Flow Union Member Circumferential Routing for Gas Turbine Fluid Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine working fluid systems face challenges in effectively merging fluid flow streams, which affects their efficiency and performance in various applications.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine engine system with a flow union member that combines two streams of utility working fluid, utilizing internal passageways to route the fluid in a circumferentially extending path around an internal passage, creating an ejector action and facilitating the merging of the streams to enhance fluid conveyance and pressure change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple flow merging is used, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid conveyance efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow merging device nests the internal passage within the union body, with the internal passage forming a flow path surface that routes fluid circumferentially around the internal passage. This nested configuration enables complex flow merging functionality within a compact structure, improving fluid conveyance efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a circumferential flow dimension by routing fluid through internal passageways that extend around the internal passage. This transforms simple linear flow merging into multi-dimensional flow integration, enhancing mixing and conveyance efficiency while maintaining reasonable device complexity through the unified union body structure
2Productivity
If complex flow merging device is used, then fluid conveyance efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow merging device merges multiple fluid streams within a single union body structure. The first and second inlets receive fluid streams that are combined through the internal passage and outlet, achieving efficient flow integration while avoiding the need for multiple separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The union body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it receives multiple inlet streams, provides internal passageways for flow routing, creates ejector action for enhanced conveyance, and delivers the merged stream through the outlet. This multi-functionality improves fluid conveyance efficiency while consolidating features that would otherwise require separate devices
3Stability of the object's composition
If uniform flow mixing is used, then fluid homogeneity is improved, but pressure change capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The internal passage creates different flow conditions in different regions: the core flow path provides gentle mixing for homogeneity, while the circumferential path around the internal passage generates high-velocity ejector flow for pressure enhancement. This local differentiation of flow qualities achieves both fluid homogeneity and pressure change capability simultaneously
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 efficiently merges fluid streams, improving the conveyance and pressure change of the working fluid, enabling effective lubrication and heat transfer, and enhancing the operational efficiency of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
routing the utility working fluid in the second passage between an exterior of a portion of the first passage and an interior of a passage junction device, and combining a core flow of the utility working fluid in the first passage with a circumferentially shaped flow of the utility working fluid in the second passage
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a working fluid system capable of moving a working fluid. The working fluid system includes a flow union member capable of combining different streams of working fluid. In one form the flow union member is a T-shape, but other embodiments can take on other shapes. The flow union member is configured to receive separate streams of working fluid. One of the separate streams is routed around another of the separate streams and the streams are combined. In one form the outlet of the flow union member includes an annular flow stream of one of the separate streams that surrounds a core flow of the other of the separate flow streams.