Turbine Engine Oil Supply Switching for Zero-G Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbine engines face issues with oil supply disruptions during zero or negative g conditions, leading to uncontrollable variable pitch angle vanes and reduced thrust due to air bubbles forming in the oil supply system, which can cause the hydraulic actuator to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of an auxiliary oil tank and a valve system that switches between sourcing oil from the main tank during normal conditions and the auxiliary tank during zero or negative g conditions, ensuring continuous oil supply to the control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single main oil tank is used to supply oil to the hydraulic actuator, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of oil supply deteriorates during zero or negative g conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The single main oil tank is segmented into two separate tanks: a main oil tank for normal operation and an auxiliary oil tank for zero/negative g conditions. This segmentation allows each tank to be optimized for its specific operational context, ensuring reliable oil supply across all flight conditions without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary oil tank is pre-positioned and pre-filled with oil before the zero g condition occurs. The valve system is pre-configured to switch between tanks based on detected g-conditions, ensuring that oil supply continuity is maintained without interruption when transitioning between flight phases.
2Device complexity
If the pump suctions oil from the main tank during negative g condition, then the simplicity of the supply system is maintained, but air bubbles enter the system causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
A valve system acts as an intermediary between the main oil tank, auxiliary oil tank, and supply pump. This intermediary selectively connects the pump to the appropriate tank based on flight conditions, preventing air bubble contamination during negative g operations while maintaining system simplicity through centralized valve control.
3Device complexity
If no auxiliary tank is provided, then the device complexity is lower, but the control system reliability deteriorates during maneuvering flight
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter of oil supply source based on detected g-conditions. During normal flight, the main tank supplies oil; during zero or negative g conditions, the auxiliary tank takes over. This parameter change ensures continuous reliable operation of the hydraulic actuator without requiring complex redundant systems.
4Reliability
If a valve switching system is added to switch between main and auxiliary tanks, then the oil supply reliability is improved during all flight phases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is designed with multi-functionality to control oil flow from both the main tank and auxiliary tank through a single unified structure. This universal valve design manages multiple functions (selecting oil source, controlling flow direction, preventing contamination) within one integrated component, minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing reliability.
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
Maintains optimal thrust and control of variable pitch angle vanes by providing a reliable oil supply to the hydraulic actuator during all phases of flight, including zero or negative g conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a supply pump (18) having an inlet and an outlet connected to the control system
Implementation Method 2
a valve (21) comprising a body (21a) having a first inlet (21b) connected to the main tank, a second inlet (21c) connected to the auxiliary tank and an outlet (21d) connected to the inlet of the supply pump
Implementation Method 3
the gravitational force is zero or negative... the oil contained in the main tank is pressed against the upper wall of the tank opposite the aperture in the negative g condition
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine includes an oil supply system that has a main oil tank, a supply pump with an inlet and an outlet connected to a control system, an auxiliary oil tank, and a valve having a first inlet connected to the main tank, a second inlet connected to the auxiliary tank and an outlet connected to the inlet of the supply pump. The valve also has a member configured to move within the body and between a first position, in which the first inlet of the valve is in fluid communication with the outlet of the valve, and a second position, in which the second inlet of the valve is in fluid communication with the outlet of the valve.