Dry Contamination Test Rig for Gas Turbine Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contamination test rigs face limitations, including the need for more complex setups with wet slurry testing, increased maintenance, and difficulty in precise measurement of contaminants, especially when testing valves in gas turbine engines.
Innovation Solution
A dry contamination test rig system that includes a particle injection chamber with a pressure chamber, a draft tube, and a by-pass line, allowing for precise injection and measurement of dry contaminants, and simulating leakage conditions even when the test valve is closed, using a dry slurry to reduce rig complexity and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wet slurry testing is used, then contamination testing can be performed, but the rig complexity and maintenance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the contaminant from wet slurry to dry particles. This parameter change eliminates the need for complex liquid handling systems, pumps, and drainage mechanisms, thereby reducing rig complexity while maintaining contamination testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the liquid carrier component from the contamination system. By using dry particles instead of wet slurry, the system removes all associated liquid management infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity
2Reliability
If wet slurry testing is used, then contamination testing can be performed, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Changing the contaminant delivery form from wet slurry to dry particles eliminates corrosion, clogging, and residue buildup issues associated with liquid systems. This parameter change significantly reduces maintenance requirements while preserving testing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The dry particle system uses simple, replaceable components rather than complex, maintenance-intensive liquid handling equipment. The system prioritizes ease of replacement over long-term durability, reducing overall maintenance burden
3Measurement precision
If precise measurement of contaminants is required, then testing accuracy improves, but measurement difficulty increases with complex setups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contaminant measurement function from complex wet slurry analysis and simplifies it to dry particle counting and weighing. This extraction reduces measurement complexity while maintaining or improving precision through straightforward mass measurement of known particle quantities
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 system enables efficient and precise testing of valves under simulated leakage conditions with reduced maintenance and complexity, effectively evaluating valve performance in gas turbine engines without the need for wet slurry systems.
Implementation Method 1
the draft tube is configured to guide the flow of air through the particle injection chamber
Implementation Method 2
a blade configured to push the contaminate particles through the opening of the mix line into the flow of air
Data Source
AI summary
System and methods are provided for a contamination test rig that includes a particle injection chamber including a pressure chamber, wherein a hopper, scale, and feeder are inside of the particle injection chamber, and wherein the test valve is disposed in a valve line that runs parallel to a by-pass line. A by-pass valve permits at least a portion of a mixture of air and contaminate particles to flow through the by-pass line instead of through the valve line when the by-pass valve is open, and prevents the mixture of air and contaminate particles from flowing through the by-pass line when closed.