Parallel Pump System for Gas Turbine Fuel Delivery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engine fuel pumping systems are inefficient and not adaptable to varying conditions, often overdesigning for low flow demands and lacking redundancy for reliable operation during high demands or pump failures.
Innovation Solution
A dual parallel pump system with a pressure regulating valve and check valves, controlled by Electro-Mechanical Interface Devices and pressure sensors, allows for efficient fuel distribution and supplementation between pumps, ensuring optimal performance across extreme and typical conditions and providing redundancy in case of pump failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single positive displacement pump is used to deliver fuel, then the system structure is simple, but the system lacks reliability and cannot meet high fuel flow demands
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel pump system is segmented into two separate positive displacement pumps operating in parallel, each capable of independently delivering fuel to the actuation or burner system. This segmentation provides redundancy and reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
Each pump is equipped with its own check valve and pressure regulating valve, creating locally independent control systems. This allows each pump to operate autonomously with its own pressure regulation, improving reliability while keeping individual pump systems simple and manageable
2Productivity
If the pump is overdesigned for low flow demands, then the system can meet peak demands, but efficiency is reduced during typical operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to varying fuel flow demands by allowing either one pump or both pumps to operate based on conditions. The pressure regulating valves and check valves enable dynamic load distribution, ensuring optimal efficiency during typical operation while maintaining the capability to meet peak demands through dual pump operation
Solution Approach 2:
Each pump is designed to be universally capable of meeting the entire fuel flow demand independently. Both pumps share the same functional capability and can interchangeably serve the actuation or burner system, providing flexibility and efficiency across the full range of operating conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dual parallel pump system is used, then reliability and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two independent pump modules, each with its own check valve and pressure regulating valve. This modular segmentation provides adaptability to varying conditions while keeping each module relatively simple, allowing the system to scale complexity only as needed
Solution Approach 2:
Each pump is equipped with self-regulating components including check valves that automatically prevent backflow and pressure regulating valves that maintain optimal pressure. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex external control systems, enhancing adaptability while managing overall system complexity
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 system enhances efficiency and adaptability by optimizing fuel delivery under varying conditions and ensures reliable operation by allowing one pump to support the system during high demands or in case of pump failure, improving safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a first positive displacement pump connected to a flow demand line delivering fuel to an actuation or burner system based on a flow demand, a second positive displacement pump connected to the flow demand line in parallel to the first pump supplementing fuel to the actuation or burner system
Implementation Method 2
The system can include a first check valve and a second check valve for allowing flow from each of the pumps to the flow demand, wherein fuel flow from the first pump and the second pump to the actuation or burner system is controlled by a corresponding check valve
Implementation Method 3
a pressure regulating valve (PRV) fluidly connected with the first pump and the flow demand line for returning excess flow to a bypass flow fuel line and controlling modulated pressure to a bypass valve
Implementation Method 4
controlling modulated pressure to a bypass valve, which is in fluid communication with the second pump and the PRV for receiving modulated pressure from the PRV and regulating delivery of fuel from the second pump to a bypass flow fuel line
Data Source
AI summary
A pump system for a gas turbine engine including a first pump connected to a fluid flow demand line for delivering fluid to a fluid flow demand and a second pump connected, in parallel to the first pump, to the fluid flow demand line and supplementing fluid to the actuation or burner system based on the fluid flow demand. A pressure regulating valve (PRV) is fluidly connected to the flow demand line for bypassing flow to a pump inlet pressure of the first pump and second pump, and controlling a modulated pressure flow signal to a bypass valve, wherein the bypass valve is in fluid communication with the second pump and the PRV for receiving modulated pressure from the PRV and regulating delivery of fluid from the second pump to a bypass flow line.