# US 2008/0156187 A1 · Particle separator using boundary layer control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0156187 A1 - Document ID: US20080156187A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/646,503 - Filed: 2006-12-28 - Published: 2008-07-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-28 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Inventors: Walter Jackson Tingle; Wayne R. Oliver; Kevin Richard Kirtley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080156187A1 ## CPC - F02C 7/052: with dust-separation devices - F05D 2260/607: Preventing clogging or obstruction of flow paths by dirt, dust, or foreign particles - F05D 2270/17: to control boundary layer - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A particle separator which broadly comprises: an inner wall, an outer wall and a splitter, wherein the inner and outer walls define an air intake passageway, and wherein the splitter is positioned between the inner and outer walls so as to define a scavenge air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway and a main air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway; the inner wall having a humped-shaped portion between the intake passageway and the main air flow passageway; the humped-shaped portion having a peak and a radius of curvature at any point on the hump-shaped portion of the inner wall after the peak corresponding to a degree of curvature of from about 30 to about 60 degrees; and a boundary layer control mechanism for providing active boundary layer control along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. Also provided is a method for providing active boundary layer flow control along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A particle separator comprising: an inner wall, an outer wall and a splitter, wherein the inner and outer walls define an air intake passageway, and wherein the splitter is positioned between the inner and outer walls so as to define a scavenge air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway and a main air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway; the inner wall having a humped-shaped portion between the intake passageway and the main air flow passageway; the humped-shaped portion having a peak and a radius of curvature at any point on the hump-shaped portion of the inner wall after the peak corresponding to a degree of curvature of from about 30 to about 60 degrees; and a boundary layer control mechanism for providing active boundary layer control along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The separator of claim 1, wherein the boundary layer control mechanism comprises an air injection system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The separator of claim 2, wherein the air injection system injects core engine inlet air flow into an injection area along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The separator of claim 2, wherein the air injection system injects compressor bleed air flow into an injection area along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The separator of claim 1, wherein the boundary layer control mechanism comprises an air suction system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The separator of claim 5, wherein the air suction system removes core air flow from a suction area along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway, to thereby cause suction on the boundary layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The separator of claim 6, wherein the suction area comprises a perforated area along the along the inner wall after the peak. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The separator of claim 1, having a splitter hiding height measured between the peak and the splitter of about 0.5 inches or greater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The separator of claim 8, wherein the splitter hiding height is about 0.7 inches or greater. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The separator of claim 9, wherein the splitter hiding height is about 0.8 inches or greater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The separator of claim 1, having a splitter angle measured between the peak and the splitter of about 8 degrees or greater. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The separator of claim 11, having a splitter angle of about 10 degrees or greater. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The separator of claim 12, having a splitter angle of about 13 degrees or greater. ### Claim 14 A method comprising the following steps: (a) providing a particle separator comprising an inner wall, an outer wall and a splitter, wherein the inner and outer walls define an air intake passageway, and wherein the splitter is positioned between the inner and outer walls so as to define a scavenge air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway and a main air flow passageway connected to the intake passageway, the inner wall having a humped-shaped portion between the intake passageway and the main air flow passageway, the humped-shaped portion having a peak and a radius of curvature at any point on the hump-shaped portion of the inner wall after the peak corresponding to a degree of curvature of from about 30 to about 60 degrees; and (b) providing active boundary layer flow control along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the active boundary layer control comprises injecting air flow into the boundary layer at an injection area along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the active boundary layer control comprises suctioning air flow from the boundary layer at a suction area along the inner wall after the peak and within the main air flow passageway. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the following steps of: (c) removing core engine inlet air flow proximate the core engine inlet passageway; (d) pressurizing the core engine inlet air flow; and (e) injecting the pressurized core engine inlet air flow proximate the injection area. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising the following steps of: (c) removing compressor bleed air flow; and (d) injecting compressor bleed air flow proximate the injection area. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the separator has a splitter hiding height measured between the peak and the splitter of about 0.7 inches or greater. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the separator has a splitter angle measured between the peak and the splitter of about 10 degrees or greater.