Spring-Loaded Pressure Relief Door for Engine Bleed Air Surges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for relieving engine transient bleed air pressure in turbine engines either lead to unacceptable latch door opening during normal operation or negatively impact engine performance due to aerodynamic drag or require increased weight to withstand higher pressures.
Innovation Solution
A pressure relief apparatus featuring a door panel with a spring assembly housed in a canister, pivotally mounted to the engine compartment wall, which applies a compressive force to control the door's opening and closing, ensuring a constant force throughout its motion and shielding the spring from hot gases, thereby relieving excessive pressure without adding significant weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If trigger latch pressure relief doors are used to relieve engine transient bleed air pressure, then pressure relief is achieved, but the doors pop open during normal operation which is unacceptable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameter of the pressure relief door from a latch mechanism that pops open at pressure threshold to a spring-loaded mechanism that remains closed until threshold is exceeded. The spring pre-load is calibrated so the door stays closed during normal operation but opens automatically when transient pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining pressure relief capability
Solution Approach 2:
The spring assembly is pre-loaded during installation to establish a predetermined force threshold before operation. This preliminary action sets the door to remain closed under normal conditions, preventing premature opening during steady-state operation while ensuring automatic opening when transient pressure exceeds the pre-set threshold
2Stress or pressure
If a large vent is added in the cowling to relieve pressure, then pressure relief is achieved, but engine performance is negatively impacted due to aerodynamic drag
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a large vent that would create continuous aerodynamic drag, the patent applies a localized pressure relief mechanism at the specific location where pressure buildup occurs (engine compartment). The spring-loaded door provides pressure relief only when and where needed (during transient conditions), without creating continuous drag in the fan stream, thus preserving engine performance
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure needed to pop open the existing trigger latch pressure relief doors is increased, then normal operation stability is improved, but cowling weight increases due to strengthening requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded door assembly is self-regulating, using the spring pre-load to automatically maintain the door in a closed position during normal operation. The door opens automatically when transient pressure exceeds the pre-set threshold, eliminating the need for additional strengthening of the cowling to withstand higher pressures, thus avoiding increased weight while maintaining stability
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
Effectively manages engine transient bleed air pressure without triggering latch doors during normal operation and maintains engine performance by providing a consistent opening and closing force, while protecting the spring from corrosive gases and reducing weight.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element housed within the canister, and a spring retainer having a portion in the canister for applying a compressive force on the spring element
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure relief apparatus for an engine compartment having a wall and an opening in the wall is provided. The pressure relief apparatus includes a door panel arranged in blocking relationship to the opening in the wall of the engine compartment, a plurality of hinges coupling the door panel to an inner surface of the wall of the engine compartment, a spring assembly coupled between each hinge and the inner surface of the wall, wherein the spring assembly includes a canister having an open end and a spring element housed within the canister, and a support fitting mounted to the engine compartment wall and having a portion extending toward the open end of the canister for applying a compressive force on the spring element.