Constant Speed Impeller Pump for Engine ECS Air Bleed Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face performance loss due to air bleeding from the high-pressure compressor for environmental control systems, which also occupy significant space and increase mechanical complexity.
Innovation Solution
An integrated drive pump system with an impeller pump is used to raise air pressure, driven by a constant-speed mechanism connected to the engine's low spool towershaft, reducing the need for high-pressure compressor bleeds and optimizing impeller sizing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is bled from the high-pressure compressor for the environmental control system, then the ECS can provide high-pressure air to the passenger cabin, but engine performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ECS air supply function from the high-pressure compressor bleed system and relocates it to a dedicated impeller pump that draws air from the bypass duct. This separation eliminates the performance penalty of bleeding air from the compressor while maintaining ECS functionality through the alternative air source and positive displacement pumping mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional ECS system with pipes and valves is used, then air can be routed to the pre-cooler and ACM, but the system occupies significant space and increases mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the air compression and delivery functions into a single integrated impeller pump unit, eliminating the need for separate pipes, valves, and routing infrastructure. The impeller pump directly receives air from the bypass duct and delivers it to the pre-cooler, consolidating multiple components into one and reducing both space requirements and mechanical complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the impeller pump is driven by variable speed, then it can adapt to varying ECS demands, but the impeller sizing is suboptimal and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a constant-speed drive mechanism for the impeller pump, allowing the impeller to be optimally sized for a specific operating point. The constant rotational speed enables precise impeller geometry optimization, while the system adapts to varying ECS demands through controlled air flow regulation rather than speed variation, maintaining peak efficiency across operating conditions.
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 solution enhances engine performance by reducing ECS air bleeding, decreasing exhaust gas temperature, and minimizing ECS size, weight, and mechanical complexity, resulting in improved reliability and reduced maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller pump having an intake manifold for receiving air from said bypass duct, an outlet and an outlet duct connected to said outlet for supplying air to an environmental control system, wherein said impeller pump is configured to raise the pressure of air received from the bypass duct
Implementation Method 2
an integrated drive pump connected to said impeller pump for driving said impeller pump at a constant speed, said integrated drive pump being positioned on said engine core
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine has an impeller pump for delivering air to an environmental control system and a speed control pump connected to the impeller pump for driving the impeller pump at a constant speed.