Centrifugal Oil Separator for Jet Engine Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current turbomachinery oil systems face inefficiencies due to the size, weight, and complexity of separate equipment for suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation, particularly in managing varying gas/liquid proportions, leading to suboptimal oil quality and increased oil consumption.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal machine with three physically separated stages for suction, partial separation, degassing, and drying, utilizing an axialo-centrifugal impeller and concentric zones for deaeration and drying, integrated into a single casing to manage varying mixture richness and produce distinct, purified fluid phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate equipment is used for suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation, then each function can be optimized independently, but the overall system size, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation functions into a single integrated centrifugal machine. The machine uses one rotating assembly with multiple functional zones (suction zone, deaeration zone, drying zone, separation zone) that perform all required functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate equipment pieces while maintaining optimized performance for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal machine is designed as a universal device that performs multiple functions: it sucks in gas/liquid mixture, separates oil from gas, removes air from oil (deaeration), and dries the gas stream. The single rotating assembly with its specially designed geometry enables this multi-functionality, making the system more compact and less complex while maintaining high reliability for each individual function.
2Reliability
If separate equipment is used for suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation, then each function can be optimized independently, but the overall system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation functions into a single integrated centrifugal machine. The machine uses one rotating assembly with multiple functional zones (suction zone, deaeration zone, drying zone, separation zone) that perform all required functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate equipment pieces while maintaining optimized performance for each function.
3Reliability
If separate equipment is used for suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation, then each function can be optimized independently, but the overall system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation functions into a single integrated centrifugal machine. The machine uses one rotating assembly with multiple functional zones (suction zone, deaeration zone, drying zone, separation zone) that perform all required functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate equipment pieces while maintaining optimized performance for each function.
4Reliability
If traditional separation equipment is used, then gas/liquid separation can be achieved, but the system cannot efficiently handle wide variations in gas/liquid proportion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamically adaptable centrifugal separation system where the rotating assembly's geometry and operational parameters can adjust to handle varying gas/liquid proportions. The specially designed rotor with its spiral groove and centrifugal force generation creates conditions that maintain effective separation across a wide range of mixture compositions, from gas-rich to liquid-rich mixtures, without requiring multiple specialized devices.
5Reliability
If separate equipment is used for oil removal and deaeration, then each function can be optimized, but the assembly complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines suction, oil removal, deaeration, and gas/liquid separation functions into a single integrated centrifugal machine. The machine uses one rotating assembly with multiple functional zones (suction zone, deaeration zone, drying zone, separation zone) that perform all required functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple separate equipment pieces while maintaining optimized performance for each function.
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 machine enhances the efficiency of lubrication and cooling oil circuits by improving air/oil separation quality, reducing oil consumption, and achieving compact, lightweight designs capable of handling wide gas/liquid proportion variations, ensuring high-purity fluid phases and regulated oil outlet pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a first stage (A), provided with an inlet for the two-phase fluid, in which take place the suction, the pumping and a partial separation of the two-phase fluid into two distinct phases, an essentially liquid phase and an essentially gaseous phase
Implementation Method 2
an axialo-centrifugal impeller of frustoconical shape which can be rotated in a fixed casing of the same shape
Implementation Method 3
a second stage (B), comprising two zones: a first zone in which the degassing of the essentially liquid phase extracted from the first stage (A) takes place and a second zone in which the drying of the essentially gaseous phase takes place
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Combined machine for pumping and separating into two distinct and purified phases a liquid/gas mixture or two-phase fluid at the inlet of the machine, characterized in that it comprises at least three physically separated stages (A, B, C), set in motion by means internal or external to the machine and integrated into a single casing (8): - a first stage (A), provided with an inlet (4) for the two-phase fluid, in which the suction, pumping and partial separation of the two-phase fluid into two distinct phases, an essentially liquid phase and an essentially gaseous phase, take place; - a second stage (B), comprising two zones: - a first zone in which the degassing of the essentially liquid phase extracted from the first stage (A) takes place and - a second zone in which the drying of the essentially gaseous phase extracted from the first stage (A) takes place, provided with a first outlet (9) for the dried gas;- a third stage (C), in which the pumping and pressurization of the degassed liquid takes place, equipped with a second outlet (5) for the degassed liquid.