Engine Core Bleed Air Eductor for Debris Removal and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for bleeding air from an aircraft engine flowpath lack efficiency and effectiveness in debris removal and cooling, leading to potential engine instability and component damage.
Innovation Solution
An air system with an eductor and multiple bleed ports is integrated into the engine core flowpath, allowing for parallel coupling to discharge and cooling passages, which includes a nozzle to pump debris away and provide cooling air to components, while a control system regulates airflow for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air is bled from the core flowpath using conventional systems, then some cooling is achieved, but debris removal efficiency is insufficient and engine stability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed air system is segmented into multiple independent passages (first passage, second passage, cooling air passage) with separate control valves, allowing independent optimization of each function - debris removal through the eductor and cooling through dedicated passages - thereby improving both reliability and productivity simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
An eductor is introduced as an intermediary device that uses a portion of the bleed air flow to generate suction and actively pump debris out of the core flowpath, enhancing debris removal efficiency without compromising engine stability through controlled air extraction
2Reliability
If multiple bleed ports are used to improve cooling and debris removal, then effectiveness increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed air system is designed with multi-functionality where the same bleed air source serves multiple purposes: driving the eductor for debris removal, providing cooling air through dedicated passages, and maintaining pressure differentials, thereby achieving effective component protection without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions (debris removal, cooling, pressure control) are merged into a single integrated bleed air system with shared components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the effectiveness of individual functions through coordinated operation
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
Effectively removes debris and provides efficient cooling, enhancing engine stability and component protection by utilizing the eductor's suction and bleed ports to manage airflow, thereby preventing surge and maintaining optimal operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the eductor's suction and bleed ports to manage airflow, thereby preventing surge and maintaining optimal operating conditions
Implementation Method 2
The cooling air passage is configured to deliver cooling air to the air cooled component
Data Source
AI summary
An engine core includes a compressor section and a core flowpath. The compressor section includes first and second compressor rotors. The core flowpath extends across the first compressor rotor and the second compressor rotor between an inlet into the core flowpath and an exhaust from the core flowpath. An air system includes an eductor, a first bleed port, a second bleed port, a first passage and a second passage. The eductor includes a nozzle disposed in the second passage. The first bleed port is disposed along the core flowpath at a downstream end of the first compressor rotor. The first bleed port fluidly couples the core flowpath to the first passage and the second passage in parallel. The second bleed port is disposed along the core flowpath at a downstream end of the second compressor rotor. The second bleed port fluidly couples the core flowpath to the nozzle.