Electromagnetic Valve Spool Control for Injector Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fuel injectors with passive flow scheduling valves are inefficient at adjusting flow at varying conditions, leading to noise and potential structural issues in gas turbine combustors, requiring costly and weight-intensive additional hardware to mitigate noise.
Innovation Solution
An injector system with an electromagnetic device connected to a hydromechanical valve spool, allowing for active regulation of flow through staged fluid circuits, using permanent magnets and electromagnets to adjust the valve spool position and control fuel flow, enabling fine-tuned control and noise reduction without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive flow scheduling valves are used for fuel injection control, then the system structure is simple, but the flow control precision is insufficient and noise cannot be effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical passive spring-based flow scheduling valve with an electromagnetic actuator (voice coil motor) that provides active control. The electromagnetic device generates magnetic force to precisely position the valve spool, substituting mechanical spring force with controllable electromagnetic force to achieve superior flow control precision while maintaining relatively simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static passive valve system into a dynamic active control system. The valve spool position is no longer determined solely by spring force and pressure balance, but can be dynamically adjusted through electromagnetic actuation. This allows the system to actively respond to changing conditions and precisely control fuel flow timing and rate.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional flow dividing hardware and fuel manifolds are added to mitigate noise, then the noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but the system weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the noise-mitigating function from the traditional approach of adding separate flow dividing hardware and manifolds. Instead, the active control of the single valve spool position directly controls fuel flow timing and distribution, achieving noise reduction by precisely controlling when and how fuel is delivered to the combustor, thereby decoupling heat release from combustor natural frequencies without additional hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic-controlled valve spool performs multiple functions: it controls primary circuit fuel flow, regulates secondary circuit fuel flow through its scheduling surface, and actively manages noise by timing fuel delivery. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate noise-mitigation hardware, reducing overall system weight while maintaining effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional flow dividing hardware and fuel manifolds are added to adjust fuel scheduling, then the noise mitigation capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the noise mitigation function with the existing fuel scheduling valve. The electromagnetic actuator is integrated into the valve assembly, and the valve spool's scheduling surface controls both primary and secondary circuits. This consolidation achieves noise reduction through active flow control without requiring separate flow dividing hardware or additional manifolds, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
4Device complexity
If passive spring-based force balance is used in flow scheduling valves, then the device simplicity is maintained, but the adaptability to varying flow conditions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the passive spring-based mechanical force balance with an electromagnetic actuation system. The voice coil motor provides controllable electromagnetic force that can be dynamically adjusted to adapt to varying flow conditions. This replacement maintains relatively simple device structure while dramatically improving adaptability, as the electromagnetic force can be precisely controlled through electrical signals to respond to different operating conditions.
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 provides active patternation in fuel injection, reducing noise and structural stress, allowing for efficient fuel distribution and compensation for manufacturing tolerances and operational conditions, while maintaining reliability and minimizing additional manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
An electromagnet can be mounted to the valve assembly proximate to the permanent magnet for selectively applying a force to the permanent magnet to adjust position of the valve spool within the valve assembly
Implementation Method 2
The first permanent magnet and first electromagnet can have respective polarities and axial spacing relative to one another configured to pull the valve spool toward a downstream direction with application of DC current to the first electromagnet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system includes an injector (102) having a scheduling valve assembly (104) and a nozzle (106) in fluid communication with the valve assembly. The scheduling valve assembly is configured for regulation of flow from an inlet of the injector to the nozzle. An electromagnetic device (114) is operatively connected to a hydromechanical valve spool (116) of the valve assembly to selectively adjust position of the valve spool in the valve assembly.