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US 5,180,278 AGranted
Surge-tolerant compression system
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorJohn L. Warner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In compression systems, a portion of the compressor outlet flow (28) is extracted and introduced through a surge nozzle (52) into a plenum (48) upstream of the compressor (14). The surge nozzle (52) is oriented so as to introduce in the fluid in the plenum (48) a vortex having the same axis and direction of rotation as the compressor rotor (54).
Claims14
A surge-tolerant gas compression system, comprising:
- a gas compressor having an inlet and an outlet;
- means for extracting a surge flow portion of the compressor outlet flow;
- means for delivering said surge flow to a gas receiving inlet plenum upstream of said inlet of said compressor;
- a surge bypass valve, included in said delivering means, operable between a first, open flow state and a second, closed flow state;
- and
- means for introducing said surge flow into said plenum such that said surge flow induces a vortex in the gas received in said plenum, said vortex having the same axis and direction of rotation as the rotor of said compressor.
3 more elements
An air cycle machine comprising:
- a gas turbine;
- a gas compressor having an inlet and an outlet, said compressor driven by said turbine;
- means for extracting a first portion of the compressor outlet flow;
- means for extracting a second portion of the compressor outlet flow;
- means for delivering said first portion to said gas turbine;
- means for delivering said second portion to a gas receiving inlet plenum upstream of said inlet of said compressor;
- a surge bypass valve, included in said delivering means, operable between a first, open flow state and a second, closed flow state;
- and
- means for introducing said surge flow into said plenum such that said surge flow induces a vortex in the gas received in said plenum, said vortex having the same axis and direction of rotation as the rotor of said compressor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.