Turbine Inducer Centrifugal Separator for Particle Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines in aircraft face reduced operational efficiency and lifespan due to particle contamination in cooling air, which clogs and obstructs turbine blades, especially in environments with high airborne particles.
Innovation Solution
An inducer assembly with a centrifugal separator and flow splitter is used to separate particles from the cooling air, creating a reduced-particle stream for cooling and a concentrated-particle stream that can be utilized or exhausted, improving cooling efficiency and engine durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling air is ducted from compressors to turbine blades, then cooling effect is improved, but particle contamination increases causing clogging and reduced operational time
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugal separator extracts particles from the cooling air stream by generating centrifugal force that throws particles outward against the separator wall, while clean air flows inward to the inducer. This separation removes the harmful particles before they can enter and clog the turbine blade cooling passages.
Solution Approach 2:
The centrifugal separator acts as an intermediary device between the compressor and the turbine inducer. It receives particle-laden cooling air from the compressor, separates the particles through centrifugal action, and delivers cleaned air to the inducer, preventing particle contamination of the turbine blades.
2Reliability
If particles are removed from cooling air using a separator, then particle contamination is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centrifugal separator is integrated with the inducer assembly, merging the particle separation function with the existing inducer structure. The separator body forms part of the inducer assembly housing, and the separated particles are discharged through the same general area as the inducer outlet, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator uses pneumatic principles by utilizing the kinetic energy and pressure of the incoming cooling air stream to generate centrifugal force through the angular velocity increaser. The air flow itself provides the driving force for particle separation, eliminating the need for external mechanical actuators or complex control systems.
3Reliability
If an angular velocity increaser is added to concentrate particles, then particle separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angular velocity increaser uses curved or spiral vanes within the through passage to gradually increase the angular velocity of the incoming air stream. The curved geometry of the increaser guides the air flow in a rotating path, building up centrifugal force as the air moves through the passage, which enhances particle separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The angular velocity increaser performs preliminary action by pre-spinning the air stream before it reaches the main separation zone. This preliminary rotation builds up centrifugal force in advance, causing particles to migrate outward toward the separator wall earlier in the process, which improves the overall separation efficiency and reduces the operational time required for effective particle removal.
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 system effectively removes particles from the cooling air, enhancing the cooling process and extending the operational time of turbine engines by ensuring cleaner airflow and utilizing the separated particles within the engine.
Implementation Method 1
an angular velocity increaser located within the through passage and configured to increase angular velocity of the fluid stream to form a radially-outward portion and a radially-inward portion, with the radially-outward portion of the fluid stream having increased entrained particles to form a concentrated-particle stream, and the radially-inward portion having decreased entrained particles to form a reduced-particle stream
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal separator comprising a body defining a body centerline and having a wall defining a through passage
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine having an inducer assembly. The inducer assembly includes a centrifugal separator fluidly coupled to an inducer with an inducer inlet and an inducer outlet. The centrifugal separator includes a body, an angular velocity increaser to form a concentrated-particle stream and a reduced-particle stream, a flow splitter, and an exit conduit fluidly coupled to the body to receive the reduced-particle stream and define a separator outlet.