Jet Engine Chamber Oil Separation Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing jet engines face inefficiencies due to high oil loss and coking issues, which increase operating temperatures and require additional cooling measures, leading to increased weight and manufacturing costs.

Innovation Solution

A jet engine design featuring a chamber with a separating device and optional deflection device that uses the momentum of hydraulic fluid to separate oil from air, reducing oil load in the air-oil mixture and preventing coking through direct application of hydraulic fluid to the housing walls, thereby minimizing oil consumption and avoiding additional cooling measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large amount of oil is introduced into bearing chambers for lubrication and cooling, then lubrication effectiveness is improved, but oil loss through air outlets increases and requires larger oil separators

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication effectivenessVSAvoidoil loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes oil from the air-oil mixture before it exits through air outlets. Oil separation devices are positioned to intercept and separate oil droplets from the airflow, preventing oil loss to the environment and reducing the burden on downstream oil separators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary substance (oil mist suppressant or sealing agent) that mediates between the oil-lubricated chamber and the oil-free air outlet. This intermediary prevents oil carryover by forming a barrier or modifying the air-oil mixture properties to reduce oil entrainment in the exhaust airflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If operating temperature is increased, then engine power output is improved, but coking of oil on housing walls occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine power outputVSAvoidcoking

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful high-temperature condition that causes coking into a beneficial factor by using the heat to vaporize or atomize oil more effectively for lubrication, while simultaneously implementing measures (such as improved oil separation and reduced oil carryover) that prevent the vaporized oil from depositing as coke on housing walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Temperature

If additional cooling measures are implemented to prevent coking, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidcooling system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables the system to self-regulate temperature by optimizing oil circulation and separation. The oil separation devices and improved chamber design allow the system to maintain appropriate temperatures through enhanced oil management rather than requiring additional active cooling systems, thereby avoiding increased complexity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of substance

If oil separation capacity is increased to handle high oil loads, then oil loss is reduced, but efficiency of the jet engine deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil loss reductionVSAvoidengine efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary oil separation at the source (within or near the bearing chambers) before the air-oil mixture reaches the main oil separator. By removing the bulk of oil droplets at the location where they are generated, the downstream oil separator only needs to handle a much smaller oil load, maintaining high engine efficiency while still achieving low oil loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The design achieves low oil loss, prevents coking, and enhances efficiency by reducing the oil load on the oil separator, allowing for a smaller oil tank and lower overall weight, while maintaining effective lubrication and cooling without additional cooling efforts.

Implementation Method 1

uses the momentum of hydraulic fluid to separate oil from air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMomentum: Conservation of Momentum

Implementation Method 2

direct application of hydraulic fluid to the housing walls, thereby minimizing oil consumption and avoiding additional cooling measures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3382180B1Jet engine with a chamber

Publication Date: 2020.10.07 ROLLS ROYCE DEUT LTD & CO KG

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AI summary

A jet engine (1) is described, comprising a chamber (40) bounded by a housing (32) in which a rotatable device (29) capable of being pressurized with hydraulic fluid is arranged, wherein hydraulic fluid introduced into the chamber (40) through the housing (32) and air from the chamber (40) can be discharged. The housing (32) is designed in the region (57A) through which air and hydraulic fluid can be discharged from the chamber (40) with a separation device (63) in which air and hydraulic fluid can be separated from one another, and/or a deflection device (55) is provided upstream of the region (57A) of the housing (32) by means of which air, hydraulic fluid and/or an air-oil mixture can be directed in the chamber (40) towards the region (57A).