Gas Turbine Engine Inlet Anti-Ice System

A gas turbine engine system, comprising:

• an engine housing having an inlet section, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section;
• an anti-ice flow duct formed in the inlet section, the anti-ice flow duct coupled to receive a flow of pressurized air to provide anti-icing of the inlet section;
• and
• an inlet anti-ice system configured to at least selectively supply the flow of pressurized air to the anti-ice flow duct, the inlet anti-ice system comprising:
• an air supply duct having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to receive the flow of pressurized air from the compressor section, the outlet coupled to the anti-ice flow duct;
• a flow control valve disposed within the air supply duct between the inlet and the outlet, the flow control valve moveable to a valve position between a closed position, in which pressurized air cannot flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of open positions, in which pressurized air can flow from the inlet to the outlet;
• a pneumatic valve actuator coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to a pneumatic control pressure to move the flow control valve between the closed position and the plurality of open positions;
• and
• a mechanical thermostat in fluid communication with the anti-ice flow duct and the pneumatic valve actuator, the mechanical thermostat responsive to temperature within the anti-ice flow duct to control the pneumatic control pressure, to thereby control the valve position, the flow of pressurized air to the outlet, and thus the temperature of the air in the anti-ice flow duct.

A gas turbine engine inlet anti-ice system, comprising:

• an air supply duct having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to receive a flow of pressurized air, the outlet coupled to an anti-ice flow duct formed within an inlet portion of a gas turbine engine;
• a shut-off valve coupled to the air supplied duct and disposed upstream of the inlet, the shut-off valve movable between a closed position, in which the flow of pressurized air is prevented from flowing into the air supply duct, and an open position, in which the pressurized air may flow into the air supply duct;
• a flow control valve disposed within the air supply duct between the inlet and the outlet, the flow control valve moveable to a valve position between a closed position, in which pressurized air cannot flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a plurality of open positions, in which pressurized air can flow from the inlet to the outlet;
• a pneumatic valve actuator coupled to the flow control valve and responsive to a pneumatic control pressure to move the flow control valve between the closed position and the plurality of open positions;
• and
• a mechanical thermostat in fluid communication with the anti-ice flow duct and the pneumatic valve actuator, the mechanical thermostat responsive to temperature within the anti-ice flow duct to control the pneumatic control pressure, to thereby control the valve position, the flow of pressurized air to the outlet, and thus the temperature of the air in the anti-ice flow duct.