Atmospheric pollutant detection and abatement
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsJeremiah C. Lee, Eli Warren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for detecting and removing at least one atmospheric pollutant from a surface of an aircraft engine component includes detecting the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component using a test probe and treating the at least one aircraft engine component to generate a layer of at least one of a soot or other carbonaceous substance on the at least one aircraft engine component to at least partially remove the at least one atmospheric pollutant from the surface of the aircraft engine component.
Claims20
A method for detecting and removing at least one atmospheric pollutant from a surface of an aircraft engine component, comprising:
- detecting the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component using a test probe;
- and
- treating the aircraft engine component to generate a layer of at least one of a soot or other carbonaceous substance on the aircraft engine component to at least partially remove the at least one atmospheric pollutant from the surface of the aircraft engine component.
A system for detecting and removing at least one atmospheric pollutant from a surface of an aircraft engine component, comprising:
- a test probe configured to detect the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component;
- and
- wherein the test probe is further configured to generate a signal indicating a presence of the at least one atmospheric pollutant responsive to detection of the at least one atmospheric pollutant.
A method for detecting and removing or reducing at least one atmospheric pollutant from a surface of an aircraft engine component, comprising:
- installing a test probe for detecting the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component;
- transmitting a light signal from the test probe to reflect off of the aircraft engine component;
- receiving a reflected light signal from the surface of the aircraft engine component at the test probe;
- and
- determining if the reflected light signal indicates a presence of the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component;
- depositing a layer of unburned, excess fuel or a carbonaceous substance generated by excess fuel on the surface of the aircraft engine component if the at least one atmospheric pollutant is on the surface;
- and
- applying an activation energy to the layer of unburned, excess fuel or a carbonaceous substance generated by excess fuel to chemically reduce the at least one atmospheric pollutant on the surface of the aircraft engine component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.