Multi-Section Air Cleaning System with Autonomous Louvers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaning devices for gas turbine engines are inefficient as they operate optimally only at specific air flow velocities, leading to suboptimal cleaning and reduced service life due to non-uniform air flow velocities across various engine power modes and vehicle speeds.
Innovation Solution
A multi-section block of air-cleaning devices is divided into sub-blocks, each optimized for specific engine power modes, with autonomous louvers/shutters controlling air flow to maintain optimal velocities, ensuring maximum cleaning efficiency across the entire engine power spectrum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a multi-sectional block of parallel-operating air-cleaning devices is installed to occupy the entire air inlet port orifice, then the air inlet area utilization is improved, but the air flow velocity through each device deviates from optimal velocity during most operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-sectional block of air-cleaning devices is divided into multiple sub-blocks, each corresponding to a specific engine power mode. Each sub-block contains a specific number of parallel-operating devices optimized for its designated power mode. This segmentation allows selective activation of appropriate sub-blocks based on current operating conditions, ensuring optimal air flow velocity through active devices while maintaining full air inlet area utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which sub-blocks are active based on the current engine power mode. During operation, only the sub-blocks corresponding to the current power mode are activated, while others remain inactive. This dynamic adjustment ensures that air flow velocity through the active devices always matches their optimal velocity, regardless of whether the engine is operating at idle, low, medium, or full power.
2Area of stationary object
If air-cleaning devices are arranged in close proximity to maximize air inlet area usage, then the device compactness is improved, but the air flow velocity cannot be optimized across all engine power modes
Solution Approach 1:
Different sub-blocks are designed with different numbers of parallel-operating air-cleaning devices, with each sub-block optimized for its specific engine power mode. Sub-blocks for lower power modes contain fewer devices, while sub-blocks for higher power modes contain more devices. This local quality differentiation ensures that air flow velocity is optimized for each operating condition while maintaining efficient use of the air inlet area.
3Reliability
If the air-cleaning devices are designed for optimal performance at full engine power, then the air cleaning efficiency is improved at maximal power, but the service life of the engine decreases due to suboptimal cleaning at other power modes
Solution Approach 1:
The air-cleaning system is designed with multiple sub-blocks that collectively provide universal coverage across all engine power modes. Each sub-block is specialized for a specific power mode, but the entire system functions universally for all operating conditions. This multi-functionality ensures optimal air cleaning quality whether the engine is operating at idle, low, medium, or full power, thereby maximizing engine service life.
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 ensures nearly 100% utilization of the air inlet orifice area and maintains maximum air cleaning quality at all engine power modes and vehicle speeds, significantly extending the service life of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
One known method of cleaning dust and debris from the air involves use of inertial air-cleaning devices, such as cyclone or ballistic separators
Implementation Method 2
inertial air-cleaning devices, such as cyclone or ballistic separators
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cleaning air flowing into an engine provided with a plurality of sub-blocks. A plurality of air separators arranged in the plurality of sub-blocks, wherein each sub-block includes air separators having a predetermined optimal air flow velocity. At least one rotary louver/shatter is associated with at least one sub-block. A controller is provided to control transitioning of at least one rotary louver/shatter based on a sensed air flow velocity into the engine or on a velocity of the vehicle.