US 2026/0194017 A1 · HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN FLUID INJECTION SYSTEM WITH ACTIVE FILL CONTROL

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a fuel-metering subsystem configured to provide active filling of a fuel line with a secondary fuel. The fuel-metering subsystem is in fluid communication with fuel-pressurizing subsystem, which is hydraulically powered by a primary fuel. The fuel-metering subsystem includes a low-flow fluid path between the output orifice of the pressure regulating valve and an injector port. The low-flow fluid path including a metering orifice. The fuel-metering subsystem includes a high-flow fluid in parallel with the low-flow fluid path. The high-flow fluid path including a fill solenoid having an open and a closed position, wherein, with the fill solenoid in the open position, flow resistance of the high-flow fluid path is less than a flow resistance of the low-flow fluid path, thereby enabling active delivery of fuel in response to opening of the fill solenoid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A secondary-fuel supply system with active fill capability, the secondary-fuel supply system comprising:

a secondary-fuel reservoir having a piston separating a first chamber from a second chamber, the second chamber configured to be filled with a secondary fuel, the first chamber configured to be pressurized with a primary fuel, thereby causing the secondary fuel to be expelled from the second chamber;
a shut-off valve configured to selectively provide fluid communication between a pressurized primary fuel source and the first chamber of the secondary fuel reservoir;
a low-flow fluid path having a first flow resistance between the second chamber of the secondary-fuel reservoir and an injector port;
a high-flow fluid path in parallel with the low-flow fluid path, the high-flow fluid path including:
a fill solenoid having an open and a closed position, wherein, with the fill solenoid in the open position, a second flow resistance of the high-flow fluid path is less than the first flow resistance of the low-flow fluid path, thereby enabling active delivery of fuel in response to opening of the fill solenoid.

2 more elements

A method for actively filling fuel lines with a secondary fuel, the method comprising:

receiving a command to provide a secondary fuel to a gas turbine engine, wherein, in response to receiving the command to provide a secondary fuel, the method performs the following steps:
sending a signal configured to cause the shut-off valve to open, thereby providing fluid communication between a pressurized primary fuel source and a first chamber of a secondary-fuel reservoir, which causes secondary fuel within a second chamber of the secondary-fuel reservoir to be pressurized via a piston positioned between the first and second chambers of the secondary-fuel reservoir;
and
sending a signal configured to cause a fill solenoid to open, thereby causing the secondary fuel to flow through a high-flow fluid path to the injector port, wherein, with the fill solenoid open, a second flow resistance of the high-flow fluid path is less than a first flow resistance of a low-flow fluid path that is in parallel with the high-flow fluid path, thereby enabling active delivery of fuel in response to opening of the fill solenoid.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydraulically driven fluid injection system with active fill control

Life of this patent

Hydraulically driven fluid injection system with active fill control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20