Gas Turbine Fuel Additive Injection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-density hydrocarbon fuels like JP-10, commonly used in miniature gas turbine engines, have poor lubrication qualities for bearings, necessitating the addition of tricresyl phosphate (TCP) as a fuel additive, which poses logistical challenges for end users who prefer to store and use pure JP-10 fuel.

Innovation Solution

A fuel lubrication additive injection system that utilizes high-pressure air from the engine to transfer a stored fuel lubricant additive, such as TCP, into the engine fuel stream, ensuring effective lubrication of bearings without the need for an independent lubrication system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tricresyl phosphate (TCP) is added to JP-10 fuel to improve bearing lubrication, then the lubrication quality is improved, but the logistical complexity and storage requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing lubrication qualityVSAvoidlogistical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the lubrication function from the fuel storage by using a dedicated additive container that holds TCP separately from the JP-10 fuel. The additive is injected into the fuel stream only when needed, allowing the main fuel storage to remain simple while providing enhanced lubrication where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary injection system that bridges the gap between pure JP-10 storage and the need for TCP-lubricated fuel. The system uses a separate additive container and injection mechanism to introduce TCP into the fuel stream at the point of use, rather than requiring pre-mixed fuel or complex storage infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an independent lubrication supply system is used, then bearing lubrication is improved, but the system weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing lubricationVSAvoidsystem weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the lubrication function with the existing fuel delivery system by injecting TCP additive into the fuel stream. This merging approach allows the engine to use its existing fuel pumps, lines, and delivery infrastructure to also provide lubrication, eliminating the need for separate lubrication storage tanks, pumps, and delivery systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuel delivery system is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both fuel delivery and bearing lubrication functions. The same fuel pump and delivery lines that supply JP-10 to the engine combustor also deliver TCP-additized fuel to the bearings, allowing one system to serve multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If TCP is pre-mixed with JP-10 at the factory, then lubrication is improved, but the flexibility for end users to use pure JP-10 for multiple applications is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing lubricationVSAvoidfuel usage flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static pre-mixed fuel approach to a dynamic on-demand additive injection system. End users can store and handle pure JP-10 fuel for multiple applications, and the TCP additive is introduced dynamically into the fuel stream only when the engine requires bearing lubrication, allowing flexible fuel management across different operational scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This system enables efficient lubrication of engine bearings using high-pressure air to mix the fuel additive with the fuel, enhancing the lubrication properties of JP-10 and eliminating the need for an independent lubrication supply, thus simplifying logistics and reducing weight and cost.

Implementation Method 1

utilises high-pressure air developed by the engine to transfer stored fuel lubricant additive into the engine fuel stream

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh-pressure air transfer: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

high-pressure air to mix the fuel additive with the fuel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid mixing: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS7640723B2Engine with fuel/lubricant supply system for bearing lubrication

Publication Date: 2010.01.05 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine that delivers fuel to a combustor of the engine and lubricates bearings of the engine with fuel, comprising: a tank for storing the fuel; a pump for delivering a continuous flow of fuel from the tank to the combustor by way of a combustor inlet stream and the engine bearings by way of a bearing lubrication stream; a pressurized container for storing fuel lubrication additive under pressure; and a flow valve for controlling flow of fuel lubrication additive that flows from the pressurized container into the bearing lubrication inlet stream to mix with the fuel delivered to the engine bearings.