Variable Displacement Fuel Pump Barrel Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure fuel systems face inefficiencies due to excess fuel recirculation and rapid fuel flow issues, leading to energy waste, fuel heating, and potential overrich mixtures during engine acceleration, which existing fixed displacement pumps and bypass valves fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A variable displacement fuel pump with an electronic control actuator that adjusts the barrel angle relative to the pistons in response to desired fuel flow parameters, minimizing excess fuel return and enabling precise control of fuel flow to match thrust demands, thereby reducing excess fuel recirculation and heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed displacement fuel pump with bypass valve is used to provide excess fuel flow, then fuel demands are met during all operation conditions, but energy is wasted and fuel heating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a variable displacement pump with an electronically controlled actuator that dynamically adjusts the pump's displacement (barrel angle) based on real-time fuel flow demands. This replaces the static fixed displacement pump system, allowing the pump to deliver precise fuel quantities without excess flow, thereby eliminating energy waste from recirculation while ensuring reliable fuel supply under all operating conditions.
2Reliability
If a fixed displacement fuel pump is oversized to provide excess fuel capacity, then fuel demands are met during all operation conditions, but large amounts of pressurized fuel are recirculated causing heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The variable displacement pump dynamically adjusts its output capacity to match actual fuel demands through electronic control of the barrel angle. This eliminates the need for an oversized pump and prevents excessive fuel recirculation, thereby reducing heat generation from pressurized fuel return while maintaining reliable fuel supply capability across all operating conditions.
3Power
If fuel flow increases too rapidly during engine acceleration, then energy is furnished to the turbine in excess of that necessary to maintain constant RPM, but an overrich mixture is produced causing surge
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs an electronic control actuator with feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor fuel flow parameters and adjust the pump's barrel angle in real-time. During engine acceleration, this feedback control prevents excessive fuel flow increases by modulating pump displacement, thereby avoiding overrich mixtures and surge conditions while still providing the necessary power to the turbine.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable displacement pump provides dynamic fuel flow control during transient operating conditions such as acceleration. The electronic actuator rapidly adjusts the pump's displacement to match changing fuel demands, preventing both excessive fuel delivery (overrich mixture) and insufficient delivery, thereby maintaining mixture control stability while supplying appropriate power to the turbine.
4Reliability
If continuous fuel recirculation is used to meet fuel demands, then fuel flow is maintained during all operation conditions, but the pressure drops and heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The variable displacement pump eliminates continuous fuel recirculation by dynamically adjusting its displacement to precisely match fuel demands. The electronic control system modulates the pump's barrel angle to deliver exactly the required fuel quantity, removing the need for bypass recirculation loops and the associated energy losses while maintaining reliable fuel flow under all operating conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A variable displacement fuel pump (110) includes a pump body (140), a barrel (148) disposed within the pump body (140), at least one piston (142) disposed in the barrel (148), wherein the at least one piston (142) is configured to reciprocate within the barrel (148), and an electronic control actuator (112) operatively coupled to the barrel (148), wherein the control actuator rotates the barrel to a selected barrel angle relative to the at least one piston (142) in response to a desired fuel flow.