Driven Cavity Particle Separator for Low Pressure Drop Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines operating in dusty environments ingest fine particles that erode and corrode components, reducing efficiency and lifespan, and existing solutions like barrier filters increase pressure drop and obstruct airflow.
Innovation Solution
A driven cavity particle separator with undulating guide vanes and blind cavities that trap particles without obstructing airflow, using the inertia of particles to collect them in sub-surface cavities, maintaining low pressure loss and allowing continuous air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If barrier filters are used to remove particles from the air stream, then particle removal effectiveness is improved, but pressure drop increases and airflow is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a porous substrate material with controlled porosity (30-70%) to support the filtering elements. The porous structure allows air to pass through while providing a large surface area for particle capture, thereby maintaining low pressure drop while achieving effective particle removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional planar filter surfaces to three-dimensional filtering elements with varying depths (5-50 mm). This dimensional change creates a gradient structure where particles are captured at different depths and locations, improving removal effectiveness while the overall porous support structure maintains airflow.
2Reliability
If traditional filters are used to collect particles, then particle collection is achieved, but the filter becomes obstructed and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering medium is segmented into multiple discrete filtering elements (fibers, wires, or strands) distributed throughout the porous substrate. This segmentation allows individual elements to be cleaned or replaced independently, and the modular structure enables easier maintenance without shutting down the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention designs the filtering elements to be removable and replaceable. When filtering elements become saturated with particles, they can be easily discarded and replaced with fresh elements, while the reusable porous substrate and housing structure are retained, reducing overall maintenance costs and downtime.
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 particles from the air stream without increasing pressure drop, allowing for efficient operation and reducing maintenance downtime by passively collecting particles that can be easily cleaned or replaced.
Implementation Method 1
using the inertia of particles to collect them in sub-surface cavities
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
A particle separator includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. A flow stream is directed from the inlet to the outlet. A number of dividers (62) are disposed in the housing and separate flow channels from each other. The flow channels extend from the inlet to the outlet. The dividers each have a profile so that the flow channels follow the profile. The dividers each include a plurality of cavities (90) that open to each of the flow channels and that have blind ends (94). The cavities each have an aspect ratio greater than one, and are configured to collect particles from the flow stream.