Inlet particle separator systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10760487-B2
Application number	US-201816058627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2018
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine is provided. A separator assembly and collector assembly are coupled to the scavenge flow path and configured to receive the scavenge air. The collector inlet has a throat defining a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end. The collector body defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end. The collector outlet is coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet. At a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for separating particles in an inertial inlet particle separator system that comprises a separator assembly and a collector assembly, the separator assembly defining a fluid inlet for receiving inlet air, the separator assembly further including a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path, the collector assembly coupled to the scavenge flow path and including a collector inlet, a collector body, and a collector outlet, wherein the collector inlet is coupled to the scavenge flow path and has a throat extending from a first throat end to a second throat end to define a throat length, wherein the throat further defines a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end, wherein the collector assembly further includes a first partition, a second partition, a third partition, and a fourth partition that collectively divide the throat into a first throat portion extending between the first and second partitions, a second throat portion extending between the second and third partitions, a third throat portion extending between the third and fourth partitions, and a fourth throat portion extending between the fourth and first partitions; wherein the collector body is coupled to the collector inlet along the throat length and defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end, wherein the collector body includes a first body portion along the first throat portion, a second body portion along the second throat portion, a third body portion along the third throat portion, and a fourth body portion along the fourth throat portion, wherein the collector assembly is a circumferential collector assembly with a circumference, and wherein each of the first and second throat portions extends approximately 90° of the circumference; wherein the collector outlet is coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet, and wherein the collector outlet includes a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and wherein the first and second body portions direct air into the first outlet portion and the third and fourth body portions direct air into the second outlet portions, and wherein, at a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area, the method comprising the steps of:
inducing an inlet fluid into the fluid inlet of the separator assembly;
separating the fluid in the separator assembly into scavenge air a that enters the scavenge flow path and engine air that enters the engine flow path;
directing the scavenge air into the collector assembly and bifurcating the scavenge air into a first portion of the scavenge air and a second portion of the scavenge air, the first portion of the scavenge air directed into a first collector assembly portion and the second portion of the scavenge air directed into a second fluid collector assembly portion, wherein the first collector assembly portion includes the first throat portion that directs the first portion of the scavenge air into the first collector body portion, the first throat portion and the first collector body portion configured such that each cross-sectional area of the first collector body portion is greater than or equal to a corresponding cumulative first throat portion area; and
exhausting the first and second portions of the scavenge air through the collector outlet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the first position, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the second throat end, respective ratios between respective cross-sectional areas of the collector body and respective cumulative throat areas are generally constant.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, at all positions between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collector assembly includes a first partition that divides the throat into a first throat portion and a second throat portion, the collector body having a first body portion along the first throat portion and a second body portion along the second throat portion.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the collector outlet includes a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and wherein the first body portion directs a first portion of air to the first outlet portion and the second body portion directs a second portion of air to the second outlet portion.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the collector outlet includes a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and wherein the first body portion directs a first portion of air to the first outlet portion and the second body portion directs a second portion of air to the first outlet portion.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the collector assembly is a circumferential collector assembly with a circumference, and wherein each of the first and second throat portions extends approximately 90° of the circumference.

9. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the collector assembly further comprises second, third, and fourth partitions that additionally divide the throat into a third throat portion and a fourth throat portion, each separate from the first and second throat portions, and
wherein the collector body further includes a third body portion along the third throat portion and a fourth body portion along the fourth throat portion.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first throat portion extends between the first and second partitions, wherein the second throat portion extends between the second and third partitions, wherein the third throat portion extends between the third and fourth partitions, and wherein the fourth throat portion extends between the fourth and first partitions.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the collector outlet includes a first outlet portion and a second outlet portion, and wherein the first and second body portions direct air into the first outlet portion and the third and fourth body portions direct air into the second outlet portions.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first and second outlets are separated from one another along the circumference by approximately 180°.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collector assembly is at least partially a scroll that surrounds the separator assembly.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Judd Zedic Daniel
• Sheoran Yogendra Yogi
• Reich Jennifer Ann
• Kincheloe Todd A
• Wong Yates
• Frost Cristopher

Classifications

• B01D50/20

  Combinations of devices covered by groups B01D45/00 and B01D46/00 · CPC title

• F02C7/052 Primary

  with dust-separation devices · CPC title

• B01D45/08

  by impingement against baffle separators · CPC title

• B01D45/12

  by centrifugal forces (centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C) · CPC title

• F02C7/05

  having provisions for obviating the penetration of damaging objects or particles · CPC title