Particle separator and debris control system
A gas turbine engine system includes an air inlet, an inlet particle separator located at the air inlet and having a blower selectively driven by a variable output motor, and a controller for dynamically controlling the variable output motor that selectively drives the blower of the inlet particle separator.
1. A gas turbine engine system comprising:
an air inlet;
an inlet particle separator having a blower located upstream from a collection assembly and configured to propel debris to the collection assembly in a downstream direction, the blower being selectively driven by a variable output motor, wherein the inlet particle separator is located at the air inlet; and
a controller for dynamically controlling the variable output motor that selectively drives the blower of the inlet particle separator.
2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
an inlet debris monitoring system for sensing debris present at or near the inlet particle separator as a function of debris sensed.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the inlet debris monitoring system comprises a ring-shaped electrostatic sensor.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller adjusts an output of the blower as a function of the output signal from the inlet debris monitoring system.
5. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
an exhaust debris monitoring system for sensing debris present at an engine exhaust outlet and transmitting an output signal to the controller as a function of debris sensed.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller adjusts an output of the blower as a function of the output signal from the exhaust debris monitoring system.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an electronic engine control module.
8. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
a substantially frustoconical-shaped ramp located adjacent to the inlet particle separator blower for directing particles radially outward and away from a primary air flow path.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the variable output motor is configured to selectively drive the blower at a speed that falls within a predetermined operating speed range.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the variable output motor comprises an electric motor.
11. A debris control system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
an air inlet for admitting ambient air into the gas turbine engine;
an inlet debris monitoring system for sensing debris present in the ambient air admitted through the air inlet, wherein the inlet debris monitoring system generates an output signal as a function of debris sensed;
an inlet particle separator located at the air inlet having a blower selectively operable by an electric motor, a ramp located adjacent to the blower for directing particles radially outward from a primary air flow, and a collection assembly, wherein the blower is positioned upstream of the collection assembly and is configured to propel debris from the ramp to the collection assembly in a downstream direction; and
an electronic controller that processes the output signal from the inlet debris monitoring system and drives the electric motor of the blower as a function of the output signal from the inlet debris monitoring system.
12. The system of claim 11 and further comprising:
an engine exhaust outlet; and
an exhaust debris monitoring system for sensing debris present at the engine exhaust outlet and for sending an output signal to the controller as a function of debris sensed, and wherein the controller drives the blower as a function of the output signals from both the exhaust debris monitoring system and the inlet debris monitoring system.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the inlet debris monitoring system comprises a ring-shaped electrostatic sensor.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the electric motor is configured to selectively drive the blower at speed that falls within a predetermined operating speed range.
15. A debris control system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
an air inlet for admitting ambient air into the gas turbine engine;
an engine exhaust outlet;
an exhaust debris monitoring system for sensing debris present at the engine exhaust outlet, wherein the exhaust debris monitoring system generates an output signal as a function of debris sensed;
an inlet particle separator located at the air inlet having a blower selectively operable by an electric motor, a ramp located adjacent to the blower for directing particles radially outward from a primary air flow, and a collection assembly, wherein the blower is positioned upstream of the collection assembly and is configured to propel debris from the ramp to the collection assembly in a downstream direction; and
an electronic controller that processes the output signal from the exhaust debris monitoring system and drives the electric motor of the blower as a function of the output signal from the exhaust debris monitoring system.
16. The system of claim 15 and further comprising:
an inlet debris monitoring system for sensing debris present at or near the inlet particle separator and for sending an output signal to the controller as a function of debris sensed, and wherein the controller drives the blower as a function of the output signals from both the exhaust debris monitoring system and the inlet debris monitoring system.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the inlet debris monitoring system comprises a ring-shaped electrostatic sensor.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the electric motor is configured to selectively drive the blower at speed that falls within a predetermined operating speed range.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the ramp has a substantially frustoconical shape.