Flow control in modulated air systems
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsMichael Grzelecki, Michael Monzella, Renée M. Wiley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a turbine engine cooling system configured to provide cooling air to a particular region of the engine to cool that region of the engine. The cooling system is configured to modulate the flow of cooling air to reduce the amount of cooling air flowing to that region of the engine during periods in which less cooling is needed. The cooling system includes a flow limiter configured to choke the mass flow rate of the cooling air provided to the region during modulation to avoid providing more cooling air than is needed to adequately cool that region of the engine.
Claims20
A turbine engine cooling system comprising:
- a first supply feed including a first flow limiter, the first supply feed fluidly connected to a cooling air source and a turbine section cavity to define a first cooling air path therebetween,
- a second supply feed including a flow control device, the second supply feed fluidly connected to the cooling air source and the turbine section cavity to define a restrictable second cooling air path therebetween;
- the first and second supply feeds being in fluidic communication upstream of the flow control device;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the flow control device to control the flow control device to restrict cooling air flow through the second cooling air path;
- wherein the first flow limiter is configured to enforce an upper limit on a mass flow rate of cooling air exiting the first flow limiter when the second cooling air path is restricted by the flow control device.
A turbine engine comprising:
- a cooling air source;
- a turbine section defining a turbine section cavity;
- and
- a cooling system comprising:
- a first supply feed including a first flow limiter, the first supply feed defining a first cooling air path between the cooling air source and the turbine section cavity;
- a second supply feed including a flow control device, the second supply feed defining a second restrictable cooling air path between the cooling air source and the turbine section cavity;
- and
- a controller configured to, responsive to a cooling air modulation condition being satisfied, control the flow control device to restrict the cooling air from flowing from the cooling air source through the second supply feed to the turbine section cavity, thereby increasing the amount of cooling air flowing from the cooling air source to the first cooling air path;
- and,
- wherein the first flow limiter is configured to cause a choked mass flow rate condition to be met in response to the increased amount of cooling air.
A method of cooling a turbine section cavity of a turbine engine, the method comprising:
- flowing cooling air from a cooling air source through a first cooling air path defined by a first supply feed including a first flow limiter to the turbine section cavity;
- flowing cooling air from the cooling air source through a second cooling air path defined by a second supply feed including a flow control device to the turbine section cavity;
- and
- responsive to a cooling air modulation condition being satisfied, restricting the cooling air from flowing from the cooling air source through the second cooling air path to the turbine section cavity, thereby increasing the amount of cooling air flowing from the cooling air source into the first cooling air path and causing a choked mass flow rate condition to be met at the first flow limiter to limit the mass flow rate of the cooling air exiting the first flow limiter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.