Turbomachine filter system having a drain with one-way valve
View Patent ↗A turbomachine includes a compressor portion having an intake and a filtration system having an interior and an exterior. The filtration system is arranged upstream of the intake and includes a drain capable of fluid communication with the exterior of the filtration system. The drain includes a one-way valve that allows liquid separated from air flowing through the interior of the filtration system to pass through the drain to the exterior of the filtration system in a first direction, and substantially limits a flow of unfiltered air from entering the intake from the exterior in a second direction.
1. A turbomachine comprising:
a compressor portion having an intake;
a filtration system having an interior and an exterior, the filtration system being arranged upstream of the intake and including a drain capable of fluid communication with the exterior of the filtration system, the drain including a one-way valve fluidly connected to the intake, the one-way valve allowing liquid separated from air flowing through the interior of the filtration system to pass through the drain to the exterior of the filtration system in a first direction, and substantially limiting a flow of unfiltered air from entering the intake from the exterior in a second direction.
2. The turbomachine according to claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve is a buoyant check ball.
3. The turbomachine according to claim 2 , wherein the drain includes a cage, the buoyant check ball being arranged within the cage.
4. The turbomachine according to claim 1 , wherein the one-way valve is a mechanical check valve.
5. The turbomachine according to claim 4 , wherein the mechanical check valve is one of a spring-biased check valve, a hydraulic check valve, a diaphragm check valve and a swing arm check valve.
6. The turbomachine according to claim 1 , wherein the drain comprises a manometric drain including at least one drain tube having a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
7. The turbomachine according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one drain tube includes a first substantially vertical member fluidly connected to a second substantially vertical member by a substantially horizontal member, the one-way valve being arranged at one of the first and second substantially vertical members.
8. The turbomachine according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one drain tube includes a first drain tube having a first exposed end and a second drain tube having a second exposed end, the first drain tube having a substantially U-shaped cross-section.
9. The turbomachine according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second exposed ends are arranged within a drain box.