Turbomachine Deoiling Device Closing Cap Oil Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing deoiling devices in aircraft turbomachines become less efficient at low engine rotation speeds and when vents become dirty or seal deterioration occurs, leading to oil contamination of the plug and nacelle, increasing maintenance costs and dirt accumulation.
Innovation Solution
A deoiling device with a tube featuring a closing cap having upper outlet orifices for clean air passage and a lower oil drain orifice, allowing oil droplets to settle and be collected, connected to an oil recovery reservoir, which enhances air cleanliness and reduces oil consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deoiler is used to centrifuge oil from air in bearing containments, then oil separation is improved, but at low engine rotation speeds the deoiler turns less quickly and centrifuging efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful oil droplets from the air stream by having them strike against the closing cap where they are captured and drained separately, rather than relying solely on centrifugal force from rotating deoiler elements which becomes ineffective at low speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The closing cap acts as an intermediary element that receives oiled air, allows oil droplets to strike and accumulate on its surface, and then channels the collected oil through a drain orifice to a recovery reservoir, while allowing deoiled air to escape through upper orifices
2Reliability
If deoiling vents become dirty or seal deterioration occurs, then deoiling performance deteriorates, but oil contamination of the plug and nacelle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful oiled air that would escape through deteriorated deoiling systems into a beneficial process by directing it to strike the closing cap, where oil droplets are captured and drained to a recovery reservoir, thereby preventing contamination of the plug and nacelle even when deoiling vents are dirty or seals are deteriorated
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a recovery system where oil droplets captured on the closing cap are drained through a drain orifice to an oil recovery reservoir, allowing the oil to be discarded or recovered rather than being expelled into the environment as contamination
3Object-generated harmful factors
If oiled air reaches the plug and is expelled in the primary stream, then dirt accumulation on the plug and outer nacelle increases, but maintenance costs and cleaning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts oil droplets from the air stream by capturing them on the closing cap surface and draining them separately through a drain orifice to a recovery reservoir, preventing the oil from reaching the plug and outer nacelle and causing dirt accumulation that would require maintenance and cleaning
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
Ensures clean air enters the primary stream, preventing oil-related dirt accumulation and reducing oil consumption by effectively separating oil droplets from air, even under suboptimal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Oil droplets present in air stick on this cap and drop by gravity to the oil drain orifice
Implementation Method 2
the deoiler centrifuging oil in suspension in air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a deoiling device. It comprises a tube (46), a first bearing (16) and a second bearing (18), the first and second bearings being placed in an oil chamber (20) in which an oil fog is maintained by rotation of the bearings. A deoiler (30) is provided in one wall of the oil chamber. The deoiler centrifuges oil in suspension in air and allows a deoiled air flow to pass inside the tube. The tube (46) comprises a closing cap (48) fitted with one or several outlet orifices (50) in its upper part designed to evacuate air, and an oil drain orifice (52) in its lower part.