Orifice Pack Debris Filtration for Compressor Bleed Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
In aerospace gas turbine engines, pressurized air used to control compressor bleed valves may carry debris, which is undesirable and can affect the reliability and consistency of the valve's operation.
Innovation Solution
An orifice pack system is used to deliver pressurized air to the compressor bleed valve, where a portion of the air is vented upstream of the valve to prevent debris from reaching it, ensuring cleaner air is supplied to the valve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized air is delivered to the compressor bleed valve, then the valve can be controlled to maintain engine operability, but debris carried by the pressurized air may enter the valve and affect its reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The orifice pack is positioned upstream of the compressor bleed valve to perform preliminary filtration of the pressurized air before it reaches the valve. The pack includes multiple orifices that create pressure drops and turbulence to separate debris particles from the air stream, ensuring cleaner air reaches the valve actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The orifice pack acts as an intermediary component between the pressurized air source and the compressor bleed valve. It mediates the air flow by filtering out debris through its multi-orifice structure, preventing harmful particles from directly contacting the valve while still delivering the necessary pressurized air for valve control.
2Reliability
If filtration is implemented to remove debris from pressurized air, then valve reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtration function is segmented into multiple small orifices within the orifice pack rather than using a single complex filter. Each orifice contributes to the overall filtration effect through pressure drops and flow turbulence, distributing the filtration task across multiple simple geometric features that are easy to manufacture and integrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The orifice pack uses simple geometric orifices that can be easily manufactured into the air delivery component. These orifices serve as a low-cost, maintenance-free filtration solution that does not require replaceable filter elements, reducing long-term operational complexity while maintaining reliable debris 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
The orifice pack effectively prevents debris from entering the compressor bleed valve, enhancing the reliability and consistency of the valve's operation by ensuring cleaner air is used for control purposes.
Implementation Method 1
an orifice pack (24) configured for delivering pressurized air to a compressor bleed valve (22) of a gas turbine engine (10)
Data Source
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AI summary
An orifice pack (24) is provided for delivering pressurized air to a compressor bleed valve (22) of a gas turbine engine (10). The orifice pack (24) has a diffusion chamber (34) in serial flow communication with a tapering passage (28c) and a first outlet passage (28d) for venting a first portion of the pressurized air from the diffusion chamber (34). A second outlet passage (30') branches off from the diffusion chamber (34) at an axial location between the inlet (26) and the tapering passage (28c). The second outlet passage (30') is fluidly connected to the compressor bleed valve (22) for directing a second portion of the pressurized air from the diffusion chamber (34) to the compressor bleed valve (22).