Cyclonic Particle Separator With Tangential Inlets for Low Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cyclonic separators are too large and create significant pressure drops, making them ineffective for use in sensitive industrial equipment like gas turbines, and cannot be retrofitted or customized for turbine vanes or blades.
Innovation Solution
A cyclonic particle separator with a housing featuring angled flow entry ports and a cyclonic separating chamber, allowing for efficient particle separation with minimal pressure drop, and can be mounted to turbine vanes or blades without altering their structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cyclonic separators are used, then particle separation is achieved, but the separator is too large and creates significant pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into multiple identical modules, each handling a portion of the total flow. This segmentation allows each module to be compact while collectively providing the required separation capacity, reducing overall size and pressure drop compared to a single large separator
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple separator modules are arranged concentrically around a central axis, with each module nested within the radial space of the housing. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space, creating a compact configuration that achieves high separation capacity without excessive size or pressure loss
2Reliability
If conventional cyclonic separators are used, then particle separation is achieved, but they cannot be retrofitted to older turbine vanes or blades
Solution Approach 1:
The separator system is divided into independent modular units that can be individually installed on different turbine vanes or blades. This modularity enables retrofitting to existing equipment without requiring complete system replacement, as each module can be independently mounted and configured
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized modular design with common mounting interfaces and flow connections allows the same separator module to be installed on various turbine vane types and configurations. This universality enables both retrofit applications and customization for different vane geometries without redesigning the core separator mechanism
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 separator effectively removes particles from gas flows in gas turbines with minimal pressure loss, enabling efficient cooling and preventing clogging of cooling passages.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of flow entry ports includes a flow directing surface angled to direct a gas flow from upstream of the housing to enter the housing in a tangential direction relative to the cylindrical sidewall, causing a cyclone vortex
Implementation Method 2
an annular body located within the cylindrical sidewall, the annular body defining a cyclonic separating chamber between an interior of the cylindrical sidewall and the annular body
Data Source
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AI summary
A cyclonic particle separator may include a housing including a cylindrical sidewall having a plurality of flow entry ports. A cover member closes a first end of the cylindrical sidewall, and a mounting member having a flow exit opening defined therethrough is at a second end of the cylindrical sidewall. At least one particle exit passage is defined in the housing. Each of the plurality of flow entry ports includes a flow directing surface angled to direct a gas flow from upstream of the housing to enter the housing in a tangential direction relative to the cylindrical sidewall, causing a cyclone vortex. The cyclone vortex acts to separate particles from the gas flow. The cylindrical sidewall may have a first diameter, and the flow exit opening may have a second diameter, where a difference between the first diameter and the second diameter is greater than 12.5 millimeters.