Turbomachine Fuel Recirculation Valve Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbomachine fuel supply systems face challenges in warming up fuel efficiently, especially at high altitudes or in extreme cold, while minimizing power losses, as the fuel flow rate in recirculation loops is independent of fuel temperature.
Innovation Solution
A supply system with three centrifugal pumps in series and a displacement pump, featuring a variable geometry supply circuit with a centrifugal pump and a vane that opens or closes based on fluid temperature to control recirculation, allowing for temperature-dependent fuel re-heating and reducing power losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fuel is recirculated to warm it up, then fuel temperature is improved, but power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the recirculation valve opening based on fuel temperature measurements. When fuel temperature is low, the valve opens to allow recirculation through the centrifugal pump for heating. When fuel temperature reaches the desired level, the valve closes to stop recirculation and eliminate unnecessary power losses. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction by making recirculation conditional rather than continuous.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback control mechanism where a temperature sensor monitors fuel temperature and feeds this information back to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and adjusts the recirculation valve accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that automatically maintains fuel temperature within optimal ranges while minimizing energy waste from continuous recirculation.
2Temperature
If fuel flow rate in recirculation loop is increased to warm fuel faster, then heating efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the flow rate parameter dynamically based on temperature requirements. Rather than maintaining a constant high flow rate that would continuously consume power, the system adjusts the recirculation flow rate according to the actual heating needs detected by the temperature sensor, optimizing the balance between heating efficiency and power consumption.
3Stability of the object's composition
If continuous recirculation is used to maintain fuel temperature, then fuel temperature stability is improved, but system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous recirculation, the system uses periodic recirculation triggered only when temperature drops below a threshold. The recirculation operates in cycles: when temperature is insufficient, recirculation activates; when temperature is sufficient, recirculation stops. This periodic action maintains temperature stability over time while avoiding the continuous energy waste of constant recirculation.
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 solution enables flexible fuel re-heating to improve combustion efficiency by injecting hot fuel, reducing power losses and maintaining system efficiency across varying temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The centrifugal pumps, unlike the displacement pumps, are kinetic pumps, that is the outlet pressure is generated by the kinetic energy of the fluid moved by the pump
Implementation Method 2
a vane located between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid recirculation branch, the vane comprising a obturator configured to open/close as a function of the fluid temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A supply system for supplying a turbomachine with fluid. The supply system includes at least one centrifugal pump and a fluid recirculation branch. The fluid recirculation branch includes an inlet situated downstream of the centrifugal pump and an outlet situated upstream of the centrifugal pump or fluidically connected with a node situated upstream of the centrifugal pump, in such a way that at least one portion of the fluid circulates in the centrifugal pump. The fluid recirculation branch includes a valve situated between the inlet and the outlet, the valve including a shutter configured to open/close as a function of the temperature of the fluid.