Staging Fuel Valve With Magnetic-Hydraulic Piston Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel flow valves in gas turbine engines face challenges in switching between pilot and main fuel flows due to low actuation pressure, leading to difficulties in design and potential sticking issues, especially in high-temperature environments, and existing solutions complicate the valve with additional actuation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A staging fuel valve with a piston and magnet assembly that uses magnetic forces and fuel pressure to actuate between positions, allowing for electromagnetic augmentation and hydraulic latching, reducing the need for continuous current and minimizing sticking risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional actuation mechanisms (such as electric motors) are used to address low actuation pressure, then the valve can be reliably actuated, but the valve becomes more complicated and larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines electromagnetic actuation (coil) with hydraulic actuation (fuel pressure) into a single integrated valve body. The coil provides initial actuation force while fuel pressure provides supplemental force and latching, merging two actuation methods into one compact unit without requiring separate motor assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses fuel pressure (hydraulic force) to supplement the electromagnetic actuation. The tapered head section of the piston converts fuel pressure into axial force that assists the coil in actuating the piston, and the hydraulic system provides latching force to maintain valve position without continuous electrical power.
2Use of energy by moving object
If latching valves are used in high temperature environments, then the valve can maintain position without continuous actuation, but the valve may stick in closed or open position due to fuel lacquering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pure mechanical latching (which is prone to sticking from fuel lacquering) with a hybrid electromagnetic-hydraulic system. The coil and fuel pressure work together to actuate and hold the piston, with the tapered head section providing mechanical advantage to overcome friction and lacquering forces without relying solely on mechanical latches.
3Device complexity
If a larger valve is designed to be actuated by low fuel supply pressure alone, then the valve can be simpler in structure, but it becomes difficult to design a reasonably sized valve that can be actuated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a tapered head section on the piston that creates dynamic mechanical advantage. As the piston moves, the tapered surface converts radial fuel pressure into axial actuation force, providing increasing leverage as the valve opens. This dynamic force multiplication allows a compact valve design to be actuated by relatively low fuel pressure.
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 solution enables simple and reliable switching between fuel flows, reduces the risk of valve sticking, and maintains position stability without continuous actuation current, effectively addressing the challenges of low pressure and high-temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
the valve housing comprises a coil arranged to provide, when energised, a magnetic force to actuate the piston between the first and second positions
Implementation Method 2
the piston comprises a magnet assembly and the valve housing comprises a coil arranged to provide, when energised, a magnetic force to actuate the piston
Implementation Method 3
a pressure of the fuel flow from the second inlet to the second outlet tends to cause the piston to further actuate towards the second position
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
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AI summary
A fuel flow valve, for example for use in supplying fuel to a gas turbine engine. Example embodiments disclosed include a staging fuel valve (300), comprising: a valve housing (301) having first and second fuel inlets (306, 307) and first and second fuel outlets (305, 308); a piston (302) slidably mounted within a chamber (303) in the valve housing (301) and being moveable between a first position in which the first inlet (306) is in fluid communication with the first outlet (305) while the second inlet (307) and second outlet (308) are blocked, and a second position in which the second inlet (307) is in fluid communication with the second outlet (308). The piston (302) comprises a magnet assembly (312) and the valve housing (301) comprises a coil (313) arranged to provide, when energised, a magnetic force to actuate the piston (302) between the first and second positions.