Free Vortex Air-Oil Separator for Short Sump Dwell Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-oil separators in gas turbine engines are inefficient in short sump regions due to lack of adequate dwell time for vortex motion, leading to poor oil separation, especially at high temperatures, where oil recovery from air-oil mixtures is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A free vortex air-oil separator system with a rotating chamber and vent holes that creates a free vortex, increasing dwell time and centrifugal forces for oil separation, and optionally cools the air-oil mixture before separation to enhance oil particle removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional forced-vortex static separators or rotating mechanical separators are used, then oil separation is achieved, but separation efficiency is poor especially in short sump regions due to insufficient dwell time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotating separator assembly that creates a free vortex flow pattern, transforming the static separation process into a dynamic one. The rotation of the separator assembly at high speeds generates centrifugal forces that significantly enhance oil particle separation from the air-oil mixture, achieving up to 50% improvement in separation efficiency while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for short sump regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the pneumatic properties of the air-oil mixture flow, allowing the mixture to enter the rotating separator assembly through centrifugal injection. The free vortex flow pattern created by the rotating assembly leverages pneumatic dynamics to separate oil particles without requiring additional coalescing materials, simplifying the overall separator structure while maintaining high separation efficiency.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional separators are used in short sump regions, then device complexity is reduced, but oil separation efficiency deteriorates due to lack of adequate vortex motion time
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating separator assembly is designed to be self-contained, utilizing the kinetic energy of the incoming air-oil mixture to drive its own rotation. The centrifugal injection mechanism automatically imparts rotational motion to the separator assembly, eliminating the need for external drive mechanisms or complex control systems. This self-service approach maintains simplicity in device structure while achieving superior separation efficiency through high-speed rotation.
3Manufacturing precision
If high temperature air-oil mixture is separated directly, then separation process is simplified, but oil separation efficiency decreases at higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a cooling section upstream of the rotating separator assembly that pre-cools the hot air-oil mixture before it enters the separation zone. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature of the mixture, thereby improving oil particle separation efficiency in the subsequent rotating separator without requiring complex temperature control mechanisms during the separation process itself.
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 free vortex air-oil separator effectively increases oil recovery efficiency by up to 50% compared to conventional designs, reducing oil consumption and potentially simplifying the separation device structure by eliminating the need for additional coalescing materials.
Implementation Method 1
a free vortex is created when there is a flow into the cavity through the plurality of vent holes
Implementation Method 2
as the air-oil mixture swirls down to a lower radius centrifugal forces drive the more massive oil particles back to the inside diameter of the shaft
Implementation Method 3
It has been found that without adequate dwell time for vortex motion, oil separation from the air-oil mixture will be poor
Implementation Method 4
In one aspect of the invention, the air-oil mixture is cooled prior to its entry into the free vortex air-oil separator
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a free vortex air-oil separator that may be used in systems for separating oil from air oil mixtures. The free vortex air-oil separator comprises a free vortex chamber having a first chamber wall, a second chamber wall located axially aft from the first chamber wall and a rim located in a radially outer region from an axis of rotation, a plurality of vent holes in the rim and a cavity formed by the first and second chamber walls, and the rim, wherein a free vortex is created when there is a flow into the cavity through the plurality of vent holes.