Transparent Oil Filter Wells for Gas Turbine Pressure Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engine testing methods face contamination issues due to entrained oil in sample lines, which can lead to inaccurate pressure measurements and loss of data, as known scanners require clean, dry samples.
Innovation Solution
An inline oil filter assembly with transparent or translucent collection wells and oleophilic filter indicator elements that de-entrain and visually indicate the presence of oil, allowing oil-free gas to reach the pressure scanner without mechanical filters that can plug the lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical filters are used to remove oil from sample lines, then oil removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase due to filter plugging and replacement needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful oil from the sample gas stream using a centrifugal separator that removes oil droplets through centrifugal force generated by curved flow paths, eliminating the need for mechanical filters that require maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical filter systems with a centrifugal separation system that uses fluid dynamics and curved flow paths to achieve oil removal without mechanical filtering components that can plug or require maintenance
2Ease of operation
If transparent collection wells are used to enable visual oil detection, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional transparent components
Solution Approach 1:
The sample block serves multiple functions: it acts as both the structural housing for the pressure scanner and as the transparent collection well for visual oil detection, eliminating the need for separate transparent components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sample block housing with the collection well function, integrating the transparent oil detection chamber into the existing structural component rather than adding a separate element
3Reliability
If larger diameter collection wells are used to facilitate oil separation, then oil de-entrainment effectiveness is improved, but volume of the sample block increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curved flow paths and three-dimensional routing within the sample block to achieve effective oil separation without increasing the external dimensions of the block, utilizing spatial arrangement rather than simple volume expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-channel pressure measuring device includes a plurality of sample conduits and a plurality of sample inlets. Each sample inlet is configured to receive a respective sample conduit. The sample conduit is configured to channel a sample fluid and an incidental fluid through a respective sample inlet. The multi-channel pressure measuring device also includes a sample block including a plurality of collection wells coupled to the sample inlets. Each collection well includes a diameter larger than a diameter of a respective sample inlet. The sample block is fabricated from at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. The multi-channel pressure measuring device further includes a plurality of filter indicator elements. Each filter indicator element is positioned within a respective collection well. Each filter indicator element is configured to retain the incidental fluid therewithin and to indicate a presence of the retained incidental fluid.