De-icing system and method
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorNoel A. SANDERS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for minimising the formation of ice crystals in the fuel system pipework of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an ultrasonic transmitter located within a wall of a pipe in the fuel system through which fuel passes. The system also includes a controller that causes said ultrasonic transmitter to produce ultrasonic waves when the temperature of the fuel is sufficiently low for any water in the fuel to freeze, the ultrasonic waves being sufficient to break particles of ice contained in the fuel that passes through the pipe. A method of minimising the formation of ice crystals in the fuel system pipework of a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
Claims16
A system for minimising the formation of ice crystals in the fuel system pipework of a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- (a) an ultrasonic transmitter located within a wall of a pipe in the fuel system through which fuel passes;
- and
- (b) a controller that causes said ultrasonic transmitter to produce ultrasonic waves when the temperature of the fuel is sufficiently low for any water in the fuel to freeze, the ultrasonic waves being sufficient to break particles of ice contained in the fuel that passes through the pipe.
A method of minimising the formation of ice crystals in the fuel system pipework of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing at least one ultrasonic transmitter within a wall of a pipe of the fuel system of a gas turbine engine;
- (b) producing ultrasonic waves when the temperature of the fuel is sufficiently low for any water in the fuel to freeze, the ultrasonic waves being sufficient to break particles of ice contained in the fuel that passes through the pipe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.