Pressure Sensing Line Drain With Series Restrictors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pressure sensing lines in gas turbine engines face issues with water accumulation and freezing, leading to blockages and inefficient engine operation due to the compromise between drain hole size and air flow, which affects temperature and signal quality.
Innovation Solution
A drain system with a T-piece connector and three restrictors in series, where each restrictor defines a constriction, reducing mass flow and internal diameter, thereby minimizing blockage risk while maintaining acceptable temperature and engine performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drain hole or orifice size is made large to avoid blockage by debris, then the reliability of drainage is improved, but the mass flow of air through the pressure sensing line increases causing temperature rise and fire risk
Solution Approach 1:
The drain system is segmented into multiple components: a T-piece connector that branches from the pressure sensing line, a vertical drain pipe, and a water trap chamber. This segmentation allows the drainage function to be separated from the pressure sensing function, enabling effective water removal without requiring a large open orifice in the sensing line itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The water trap chamber acts as an intermediary device between the pressure sensing line and the external environment. It collects condensed water through the T-piece connector and allows it to drain out through the bottom opening, while the exit hole in the side wall provides a controlled path for air to escape. This intermediary structure enables drainage without creating a direct large opening in the pressure sensing line.
2Ease of operation
If the drain hole or orifice size is made large to avoid blockage by debris, then the ease of operation is improved, but the engine efficiency deteriorates due to air loss
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is extracted from the pressure sensing line by introducing a separate T-piece connector and drain pipe system. This allows water to be removed through a dedicated drainage path rather than through a large orifice in the sensing line, thereby maintaining engine efficiency while achieving effective drainage operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The water trap chamber serves as an intermediary that captures and removes water from the system without requiring a large opening in the pressure sensing line. The controlled exit hole in the side wall allows air to escape while minimizing unnecessary air loss, thus preserving engine efficiency.
3Reliability
If the drain hole or orifice size is made large to avoid blockage by debris, then the reliability of drainage is improved, but the pressure signal quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a pressure sensing portion and a drainage portion. The T-piece connector allows the drainage function to be performed through a separate path (drain pipe and water trap) rather than through a large orifice in the sensing line, thus maintaining pressure signal integrity while achieving reliable drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The water trap chamber acts as an intermediary that removes water from the system through its bottom opening while allowing controlled air escape through the side wall exit hole. This prevents water accumulation that could block the pressure sensing line, thereby maintaining pressure signal quality without requiring a large orifice in the sensing line itself.
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 drain system effectively reduces water accumulation and freezing, preventing blockages and maintaining efficient engine operation by controlling air flow and temperature, while being less prone to debris blockage.
Implementation Method 1
The drain pipe comprises a first restrictor (30), a second restrictor (32) and a third restrictor (34), each of which defines a constriction (respectively 40, 42, 44) in the pipe (22)
Implementation Method 2
As this air makes its way towards the EEC it cools and water condenses out of it; naturally this water collects at the lowest points of the pressure sensing line
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a drain to allow water to flow out of a pressure sensing line. The drain comprises a tube including a plurality of restrictors in flow series, each restrictor comprising a constriction whose internal diameter is less than the internal diameter of the tube.