Compressor Particle Separator for Desert Dust Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines operating in desert environments face performance issues due to fine sand and dust particles accumulating in downstream components, which impede cooling and reduce the operating life of these components.
Innovation Solution
A compressor particle separator is integrated into the gas turbine engine to capture and remove fine sand and dust particles from the air flow using a scavenge plenum with tangential velocity and centrifugal force, ensuring continuous particle separation during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gas turbine engine operates in desert environments, then the engine can function in diverse operating conditions, but fine sand and dust particles accumulate in downstream components impeding cooling and reducing operating life
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator is positioned in the compressor section to perform particle removal in advance, before the air flow reaches downstream components. This preliminary action prevents particle accumulation in cooling circuits and combustor cooling holes, thereby protecting downstream components from damage while maintaining engine operation in desert environments
2Reliability
If a particle separator is added to remove fine sand and dust particles, then downstream component reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator is integrated into the existing compressor section structure, merging the particle removal function with the air compression system. The separator utilizes the existing air flow path and combines multiple functions (compression and particle separation) into a unified structure, reducing the overall device complexity compared to adding a completely separate particle removal system
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor section is designed to perform multiple functions: air compression, particle separation, and air flow conditioning. By making the compressor section universal and multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated single-purpose components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable particle removal
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 compressor particle separator effectively reduces the number of fine sand and dust particles reaching downstream components, improving engine performance, extending operational life, and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a scavenge plenum with tangential velocity and centrifugal force, ensuring continuous particle separation during operation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A particle separator (200) associated with a compressor section of a gas turbine engine includes a duct that defines a fluid flow path from a diffuser to a deswirl section. The duct includes a curved portion between an outlet (222) of the diffuser (206) and an inlet (233) of the deswirl section (234). The curved portion is configured to have at least one low velocity region and a high velocity region. The particle separator includes at least one cluster of inlet passages (246) defined at the at least one low velocity region. The particle separator includes a scavenge plenum (232) coupled to the duct and in fluid communication with the at least one cluster of inlet passages. At least one outlet slot (248) is defined through the duct downstream of the at least one cluster of inlet passages in the high velocity region and is in fluid communication with the scavenge plenum.