Parallel Low-Pressure Pumping Assembly for Turbine Engine Fuel Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing turbomachine fuel supply systems experience significant heat energy dissipation due to excess fuel recirculation, leading to decreased overall performance and energy efficiency, particularly during take-off, climb, and cruise phases of flight.
Innovation Solution
A dual low-pressure pumping assembly with a secondary branch and a supply variator is introduced, allowing for parallel operation of two low-pressure pumps and varying the fluid flow rate to reduce heat losses and improve energy efficiency, featuring a supply variator that controls fluid supply to the second low-pressure pump based on pressure thresholds and rotation speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single low pressure centrifugal pump is used to increase fuel pressure, then the system structure is simple, but heat energy dissipation increases due to excess fuel recirculation
Solution Approach 1:
The single low pressure pump is segmented into two parallel low pressure pumps, allowing independent control of each pump's flow rate. This segmentation enables the system to reduce excess fuel recirculation and heat energy dissipation by optimizing each pump's contribution based on actual demand, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the parallel configuration.
2Reliability
If excess fuel recirculates through the supply system, then the fuel metering system can maintain proper fuel flow control, but significant heat energy dissipation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the actual fuel flow requirements and adjusting the recirculation amount accordingly. The dual pump configuration with independent flow control allows the system to receive feedback on excess fuel conditions and dynamically reduce recirculation, maintaining reliable fuel flow control while minimizing heat energy dissipation from unnecessary circulation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a low pressure pumping assembly with a single centrifugal pump is used, then the device complexity is low, but energy efficiency decreases during various flight phases
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping assembly transitions from a static single-pump configuration to a dynamic dual-pump parallel configuration with independent flow control. This dynamic setup allows the system to adapt energy consumption to actual flight phase requirements, optimizing energy efficiency during take-off, climb, and cruise phases while managing device complexity through standardized parallel pump architecture.
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 configuration enhances energy efficiency by reducing heat power dissipation and axial strains, improving performance across various flight phases, while maintaining a robust and proven high-pressure volumetric pump technology.
Implementation Method 1
The low pressure pump is in particular a centrifugal pump
Implementation Method 2
a downstream hydraulic resistance comprising at least one element selected from a fluid metering system, a filter, a flow meter, an exchanger, a cut-off valve and an injection system
Data Source
AI summary
A system for supplying a turbine engine with fluid includes a first low-pressure pump, a downstream hydraulic resistance and a high-pressure volumetric pump located between the first low-pressure pump and the downstream hydraulic resistance. The downstream hydraulic resistance includes at least one element selected among a fluid proportioning unit, a filter, a flow meter, an exchanger, a cut-off valve and an injection system. The supply system includes a second low-pressure pump and a supply variator configured such as to vary the flow of fluid supplied to the second low-pressure pump, the second low-pressure pump and the supply variator being located parallel to the first low-pressure pump.