Scavenge methodologies for turbine engine particle separation concepts

A method for scavenging small particles from a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• compressing air in a compressor that rotates about a longitudinal axis to generate compressed air, wherein the compressed air that exits the compressor includes at least a tangential flow component and a radial flow component, and wherein the compressed air comprises a plurality of small particles;
• directing the compressed air through a flowpath, downstream of the compressor, which causes a reduction in the radial flow component and the introduction of or an increase in an axial flow component;
• removing a portion of the compressed air from the flowpath and directing the portion into a scavenge plenum, the scavenge plenum being positioned adjacent to and radially outward from the flow path;
• returning the portion of the compressed air from the plenum to the flowpath while maintaining a majority of the small particles that were present in the portion within the scavenge plenum;
• and
• removing the majority of the small particles from the plenum using a scavenging methodology, wherein the step of removing occurring intermittently during engine operation, during engine shutdown, or while the engine is not operation, but does not occur continuously during engine operation, and wherein the scavenging methodology comprises withdrawing small particles through an outlet of the plenum, the plenum being configured in a scroll configuration.