Poppet Bleed Valve With Intermediate Flow for Engine Starting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bleed valves in gas turbine engines lack improved functionality for efficiently managing fluid bleeding during engine starting, requiring reduced compressor work input and effective pressure management.
Innovation Solution
A bleed valve design featuring a poppet seat, a movable poppet, a piston, and a biasing spring, along with a solenoid valve for selective application of ambient and muscle pressure, allowing for three discrete positions: fully open, intermediate, and closed, enabling both active and passive bleed functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional bleed valves are used, then the valve can provide basic bleed functionality, but the system complexity increases and reliability decreases due to lack of integrated active and passive functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both active and passive bleed valve functionalities into a single integrated device. The poppet assembly integrates a poppet for active control and a bypass passage for passive functionality, allowing the valve to operate in multiple modes (fully open, intermediate, fully closed) depending on operating conditions, thereby reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The bleed valve is designed to perform multiple functions: it can provide full bleed flow when fully open, restricted bleed flow through the bypass passage when in intermediate position, and complete closure when closed. This multi-functionality is achieved through the integrated poppet and bypass passage design, allowing a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate components.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional bleed valves are used, then the structure can be simple, but the compressor work input during engine starting cannot be effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed valve incorporates a movable poppet that can dynamically adjust between fully open, intermediate, and fully closed positions based on operating conditions. The bypass passage is selectively openable/closable, allowing the valve to adapt its flow characteristics in real-time. This dynamic capability enables effective reduction of compressor work input during engine starting by providing optimized bleed flow control.
3Temperature
If the poppet is moved between fully open and fully closed positions only, then the valve structure is simple, but the ability to maintain acceptable nacelle temperature is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve flow path is segmented into two independent pathways: a main passage controlled by the poppet and a bypass passage that can be selectively opened or closed. This segmentation allows for intermediate flow positions by opening the bypass passage while the poppet remains in an intermediate position, providing finer control over bleed flow rate to maintain acceptable nacelle temperature during various operating conditions.
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 design enhances bleed valve performance by reducing compressor work input during engine starting, maintaining acceptable nacelle temperature, and simplifying system complexity, potentially reducing costs and improving reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring arranged between the piston and the valve body and configured to exert a biasing force on the piston when ambient pressure is present within the valve body and arranged to exert substantially no biasing force on the piston when pressure greater than ambient is present within the valve body
Implementation Method 2
A solenoid valve can be connected to the bleed valve to selectively apply ambient and muscle pressure to the valve body
Implementation Method 3
the poppet can have a fully closed position wherein the poppet sealably abuts the poppet seat with the piston in retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A bleed valve for an air plenum includes a valve body having a poppet seat, a poppet supported by the valve body and movable relative to the poppet seat, and piston slideable relative to the poppet and movable relative to the poppet between an extended position and a retracted position. Gas turbine engines and methods of bleeding fluid from gas turbine engines are also described.