Hybrid Fuel Supply System Segmentation for Turbine Engine Heat Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing turbine engine fuel supply systems that incorporate electric pumps face issues of excessive heat generation, increased weight, and cost due to the need for larger pumps to meet maximum fuel flow requirements, particularly when supplying both primary and secondary fuel loads.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid fuel supply system that combines an electric fuel metering pump for primary fuel loads with a mechanically-driven fuel pump for secondary fuel loads, allowing independent fuel supply to secondary loads and reducing the size and power requirements of the electric pump.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single electric pump is sized to supply maximum fuel flow for both primary and secondary loads, then the fuel flow control capability is improved, but the pump generates excessive heat and increases system weight and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel flow control capabilityVSAvoidfuel system heat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel supply system is segmented into two independent pump systems: an electric fuel metering pump dedicated to primary fuel loads (fuel manifolds) and a mechanically-driven fuel pump dedicated to secondary fuel loads. This segmentation allows each pump to be sized appropriately for its specific load requirements, preventing the electric pump from being oversized and generating excessive heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a single electric pump is sized to supply maximum fuel flow for both primary and secondary loads, then the fuel flow control capability is improved, but the overall fuel system weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel flow control capabilityVSAvoidfuel system weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If a single electric pump is sized to supply maximum fuel flow for both primary and secondary loads, then the fuel flow control capability is improved, but the system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel flow control capabilityVSAvoidfuel system cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If an electric pump is used to control fuel flow to primary loads, then fuel flow control precision is improved, but the pump must be oversized for secondary loads causing excessive heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel flow control precisionVSAvoidfuel system heat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different pump types are assigned to different fuel load categories based on their specific requirements: electric pumps for precision-critical primary loads and mechanically-driven pumps for secondary loads. This local optimization ensures each pump operates within efficient parameters for its designated function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8127548B2Hybrid electrical/mechanical turbine engine fuel supply system

Publication Date: 2012.03.06 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC

AI summary

A turbine engine fuel supply system includes a priority flow line, a plurality of secondary fuel loads, an electric fuel metering pump, and a mechanically-driven fuel pump. The priority flow line is used to supply fuel to one or more gas turbine engine fuel manifolds. The electric fuel metering pump has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, and is adapted to be selectively energized and, upon being energized, to draw fuel into its fuel inlet and discharge the fuel from its fuel outlet for supply to the priority flow line. The mechanically-driven fuel pump has a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet that is in fluid communication with the electric fuel metering pump fuel inlet and the plurality of secondary fuel loads. As such, fuel may be supplied to the secondary fuel loads independent of the electric fuel metering pump, which advantageously reduces the electrical power consumption of the electric fuel metering pump.