Common-Shaft Pump-Separator Assembly for Gas Turbine Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently separating air and oil mixtures from lubricant systems, particularly during engine startup and operation, which can affect lubrication efficiency and component performance.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with integrated stages and a separator mechanism, driven by a rotatable shaft, effectively separates oil from air-oil mixtures using centrifugal force and paddle conduits, allowing for efficient lubrication and scavenging of lubricants in gas turbine engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional lubrication system is used in gas turbine engines, then lubricant supply to bearings is provided, but air and oil mixture separation is inefficient affecting lubrication efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the lubricant pump and air-oil separator into a single integrated assembly driven by a common shaft. The pump delivers lubricant to bearings while the separator simultaneously removes oil from air mixtures, ensuring efficient lubrication and air separation functions are performed together in one unified system, resolving the contradiction between reliable lubrication and efficient separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centrifugal separator as an intermediary component between the lubricant supply system and the bearing compartments. This separator uses centrifugal force generated by rotational paddles to separate oil from air mixtures, acting as a mediator that prevents oil contamination in the air system while maintaining effective lubricant circulation, thus improving both lubrication efficiency and separation productivity.
2Reliability
If lubricant is supplied to bearing compartments, then friction and wear are reduced, but air and oil mixture accumulation affects component performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful air-oil mixture into a beneficial separation process by using centrifugal force. The separator captures oil droplets from the air mixture and redirects them to the lubricant reservoir, transforming what would be contamination into an efficient oil recovery mechanism. This eliminates air-oil mixture accumulation while maintaining reduced friction and wear benefits from proper lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts oil from the air-oil mixture using the centrifugal separator, removing the harmful contamination element. The separator paddles with fluid conduits extract oil droplets from the passing air stream and direct them to the reservoir, preventing oil accumulation in bearing compartments while maintaining clean lubrication, thus resolving the contradiction between component performance and contamination prevention.
3Reliability
If a pump and separator are used separately, then lubrication and separation functions are provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump and separator into a single integrated assembly where both components are mounted on a common shaft and driven together. The pump housing and separator housing are connected to form a unified structure with shared drive mechanism, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system while maintaining both lubrication and separation functions, thus resolving the contradiction between functional reliability and structural simplicity.
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 enhances lubrication efficiency by separating air and oil, reducing friction and wear, and improving performance by ensuring consistent lubricant supply and removal of contaminants, thereby supporting reliable engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
a separator driven by the rotatable shaft and operable to separate oil from a mixture of air and oil communicated by the at least one bearing compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
A pump assembly (20; 120) may include a drive mechanism (28; 128) and a rotatable shaft (26; 126) coupled to the drive mechanism (28; 128). A pump (22; 122) may be carried by the rotatable shaft (26; 126). The pump (22; 122) may include at least one pump stage (30; 130) for communication of a lubricant. A separator (24; 124) may be driven by the rotatable shaft (26; 126). The separator (24; 124) may be operable to separate oil from a mixture of air and oil. A method of assembly is also disclosed.