Turbine Engine Inducer Assembly With Centrifugal Cooling-Air Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Particles such as dirt, dust, and other contaminants in the cooling air of turbine engines clog or obstruct the flow passages and surfaces of turbine blades, reducing the lifespan and operational time of the engine, particularly in environments with significant airborne particles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of particle separators, including centrifugal and inertial separators, into the bypass cooling circuit of turbine engines to remove contaminants from the cooling air before it reaches the hot portions of the engine, using a combination of centrifugal, gravitational, and inertial forces to separate particles from the cooling fluid stream.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is ducted from compressors to turbine blades, then cooling efficiency is improved, but particle accumulation in flow passages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator is installed in the bypass cooling circuit upstream of the turbine blades to remove particles from the cooling air before it enters the turbine flow passages. This preliminary action prevents particle accumulation while maintaining the cooling function, resolving the technical contradiction between cooling efficiency and particle contamination.
2Power
If turbine engines operate in harsh environments with airborne particles, then engine thrust and power are maintained, but operational time and lifespan are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator performs preliminary removal of particles from the cooling air before it contacts the turbine blades, preventing clogging and damage that would reduce operational time. This allows the engine to maintain full power output in harsh environments while extending the duration between maintenance intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The particle separator acts as an intermediary device in the cooling circuit, intercepting and removing harmful particles from the cooling air stream before they can reach and damage the turbine blades. This mediator protects the engine components while allowing continued operation in particle-laden environments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If particle separators are added to the bypass cooling circuit, then particle removal is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The particle separator is designed to be integrated into the existing bypass cooling circuit, allowing the same cooling air stream to serve both cooling and particle removal functions. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate systems and minimizes the increase in device complexity while achieving effective particle removal.
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
Enhances the cooling efficiency of turbine engines by reducing particle accumulation, thereby extending the operational time and lifespan of the engine components and maintaining performance in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal separator that uses centrifugal force to separate particles from the cooling fluid stream
Implementation Method 2
an inertial separator that uses inertial forces to separate particles from the cooling fluid stream
Implementation Method 3
a gravitational separator that uses gravitational force to separate particles from the cooling fluid stream
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and a rotatable drive shaft. A bypass conduit couples the compressor section to the turbine section. At least one centrifugal separator is fluidly coupled to the bypass stream, where the at least one centrifugal separator includes a body, a center body, a separator inlet, and a separator outlet fluidly coupled with the turbine section to output a reduced-particle stream that is provided to the turbine section for cooling. The centrifugal separator includes an angular velocity increaser, a flow splitter, a first outlet passage defined by an inner annular wall that receives the reduced-particle stream, and an angular velocity decreaser located downstream of the flow splitter. A second outlet passage receives the concentrated-particle stream.