US 12,521,667 B2 · Gas turbine engine with entrained particle agglomerators and method

Abstract

A turbine engine having an axial centerline is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section, an outer casing, an inner diffuser case, a turbine section, a particle separator, and a particle agglomerator. The outer casing is disposed radially outside of and spaced apart from an annular combustor. A diffuser outer diameter (OD) flow path is disposed radially between the outer casing and the outer combustor wall. The inner diffuser case is disposed radially inside of and spaced apart from the annular combustor. A diffuser inner diameter (ID) flow path is disposed radially between the inner combustor wall and the inner diffuser case. The particle agglomerator is configured to produce acoustic signals that causes agglomeration of particles entrained in an air flow within the turbine engine.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A turbine engine having an axial centerline, the turbine engine comprising:

a compressor section;
a combustor section having an annular combustor;
an outer casing disposed radially outside of and spaced apart from the annular combustor,
wherein a diffuser outer diameter (OD) flow path is disposed radially between the outer casing and the annular combustor;
an inner diffuser case disposed radially inside of and spaced apart from the annular combustor,
wherein a diffuser inner diameter (ID) f low path is disposed radially between the annular combustor and the inner diffuser case;
a turbine section;
a particle separator;
and
a particle agglomerator configured to produce acoustic signals that cause agglomeration of particles entrained in an air flow within the turbine engine,
wherein the particle agglomerator includes a first said particle agglomerator disposed in the diffuser OD flow path, and a second said particle agglomerator disposed in the diffuser ID flow path.

8 more elements

A method of removing particles entrained within an air flow passing through a turbine engine,

the turbine engine including a combustor section having an annular combustor, an outer casing disposed radially outside of and spaced apart from the annular combustor, an inner diffuser case disposed radially inside of and spaced apart from the annular combustor, a diffuser outer diameter (OD) flow path disposed radially between the outer casing and the annular combustor, and a diffuser inner diameter (ID) flow path disposed radially between the annular combustor and the inner diffuser case,
the method comprising:
using a particle agglomerator to subject the particles entrained within the air flow passing through the turbine engine to acoustic signals, the acoustic signals configured to cause at least some of the entrained particles to agglomerate with one another;
and
using at least one particle separator to remove the agglomerated particles from the air flow,
wherein the particle agglomerator includes a first said particle agglomerator disposed in the diffuser OD flow path, and a second said particle agglomerator disposed in the diffuser ID flow path.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas turbine engine with entrained particle agglomerators and method

Life of this patent

Gas turbine engine with entrained particle agglomerators and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18