Engine Oil Distribution Channel Using Ultrasonic Droplet Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal separation devices in oil distribution systems for gas turbine engines are inefficient at separating small, lightweight oil droplets from air-oil mixtures, leading to oil loss and visible smoke exhaust.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an ultrasonic transducer to insonate the fluid flowpath in the oil distribution system, using a stepped frequency continuous wave signal to enhance the separation of oil droplets, allowing them to coalesce into larger, heavier particles that can be effectively separated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If centrifugal separation devices are used to separate air-oil mixture, then oil separation is achieved, but small and lightweight oil droplets are not effectively separated leading to oil loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic vibration to the channel walls to enhance the separation of small oil droplets from the air-oil mixture. The ultrasonic transducer generates mechanical vibrations that propagate through the channel walls into the fluid, causing enhanced coalescence of oil droplets and improving separation efficiency, thereby reducing oil loss while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and properties of oil droplets by applying ultrasonic energy, which alters their coalescence behavior. This parameter change enables small, lightweight oil droplets that were previously difficult to separate to now coalesce more effectively, improving separation efficiency without requiring complex additional equipment
2Object-generated harmful factors
If centrifugal separation devices are used, then oil separation is performed, but small oil droplets are carried by gas leading to visible smoke exhaust
Solution Approach 1:
Ultrasonic vibration applied to the channel walls enhances the coalescence of small oil droplets before they are carried by the gas flow. This mechanical vibration causes droplets to merge into larger particles that can be more effectively separated, thereby reducing visible smoke exhaust while maintaining precise separation of droplets from the gas phase
3Manufacturing precision
If ultrasonic transducer is added to insonate the fluid flowpath, then separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces or supplements the conventional centrifugal separation mechanism with an ultrasonic field-based separation approach. By using ultrasonic transducers to generate mechanical vibrations in the fluid, the system achieves enhanced separation efficiency without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the existing centrifugal separation devices
Solution Approach 2:
The introduction of ultrasonic parameters (frequency, amplitude) creates new separation mechanisms that work in conjunction with or enhance the existing centrifugal separation. This parameter-based approach allows for improved separation efficiency while maintaining the original system architecture, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
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
Improves the efficiency of air-oil separation by increasing the size and weight of oil particles, enhancing their collection and retention within the system, thereby reducing oil loss and smoke exhaust.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic transducer configured to transmit ultrasonic waves so as to insonate the fluid flowpath defined by the distribution channel
Implementation Method 2
Such devices operate on the principle of centrifugation, to separate an air-oil mixture by driving relatively heavy oil droplets present in an air-oil mixture out from a rotational axis towards a chamber wall of the device
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an arrangement for separating an air-oil mixture in an oil distribution system of an engine. The arrangement comprises a distribution channel of the system, which defines a fluid flowpath suitable for receiving the air-oil mixture, and an ultrasonic transducer configured to insonate the fluid flowpath.