during startup and operation, then the pump can operate with standard fluid dynamics, but viscous drag increases and bearing failure occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state parameter of carbon dioxide from liquid to supercritical phase by controlling temperature and pressure parameters, thereby eliminating viscous drag and preventing bearing failure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of carbon dioxide from liquid to supercritical state through controlled heating and pressurization, transforming the fluid properties to eliminate harmful viscous drag effects on bearings
2Reliability
If a secondary flow control system is implemented to monitor and control CO2 phase, then bearing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by using sensors to monitor CO2 phase conditions and automatically adjusting flow control valves to maintain supercritical state, ensuring bearing protection while managing system complexity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate control components (sensors, valves, and control logic) that mediate between the carbon dioxide flow and the bearings, allowing indirect control of bearing conditions through phase management rather than direct mechanical intervention
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 enhances the reliability and performance of fluid bearings by maintaining a supercritical state, reducing viscous drag and preventing bearing failure, thus improving the efficiency and longevity of the fluid pump.
Implementation Method 1
A secondary flow control system is implemented to monitor and control the phase of carbon dioxide, converting liquid CO2 to supercritical CO2 before entering the secondary flow network of the fluid pump
Implementation Method 2
The system enhances the reliability and performance of fluid bearings by maintaining a supercritical state, reducing viscous drag and preventing bearing failure
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to provide a pressurized fluid to components of a fluid pump (304, 400, 500, 802). An example flow control system (800, 1200, 1300) to provide a pressurized fluid to a secondary flow network (804) disposed within a fluid pump (304, 400, 500, 802) includes sensors (818, 818A, 818B) to measure parameters of a fluid corresponding to fluid flow; a recirculation loop (804, 806) to provide a first flowpath (808) to a secondary inlet (476, 524) of the pump (304, 400, 500, 802), wherein the secondary inlet (476, 524) is an inlet to the secondary flow network (804); a bypass loop (810) to provide a second flowpath (812) to the secondary inlet (476, 524); and a controller (816) to direct the fluid flow to the first flowpath (808) or the second flowpath (812) based on sensor data (1004) from the sensors, the sensor data (1004) indicative of a state of the fluid.