Variable Turbine Engine Intake for Crosswind Airflow Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face performance reduction due to air stream separation from the engine intake caused by wind conditions such as crosswind and wind shear, which can be exacerbated by minimizing the axial length of the engine intake to reduce drag.
Innovation Solution
A variable engine intake system that adjusts the engine intake based on detected wind conditions using sensors to mitigate crosswind and wind shear by extending the intake when necessary, while maintaining a shorter length for reduced drag during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the axial length of the engine intake is minimized to reduce drag, then drag is reduced and fuel efficiency is improved, but air stream separation from the engine intake is exacerbated under wind conditions such as crosswind and wind shear
Solution Approach 1:
The engine intake axial length is made variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the intake length based on detected wind conditions: maintaining a shortened configuration during normal operation to minimize drag, and extending to a lengthened configuration when crosswind or wind shear conditions are detected to prevent air stream separation and fan blade stall.
2Reliability
If the engine intake axial length is extended to prevent air stream separation under wind conditions, then air stream stability is improved, but drag increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs real-time wind condition monitoring and dynamically adjusts the engine intake length accordingly. During normal flight conditions, the intake remains shortened to minimize drag. When sensors detect crosswind or wind shear conditions that could cause air stream separation, the intake automatically extends to a lengthened configuration to maintain stable airflow and prevent fan blade stall, thus resolving the energy efficiency vs. reliability trade-off.
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine including a fan having a plurality of fan blades, a turbo-engine positioned downstream of the fan and having a core inlet, an engine intake that extends to the core inlet, and a variable engine intake system. Air enters the turbine engine through the engine intake. The variable engine intake system includes a plurality of wind condition sensors for sensing wind conditions about the turbine engine, and a controller. The plurality of wind condition sensors includes a first wind condition sensor on a first side of the turbine engine and a second wind condition sensor on a second side of the turbine engine. The controller adjusts the engine intake based on the wind conditions about the turbine engine from the first wind condition sensor and the second wind condition sensor.