Apparatus and method for testing jet engine fuel manifold flow distribution
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsRobert D. Mitchell, John R. Webber, Joseph M. Oloffo, Michael S. Englund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing the flow distribution through a turbine engine fuel manifold and one or more nozzles connected to the manifold. A plurality of individual fluid measurement vessels, at least one for each of the nozzles being tested, collects test fluid pumped through the manifold and the connected nozzles. The level in each of the measurement vessels is periodically sampled during the test. The test fluid flow rate through each of the nozzles is periodically determined based on the periodically sampled levels.
Claims54
An apparatus for testing fluid flow distribution through a turbine engine fuel manifold and one or more fuel nozzles connected thereto, the apparatus comprising:
- a test fluid supply tank;
- one or more test fluid supply lines each including a test fluid inlet in fluid communication with the test fluid supply tank and a test fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to the fuel manifold and its connected fuel nozzles;
- a plurality of fluid measurement vessels each operable to receive a test fluid discharged from one of the fuel nozzles when the fuel manifold is coupled to the test fluid supply line outlet;
- a plurality of level sensors individually coupled to each of the fluid measurement vessels and operable to determine a level of the test fluid therein and generate a level signal representative of the test fluid level;
- and
- a computer coupled to the one or more level sensors and operable to periodically sample each of the generated level signals and calculate test fluid flow rate through each of the fuel nozzles based on the sampled level signals.
An apparatus for testing fluid flow distribution through a turbine engine fuel manifold and one or more fuel nozzles connected thereto, the apparatus comprising:
- a test fluid supply tank;
- one or more test fluid supply lines each including a test fluid inlet in fluid communication with the test fluid supply tank and a test fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to the fuel manifold and its connected fuel nozzles;
- a plurality of fluid measurement vessels each operable to receive a test fluid discharged from one of the fuel nozzles when the fuel manifold is coupled to the test fluid supply line outlet;
- a plurality of level sensors individually coupled to each of the fluid measurement vessels and operable to determine a level of the test fluid therein and generate a level signal representative of the test fluid level;
- a computer coupled to the one or more level sensors and operable to periodically sample each of the generated level signals and calculate test fluid flow rate through each of the fuel nozzles based on the sampled level signals;
- and
- a display device coupled to the computer and operable to display the calculated test fluid flow rates through each of the fuel nozzles.
An apparatus for testing fluid flow distribution through a turbine engine fuel manifold and one or more fuel nozzles connected thereto, the apparatus comprising:
- a test fluid supply tank;
- one or more test fluid supply lines each including a test fluid inlet in fluid communication with the test fluid supply tank and a test fluid outlet adapted to be coupled to the fuel manifold and its connected fuel nozzles;
- a plurality of fluid measurement vessels each operable to receive a test fluid discharged from one of the fuel nozzles when the fuel manifold is coupled to the test fluid supply line outlet;
- a plurality of level sensors individually coupled to each of the fluid measurement vessels and operable to determine a level of the test fluid therein and generate a level signal representative of the test fluid level;
- a computer coupled to the one or more level sensors and operable to periodically sample each of the generated level signals and calculate test fluid flow rate through each of the fuel nozzles based on the sampled level signals;
- and
- a display device coupled to the computer and operable to display (i) the calculated test fluid flow rates through each of the fuel nozzles and (ii) the test fluid levels both numerically and graphically.
A method of testing fluid flow distribution through a turbine engine fuel manifold and one or more fuel nozzles connected thereto, the apparatus comprising:
- supplying a test fluid to the fuel manifold at a predetermined pressure;
- collecting the test fluid discharged from each of the fuel nozzles in separate measurement vessels;
- periodically determining a volume of test fluid discharged from each of the fuel nozzles until each of the measurement vessels have collected a predetermined volume of the test fluid;
- and
- periodically calculating test fluid flow rate through each of the fuel nozzles based on the periodically determined test fluid discharge volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.