Variable jet pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11828223-B2
Application number	US-202117333225-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2021
Priority date	May 28, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A bleed system including control circuitry and a variable jet pump. The control circuitry is configured to receive a signal indicative of a fluid parameter in the bleed system and cause the jet pump to alter a mixing ratio of a higher pressure gas and a lower pressure gas based on the signal. The jet pump is configured to combine the lower pressure gas and the higher pressure gas in the mixing ratio to generate a mixed gas. The jet pump is configured to supply the mixed gas to one or more gas loads in the bleed system. In examples, the control circuitry is configured to establish a system setpoint for the fluid parameter based on an operating status of the one or more gas loads.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a jet pump configured to combine a lower pressure gas and a higher pressure gas to produce a mixed gas, and
wherein the jet pump is configured to alter a mixing ratio of the higher pressure gas to the lower pressure gas combined when the jet pump produces the mixed gas,
wherein the jet pump is configured to supply the mixed gas to a plurality of gas loads; and
a control circuitry configured to receive a signal indicative of a fluid parameter of the mixed gas, wherein the control circuitry is configured to:
receive a plurality of load signals from the plurality of gas loads, wherein a load signal in the plurality of load signals is indicative of an operating status of a gas load in the plurality of gas loads,
determine a setpoint for the fluid parameter using the operating status indicated by the plurality of load signals,
compare the fluid parameter indicated by the signal with the setpoint, and
cause the jet pump to alter the mixing ratio based on the comparison of the fluid parameter and the setpoint.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gas loads comprises one or more of:
an environmental control system configured to provide air to a cabin and enable a heat transfer between the mixed gas and the air,
an air drive unit configured to pressurize a hydraulic system using the mixed gas,
an anti-icing system configured to cause the removal of ice from an aircraft wing,
a fuel tank system, or
a pneumatic system configured to receive the mixed gas.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the jet pump is configured to receive a flow of the higher pressure gas and a flow of the lower pressure gas,
the jet pump is configured to mix the flow of the higher pressure gas and the flow of lower pressure gas to produce the mixed gas, and
the jet pump is configured to alter the flow of the higher pressure gas to alter the mixing ratio.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense the fluid parameter of the mixed gas, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate the signal to the control circuitry.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump includes a diffuser configured to expand the mixed gas, and wherein the signal is indicative of a fluid parameter of the expanded mixed gas.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump is configured to issue a flow of the mixed gas in an upstream direction to the plurality of gas loads, and wherein the signal is indicative of the fluid parameter of the mixed gas downstream of the plurality of gas loads.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump includes a pump body and a variable nozzle, wherein the variable nozzle is configured to translate relative to the pump body to alter the mixing ratio, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the jet pump to alter the mixing ratio by at least translating the variable nozzle relative to the pump body.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump is configured to alter the mixing ratio based on a control signal received from the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to generate the control signal based on the comparison of the fluid parameter and the setpoint.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a device configured to exert a mechanical force on the jet pump to cause the jet pump to alter the mixing ratio,
wherein the device is configured to exert the mechanical force on the jet pump in response to a control signal, and
wherein the control circuitry is configured to communicate the control signal to the device.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the device is configured to vary an amount of the mechanical force exerted on the jet pump based on a signal characteristic of the control signal, and wherein the jet pump is configured to establish the mixing ratio based on the amount of the mechanical force.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the device is configured to exert the mechanical force using a control fluid having a pressure,
the device is configured to vary the pressure of the control fluid to vary the amount of the mechanical force, and
the device is configured to establish the pressure of the control fluid based on a value of the control signal.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the jet pump is configured to receive the lower pressure gas from a lower pressure stage of a turbine engine and receive the higher pressure gas from a higher pressure stage of the turbine engine.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising the turbine engine,
wherein the turbine engine is configured to increase a pressure of a gas stream as the gas stream flows from an initial compressor stage to a penultimate compressor stage to a final compressor stage,
wherein the penultimate compressor stage is configured to issue the compressed gas to the final compressor stage,
wherein the final compressor stage is configured to issue the compressed gas to a combustion chamber, and
wherein the system is configured to provide the higher pressure gas from the gas stream prior to the gas stream flowing to one of the penultimate compressor stage or the final pressure stage.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a supply conduit configured to receive the mixed gas from the jet and provide the mixed gas to the plurality of gas loads, wherein the signal indicative of the fluid parameter of the mixed gas is a signal indicative of the fluid parameter of the mixed gas within the supply conduit.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid parameter is indicative of a pressure of the mixed gas.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid parameter is indicative of at least one of a flow rate of the mixed gas or a temperature of the mixed gas.

17. A system, comprising:
a jet pump configured to receive a lower pressure gas from a lower pressure stage of a turbine engine and receive a higher pressure gas from a higher pressure stage of the turbine engine;
wherein the jet pump is configured to combine the lower pressure gas and the higher pressure gas to produce a mixed gas,
wherein the jet pump is configured to alter a mixing ratio of the higher pressure gas to the lower pressure gas combined when the jet pump produces the mixed gas, and
wherein the jet pump is configured to issue a flow of the mixed gas in a downstream direction to a plurality of gas loads, the load configured to receive the mixed gas; and
a control circuitry configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a fluid parameter of the mixed gas upstream of the one or more of the plurality of gas loads,
receive a plurality of load signals from the plurality of gas loads, wherein a load signal in the plurality of load signals is indicative of an operating status of a gas load in the plurality of gas loads,
determine a setpoint for the fluid parameter using the operating status indicated by the plurality of load signals, and
cause the jet pump to alter the mixing ratio based on a comparison of the signal and the setpoint.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the jet pump is configured to alter the mixing ratio based on a control signal received from the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured to generate the control signal based on the comparison of the signal and the setpoint.

19. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense the fluid parameter of the mixed gas upstream of the load, wherein the sensor is configured to communicate the signal to the control circuitry.

20

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Briley Ara
• Kumagai Gary
• Abel Micah S

Classifications

• F02C6/08 Primary

  the gas being bled from the gas-turbine compressor · CPC title

• B64D13/06

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title

• B64D15/02

  by ducted hot gas or liquid · CPC title

• F02C3/32

  Inducing air flow by fluid jet, e.g. ejector action · CPC title

• F02C9/18

  by bleeding, bypassing or acting on variable working fluid interconnections between turbines or compressors or their stages {(F02C3/113 takes precedence)} · CPC title