Engine systems and methods for removing particles from turbine air

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9546603-B2
Application number	US-201414244219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2014
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

A cooling arrangement is provided for a gas turbine engine with a turbine section. The cooling arrangement includes a first conduit to receive cooling air that includes particles; a separator system coupled to the first conduit to receive the cooling air and configured to remove at least a portion of the particles to result in relatively clean cooling air and scavenge air including the portion of the particles; and a second conduit coupled to the separator system and configured to direct the relatively clean cooling air to the turbine section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling arrangement for a gas turbine engine with a turbine section, comprising:
a first conduit to receive cooling air that includes particles;
a separator system coupled to the first conduit to receive the cooling air and configured to remove at least a portion of the particles to result in relatively clean cooling air and scavenge air including the portion of the particles; and
a second conduit coupled to the separator system and configured to direct the relatively clean cooling air to the turbine section,
wherein the separator system includes a first electrostatic tube defined by a wall and forming a flow path for the cooling air, the separator system further including a first electrode extending through the first electrostatic tube, wherein upon application of a voltage, the first electrode creates an ionized flow area within the first electrostatic tube such that the particles flowing through the first electrostatic tube obtain a charge and migrate to the wall of the first electrostatic tube,
wherein the separator system further includes a collection unit coupled to the first electrostatic tube and configured to remove at least a portion of the charged particles, and
wherein the collection unit is at least partially a scroll that surrounds the first electrostatic tube.

2. The cooling arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the separator system includes a charging unit to apply the charge to the particles of the cooling air.

3. The cooling arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the separator system further includes a migration unit and wherein the collection unit is coupled to the charging unit, wherein the migration unit is configured to direct the charged particles to the collection unit.

4. The cooling arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit forms part of a tangential on-board injector (TOBI) system associated with a rotor assembly of the turbine section.

5. The cooling arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit forms part of a stator assembly cooling circuit.

6. An engine assembly, comprising:
a compressor section configured to receive and compress air;
a combustion section coupled to the compressor section and configured to combust at least a portion of the compressed air to result in combustion gases;
a turbine section coupled to the combustion section and configured to receive the combustion gases to generate power; and
a cooling arrangement configured to direct cooling air to the turbine section, the cooling arrangement including a separator system configured to remove a portion of particles from the cooling air to result in relatively clean cooling air and scavenge air including the portion of the particles,
wherein the separator system includes a first electrostatic tube for receiving a first portion of the cooling air and a second electrostatic tube for receiving a second portion of the cooling air, wherein the first electrostatic tube is configured to apply a negative charge to particles in the first portion of the cooling air and the second electrostatic tube is configured to apply a positive charge to particles in the second portion of the cooling air,
wherein the separator system further includes a coalescing unit downstream of the first and second electrostatic tubes to receive the first and second portions of the cooling air such that the negatively charged particles of the first portion of the cooling air aggregate with the positively charged particles of the second portion of the cooling air, wherein the separator system further includes a collection unit coupled to the coalescing unit and configured to remove the aggregated particles to result in the relatively clean cooling air and the scavenge air, and
wherein the collection unit includes a swirl collector to provide centrifugal separation of the aggregated particles.

7. The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cooling arrangement is coupled to the compressor section to bleed at least a portion of the compressed air as the cooling air.

8. The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the separator system includes a charging unit to apply the charge to the particles of the cooling air.

9. The engine assembly of claim 8 , wherein the separator system further includes a migration unit and wherein the collection unit is coupled to the charging unit, wherein the migration unit is configured to direct the charged particles to the collection unit.

10. The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the turbine section includes a tangential on-board injector (TOBI) system, and wherein the cooling arrangement provides the relatively clean cooling air to the TOBI system.

11. The engine assembly of claim 6 , wherein the turbine section includes a stator assembly, and wherein the cooling arrangement provides the relatively clean cooling air to the stator assembly.

12. An engine assembly, comprising:
a compressor section configured to receive and compress air;
a combustion section coupled to the compressor section and configured to combust at least a portion of the compressed air to result in combustion gases;
a turbine section coupled to the combustion section and configured to receive the combustion gases to generate power; and
a cooling arrangement configured to direct cooling air to the turbine section, the cooling arrangement including a separator system configured to remove a portion of particles from the cooling air to result in relatively clean cooling air and scavenge air including the portion of the particles,
wherein the separator system includes a first electrostatic tube defined by a wall and forming a flow path for the cooling air, the separator system further including a first electrode extending through the first electrostatic tube, wherein upon application of a voltage, the first electrode creates an ionized flow area within the first electrostatic tube such that the particles flowing through the first electrostatic tube obtain a charge and migrate to the wall of the first electrostatic tube,
wherein the separator system further includes a collection unit coupled to the first electrostatic tube and configured to remove at least a portion of the charged particles, and
wherein the collection unit is at least partially a scroll that surrounds the first electrostatic tube.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Meier John
• Crites Daniel C
• Sheoran Yogendra Yogi
• Morris Mark C
• Howe Jeff
• Riahi Ardeshir

Classifications

• F04D29/441

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F01D25/32

  Collecting of condensation water; Drainage {; Removing solid particles} · CPC title

• F01D9/065

  Fluid supply or removal conduits traversing the working fluid flow, e.g. for lubrication-, cooling-, or sealing fluids (see also F01D25/16, F01D25/24 and F01D25/26) · CPC title

• F01D5/081 Primary

  Cooling fluid being directed on the side of the rotor disc or at the roots of the blades (F01D5/087 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02C7/18

  the medium being gaseous, e.g. air {(F02C7/125 takes precedence)} · CPC title