Turbine engine designs for improved fine particle separation efficiency

A turbine engine incorporating a fine particle separation means, the turbine engine comprising:

• a radial compressor that rotates about a longitudinal axis, and which compresses air fed thereto;
• a radially-oriented diffuser located downstream and radially outward, with respect to the longitudinal axis, from the radial compressor, and which decreases a velocity of and increases a static pressure of the compressed air exiting the radial compressor;
• a flow path positioned downstream and radially outward, with respect to the longitudinal axis, from the diffuser, wherein the flow path comprises an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall between which the compressed air flows, and wherein the flow path comprises an arc that redirects the compressed air from flowing in a substantially radial flow direction to a substantially axial flow direction;
• and
• a plurality of holes formed into the outer annular wall that fluidly connect with a scavenge plenum, the plurality of holes being positioned along the arc such that the compressed air flowing past the holes has a radially-outward flow component, the scavenge plenum being positioned adjacent to and radially outward from, with respect to the longitudinal axis, the arc.

A turbine engine incorporating a fine particle separation means, the turbine engine comprising:

• a compressor that rotates about a longitudinal axis, and which compresses air fed thereto;
• a flow path positioned downstream from the compressor, wherein the flow path comprises an outer annular wall and an inner annular wall between which the compressed air flows, and wherein the flow path comprises an arc that redirects the compressed air from flowing in a substantially radial flow direction to a substantially axial flow direction;
• and
• both of 1) an extraction slot in the outer annular wall that fluidly connects with a first scavenge plenum, the first scavenge plenum being positioned adjacent to and radially outward, with respect to the longitudinal axis, from the outer annular wall at a position downstream axially along the flow path from the arc, the extraction slot also being positioned downstream axially along the flow path from the arc, and 2) a plurality of holes along the outer annular wall that fluidly connect with a second scavenge plenum, the plurality of holes being positioned along the arc, the second scavenge plenum being positioned adjacent to and radially outward from, with respect to the longitudinal axis, the arc.