Foldable Air Intake Filter for Turboengine with Dynamic Filtration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft turbine engine air intake filtration systems lack controllability, leading to inefficient particle removal and potential engine shutdown due to clogging, and are either overly restrictive or cumbersome, limiting air flow and service life.
Innovation Solution
A foldable filtration system with a control mechanism that adjusts filtration power between zero and maximum, using a collapsible filter with guide means to precisely control air flow and prevent undesired movement, and optional heating to prevent frost deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filtration system with filtering means is used to protect the turbine engine from particles, then the engine reliability is improved, but the air flow to the engine is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration system is made controllable and adjustable through a control means that can modify the filtration power dynamically. The filtering means can be positioned to provide maximum filtration when needed or retracted to minimize air flow restriction, allowing the system to adapt between protection and performance modes based on operational requirements.
2Reliability
If the filtration power is increased to remove more particles, then the engine protection is improved, but the filtration means becomes clogged faster
Solution Approach 1:
The control means enables dynamic adjustment of filtration power, allowing the system to operate at high filtration levels when particle contamination is detected and reduce filtration power when conditions permit, thereby extending the service life of the filtering means while maintaining adequate engine protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor particle concentration in the air flow and provide feedback to the control means. Based on this feedback, the control means adjusts the filtration power appropriately - increasing it when high particle levels are detected and decreasing it when air quality is good, optimizing both protection and filter longevity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid filtration system is used to ensure structural stability, then the filtration power is maintained, but the system cannot adapt to vibrations and environmental changes
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering means employs flexible material that can accommodate vibrations and environmental changes while maintaining its filtration function. This flexible construction allows the filter to adapt to structural movements and vibrations without compromising filtration effectiveness or requiring rigid support structures.
4Reliability
If the filtering means is placed at the inlet section to maximize filtration, then particle removal is improved, but the air flow path is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering means is designed to be movable within the inlet section rather than fixed. The control means can position the filter to optimize the balance between filtration and air flow - placing it where particle removal is most effective while maintaining sufficient open area for air transmission to the engine.
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
Enables precise adjustment of filtration power to optimize air intake, prevent engine damage from particles and frost, and maintain air flow while extending system lifespan by avoiding clogging and frost accumulation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating means to prevent the deposition of frost on the air intake
Data Source
Figure 1~3a
Figure 3b~5
Figure 4c~7
AI summary
The inlet (2) has a controlled filtration system (10) with a foldable filtering unit (11) i.e. plane filter, that is arranged at the level of an inlet section (3) of an air flow path. The system has a control unit (13) which exerts the effort along a transverse direction (Y) on a free end (11') of the unit (11) for compressing or expanding the unit (11) to vary dimension of the unit (11) to adjust the filtration power of the system. A guiding unit (12) has external and internal grids (12', 12'') for guiding the system to guide the displacement of the free end induced by the control unit. An independent claim is also included for a method for filtering the air in a turboshaft engine of an aircraft.