Fuel Distributor Valve Icing Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing fuel distributor valves in turbine engine fuel injectors are prone to icing, which leads to clogging and inefficient fuel flow, especially at high flow rates, and current solutions require significant modifications to the entire fuel system.

Innovation Solution

A fuel distributor valve with a second passage opening profile that includes a head portion, an intermediate portion, and a foot portion, where the head portion has a first inclination, the intermediate portion has a second inclination greater than the first, and the foot portion has a third inclination less than the second, allowing for rapid transition to a larger passage area to prevent ice buildup, and the foot portion extends over a significant length to ensure efficient fuel flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the distributor valve has a small passage section to ensure good atomization, then the injection quality is improved, but the valve becomes sensitive to icing and clogging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatomization qualityVSAvoidresistance to icing

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The second passage opening is divided into three distinct portions (head, intermediate, and foot) with different inclinations, allowing each segment to serve a specific function in preventing icing while maintaining atomization quality. The head portion provides initial flow control, the intermediate portion rapidly expands to prevent ice buildup, and the foot portion ensures stable flow at high rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a longitudinal dimension to the passage opening design by creating a profile with varying inclinations along the length of the passage. This three-dimensional approach allows the passage to transition from a narrow inlet to a broader outlet, providing both good atomization at the inlet and resistance to icing through the expanded geometry downstream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the second passage opening has a uniform profile, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the fuel flow rate regulation is insufficient at high flow rates due to ice buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassage opening fabricationVSAvoidfuel flow rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the second passage opening are given different local geometries with specific inclinations. The head portion has a first inclination suitable for low flow rates, the intermediate portion has a steeper second inclination for rapid expansion, and the foot portion has a third inclination for stable high flow. This local differentiation allows the passage to optimize performance at each stage of flow rate while remaining manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If the distributor valve passage is small to maintain precision injection, then the injection accuracy is improved, but the valve clogs easily with ice particles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjection accuracyVSAvoidice particle clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The passage opening is designed to proactively prevent ice buildup by incorporating an intermediate portion with a steep inclination that rapidly expands the passage cross-section. This preliminary expansion occurs before ice particles can accumulate and cause clogging, maintaining injection accuracy while preventing the harmful effect of ice particle accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design effectively prevents clogging by ice particles, ensuring a consistent fuel flow rate and reducing the risk of engine stoppage or insufficient thrust, while also minimizing the need for de-icing additives, thus reducing maintenance and operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

the second element being configured to be displaced relative to said first element, according to a translation movement along a given axis X, as a function of the pressure difference between the inlet pressure P1 and an intermediate pressure P2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure difference: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

distributor valve 110, in the secondary stream Cb, which makes it possible to supply a given fuel flow rate as a function of the pressure difference between an inlet pressure P1 and an intermediate pressure P2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11319884B2Fuel distributor valve for fuel injector and method for operating such a distributor valve

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES SAS

AI summary

A distributor valve comprising a second element configured to be displaced relative to a first element, so as to form an overall passage opening of variable fuel passage section corresponding to the intersection of a first passage opening and a second passage opening. The head portion of the second passage opening comprises a first inclination having a first average slope, the intermediate portion of the second passage opening comprises a second inclination having a second average slope strictly greater than said first average slope, and the foot portion of the second passage opening comprises a third inclination having a third average slope, strictly less than said second average slope.