Engine Fluid Accumulator for Hydraulic Accessory Pressure Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In gas turbine engines, the sudden operation of hydraulically actuated accessories can reduce fluid pressure, impairing engine performance and capability by causing abrupt fuel flow interruptions or lubrication reductions, leading to potential combustion process disruptions or component deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A fluid system with a hydraulic accumulator having a volume-variable reservoir and actuation mechanism, connected to the supply line upstream of the hydraulic accessory, which stores and releases fluid to maintain pressure and prevent drops, ensuring consistent operation of the accessory without affecting the main fuel or lubricant supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hydraulic accessory is actuated to perform its function, then the accessory can be operated, but the fluid pressure in the supply line drops abruptly, impairing engine performance
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator pre-stores fluid in a compressed state before it is needed. When the hydraulic accessory is actuated, the accumulator immediately releases the pre-stored fluid to compensate for the pressure drop, preventing disruption to the main supply line. This preliminary preparation of fluid storage resolves the contradiction by ensuring pressure stability during accessory operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator acts as an intermediary element between the main fluid supply line and the hydraulic accessory. It buffers the pressure fluctuations caused by accessory actuation, isolating the main supply line from pressure drops. This intermediary function allows the accessory to operate while maintaining stable pressure in the primary system.
2Ease of operation
If fluid is extracted from the main supply line to actuate the hydraulic accessory, then the accessory can be actuated, but the fuel flow or lubrication is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator pre-stores the fluid required for hydraulic accessory actuation in advance. This eliminates the need to extract fluid from the main supply line during accessory operation, thereby preventing disruptions to fuel flow or lubrication. The preliminary storage of fluid in the accumulator ensures that accessory actuation does not compromise the reliability of the primary fluid supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid storage function is extracted from the main supply line and placed into a separate accumulator system. This extraction allows the hydraulic accessory to be actuated using fluid from the accumulator rather than from the main supply line, preventing disruptions to fuel flow or lubrication while maintaining accessory operability.
3Stress or pressure
If the reservoir volume is increased to store more fluid for pressure stabilization, then pressure stability improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulator uses a pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism (compressed gas or spring) to store fluid under pressure in a compact form. This allows the reservoir to maintain high pressure stability without requiring a large physical volume, thereby achieving pressure stabilization while minimizing device complexity and space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The accumulator changes the physical state of fluid storage by maintaining it under compressed pressure rather than at atmospheric pressure. This parameter change (pressure state) allows a smaller reservoir volume to store sufficient fluid for pressure stabilization, reducing the overall device complexity and space requirements while maintaining effective pressure stability.
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 accumulator system maintains stable fluid pressure, reducing the impact of hydraulic accessory actuation on engine performance, preventing disruptions in fuel flow or lubrication, and minimizing wear on components, thus enhancing the engine's operational stability and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
an accumulator including a reservoir having a volume varying between a minimum and a maximum volume and an actuation mechanism biasing the reservoir toward the minimum volume
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid system for a gas turbine engine includes a first supply line, a hydraulic accessory actuable by a fluid, and a second supply line fluidly connected the hydraulic accessory and to the first supply line upstream of the component. An accumulator is fluidly connected to the second supply line upstream of the hydraulic accessory. The accumulator is operable to fill a reservoir with the fluid from the first supply line via the second supply line, and to deliver the fluid to the hydraulic accessory via the second supply line. The first supply line may be a fuel or lubricant main supply line of the engine. A method of actuating a hydraulic accessory is also disclosed.