Gas Turbine Fuel Filter Flushing to Prevent Water Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Water accumulation in fuel filters of gas turbine engines, particularly at low temperatures, leads to freezing and clogging, reducing filter capacity or causing blockages downstream, which disrupts fuel supply.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system design with a suction charging line branching off from the fuel filter's lower region, connecting to the suction side of the feed pump, ensures continuous fuel flow through the filter, flushing out water and minimizing stagnation zones, accompanied by a retention unit to separate dirt particles, and a jet pump for efficient emptying of the return reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water accumulates in the fuel filter, then water separation function is improved, but filter capacity is reduced and clogging occurs at low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the accumulated water from the fuel filter by introducing a flushing line that connects the pressure side to the suction side, creating a bypass flow that continuously removes water from the filter housing and prevents clogging while maintaining filtration capability
2Quantity of substance
If water accumulates in the fuel filter, then water collection is improved, but fuel supply is disrupted due to freezing and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous water removal through the flushing line that operates during engine operation, preventing water accumulation to harmful levels and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply by continuously flushing out separated water before it can freeze or cause blockages
3Device complexity
If conventional fuel filter design is used, then structure is simple, but water accumulates and freezes causing filter clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flushing line as an intermediary flow path that connects the pressure side to the suction side of the fuel filter, creating a continuous flushing action that removes accumulated water without requiring complex additional drainage mechanisms or increasing overall system complexity
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
Effectively prevents large water accumulations and maintains filter functionality by continuously flushing out water and separating dirt, ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply and reducing construction and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The water entrained in the fuel is at least partially separated off in the fuel filter and accumulates in the lower region of the fuel filter due to its higher density compared to the density of the fuel
Implementation Method 2
fuel flows permanently through the filter housing in the direction of the suction side of the feed pump
Implementation Method 3
The emptying unit is configured to conduct fuel from the return reservoir into the suction charging line
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel system for a gas turbine engine, includes a fuel line connecting a fuel tank to s feed pump and a fuel filter. The fuel filter is downstream of the feed pump and connected via the fuel line to a pressure side of the feed pump and a combustion chamber. A return line branches from the combustion chamber toward a return reservoir. A suction charging line connects the pressure side of the feed pump to a suction side of the feed pump. The return reservoir is operatively connected to the suction charging line via an emptying unit for conducting fuel from the return reservoir into the suction charging line. The suction charging line branches from the fuel filter toward the suction side of the feed pump and fuel can be introduced from an interior of a filter housing of the fuel filter into the suction charging line.