Fuel Divider Valve Actuation by Pressure for Gas Turbine Engines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing fuel supply systems for gas turbine engines, which combine diffusion and lean pre-mixed combustion methods, face challenges in achieving fuel flow control with a simple structure and ensuring sufficient sealing performance, particularly in small-sized engines where additional fuel control systems increase weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply device with a fuel divider that includes a pilot port and a main port, each equipped with a needle valve element, is actuated by a drive element responsive to fuel pressure, allowing fuel to be supplied only to the pilot port at low pressure and to both ports at higher pressure, eliminating the need for flow control valves and enhancing sealing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow control valves are provided in pilot fuel passage and main fuel passage to control fuel flow ratio, then fuel flow control precision is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fuel flow control functions for both pilot and main burners into a single flow control valve. The valve body integrates multiple passages (pilot fuel passage, main fuel passage, collecting fuel passage) and control mechanisms (first and second flow control valves sharing a common valve element) to regulate fuel flow to both burners simultaneously, reducing the total number of valves from two to one while maintaining control precision
Solution Approach 2:
The single flow control valve performs multiple functions: it controls fuel flow to the pilot burner through the pilot fuel passage, controls fuel flow to the main burner through the main fuel passage, and coordinates both flows based on engine operating conditions. The valve element's position simultaneously determines the opening degrees of both the first and second flow control valves, enabling one component to fulfill what previously required two separate valves
2Reliability
If additional fuel control systems are added to achieve combined combustion control, then combustion performance is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuel control systems for pilot and main burners into a single integrated flow control valve assembly. By combining multiple flow control functions into one valve body with shared components (valve element, actuator mechanism), the overall weight of the fuel control system is reduced compared to having separate valves, while still achieving the complex fuel flow regulation needed for combined combustion modes
3Measurement precision
If needle valve elements are used in fuel divider to control fuel flow, then fuel flow control precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple needle valve elements (first needle valve element in pilot port, second needle valve element in main port) into a single valve body structure. The valve element integrates both needle valves and their seating surfaces, allowing precise fuel flow control to both pilot and main burners while reducing the number of separate manufacturing operations compared to producing multiple independent valve components
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate flow control valves are used for pilot and main fuel passages, then fuel flow control flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic fuel flow control where the valve element's position can be adjusted to simultaneously or independently control the opening degrees of both the first and second flow control valves. This dynamic mechanism allows flexible adaptation to different operating conditions (idle, part load, full load) while using a single integrated valve structure that reduces overall system complexity compared to two separate valves
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 configuration simplifies the structure, reduces manufacturing costs, and ensures effective fuel sealing and flow control, making it suitable for small-sized gas turbine engines without the need for additional fuel control systems.
Implementation Method 1
a drive element which is actuated according to the fuel pressure at the fuel entrance to move the pilot port needle valve element and the main port needle valve element
Data Source
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AI summary
In a fuel supply device of a gas turbine engine of the present invention, a fuel divider 66 includes a fuel entrance E1 into which the fuel supplied from a collecting fuel passage 63 is introduced; a pilot port 76 connected to the pilot fuel passage 64; a main port 77 connected to the main fuel passage 65; a pilot port needle valve element 101 which adjusts an opening degree of the pilot port 76; a main port needle valve element 102 which opens and closes the main port 77; and a drive element 100 which is actuated according to the fuel pressure at the fuel inlet E1 to drive the pilot port needle valve element 101 and the main port needle valve element 102.