Ejector-Based Air/Oil Separation for Compact Gas Turbine Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oil recovery systems for gas turbine engines require a large footprint due to the use of heat exchangers and motors, which reduce the efficiency of the power generation system.

Innovation Solution

An oil recovery system utilizing an ejector to mix air/oil mixtures with compressed air, eliminating the need for a heat exchanger and motor, and achieving cooling through this process to facilitate oil separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heat exchanger and motor are used to cool the air/oil mixture, then the separation efficiency is improved, but the system footprint and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the heat exchanger and motor from the conventional oil recovery system, replacing them with an ejector-based cooling mechanism. This removal of unnecessary components directly reduces the system footprint while maintaining the cooling function required for effective oil separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cooling system (heat exchanger powered by a motor) with a pneumatic/ejector-based cooling system. The ejector uses compressed air to create a cooling effect through expansion and mixing, eliminating the need for mechanical heat exchangers and motors, thereby reducing both footprint and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a heat exchanger and motor are used to cool the air/oil mixture, then the separation efficiency is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the motor and heat exchanger from the conventional system, eliminating the primary power consumption sources. The ejector system uses existing compressed air from the gas turbine engine's air supply system, avoiding additional power consumption for cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the motor-driven mechanical cooling system with an ejector-based pneumatic cooling system. The ejector utilizes the kinetic energy and pressure differential of compressed air to create cooling through expansion and mixing, eliminating the need for additional motor power while maintaining effective cooling for oil separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Temperature

If compressed air is used to draw the air/oil mixture into the ejector, then the cooling effect is achieved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector serves multiple functions simultaneously: it draws the air/oil mixture into the system, mixes it with compressed air, and creates the cooling effect through expansion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, actually simplifying the overall system despite the addition of the ejector mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 improves power generation efficiency by reducing the need for additional power sources and minimizing the system's footprint while effectively separating oil from air.

Implementation Method 1

The ejector combines the drawn air/oil mixture and the compressed air such that the resulting combined mixture of compressed air and drawn air/oil mixture has a lower temperature as compared to a temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdiabatic expansion: Adiabatic Cooling

Implementation Method 2

The first inlet receives compressed air used to draw the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator into the ejector through the second inlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

The first separator separates at least a portion of oil from the air/oil mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity gradient: Density Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250230771A1Systems and methods for air and oil separation using an ejector

Publication Date: 2025.07.17 GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECH LLC

AI summary

An oil recovery system for recovering oil from an air/oil mixture from a gas turbine engine, the oil recovery system including a first separator coupled to receive the air/oil mixture from an air/oil mixture source, wherein the first separator separates at least a portion of oil from the air/oil mixture and an ejector for drawing the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator into the ejector. The ejector combines the drawn air/oil mixture and the compressed air such that the resulting combined mixture of compressed air and drawn air/oil mixture has a lower temperature as compared to a temperature of the air/oil mixture contained in the first separator, and wherein the recovered oil is captured.