Engine Breather Deoiler Layout for Aircraft Oil Emission Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines experience oil loss during operation, which affects engine performance and environmental impact, and existing systems are inadequate in minimizing this loss.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft propulsion system with a breather air collection system that includes a deoiler for removing entrained lubricant from air, a breather pump to create negative pressure, and capture devices like catalytic, electrostatic, and porous media scrubbers to further reduce oil emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a breather air collection system with deoiler and capture devices is implemented, then oil loss is minimized and engine performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breather air collection system is divided into multiple functional components: a deoiler for initial oil removal, and optional capture devices (catalytic, electrostatic, or porous media scrubbers) for further oil emission reduction. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific aspect of oil capture, improving overall effectiveness while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The breather pump acts as an intermediary component that creates negative pressure to draw air and entrained oil through the deoiler and capture devices. This intermediary mechanism enables the system to actively capture oil emissions without requiring direct connection to all oil sources, effectively mediating between the bearing chambers and the oil capture devices.
2Loss of substance
If multiple capture devices (catalytic, electrostatic, porous media scrubbers) are used to further remove oil from airflow, then oil loss is minimized, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system offers multiple capture device options (catalytic, electrostatic, porous media scrubbers) that utilize different physical and chemical parameters to remove oil from airflow. This provides flexibility in selecting the most appropriate technology based on specific application requirements, environmental conditions, and performance targets, thereby managing manufacturing complexity while achieving minimal oil loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of multiple capture devices in sequence represents an excessive action approach, where oil removal is performed in multiple stages beyond what a single device could achieve. This ensures comprehensive oil capture but increases manufacturing complexity, allowing the system to exceed minimum requirements for oil loss minimization.
3Loss of substance
If a breather pump is used to generate vacuum and draw air through the deoiler, then oil capture effectiveness is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breather pump creates negative pressure in advance to actively draw air and entrained oil through the deoiler and capture devices. This preliminary action ensures that oil emissions are captured before they can be exhausted into the environment, improving capture effectiveness. The continuous operation of the pump maintains the negative pressure required for effective oil capture throughout system operation.
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 effectively minimizes oil loss by capturing and recovering oil from exhaust air, enhancing engine performance and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The breather pump is configured to generate a vacuum to provide a negative pressure within the breather air collection system that draws air and entrained oil through the deoiler
Implementation Method 2
a deoiler for removing entrained lubricant from the air
Implementation Method 3
the capture device includes a catalytic device for removing an additional amount of oil from an airflow
Implementation Method 4
the capture device includes an electrostatic device for removing an additional amount of oil from the airflow
Implementation Method 5
the capture device includes a porous or liquid media scrubber for removing an additional amount of oil from the airflow
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft propulsion system (20) includes at least one bearing system (38) that includes a bearing member (78) that supports rotation of the engine shaft (84). The bearing member (78) is disposed within a bearing chamber (76) and receives lubricant (66). An air seal (80) controls a leakage flow (72) into the bearing chamber (76) and a breather air collection system (64) cleans air exhausted from the bearing chamber (76). The breather air collection system (64) including a deoiler (94) for removing entrained lubricant from the air.