Adaptable inertial particle separator
View Patent ↗An adaptive inertial particle separation system may include an active configuration and a passive configuration. The system may comprise an air-intake duct including an outer wall spaced apart from a central axis, an inner wall located between the outer wall and the engine rotation axis, an intake passage defined in part by the inner wall and the outer wall, and a splitter located between the outer wall and the inner wall. The system may further include a sensor operatively connected to the air-intake duct and operative to initiate at least one of the active configuration and passive configuration.
1. An adaptive inertial particle separation system having an active configuration and a passive configuration, comprising:
an air-intake duct including:
an outer wall spaced apart from a central axis, and
an inner wall located between the outer wall and the central axis;
an intake passage defined in part by the inner wall and the outer wall;
a splitter located between the outer wall and the inner wall and including an outer splitter surface and an inner splitter surface, the inner splitter surface and the inner wall defining a compressor passage having a first area in the active configuration and a second area in the passive configuration, and the outer splitter surface and outer wall defining a scavenge passage in the active configuration;
a sensor operatively connected to the air-intake duct, the sensor being configured to measure a particulate level with respect to the intake passage and initiate at least one of the active configuration and passive configuration based on the particulate level reaching a particulate threshold; and
an actuator configured to move the outer wall and the inner wall relative to the splitter.
2. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , wherein the first area of the compressor passage increases to the second area of the compressor passage between the active configuration and the passive configuration.
3. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the outer wall and inner wall relative to the splitter to selectively open the scavenge passage in the active configuration and close the scavenge passage in the passive configuration.
4. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , further comprising an injector configured to apply at least one of suction and pressure to the intake passage.
5. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrostatic generator configured to apply at least one of a positive or negative charge to air of the intake passage.
6. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrostatic generator configured to apply at least one of a positive and negative charge to at least one of the outer wall and inner wall.
7. The adaptive inertial particle separation system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer system having a processor configured to compare the particulate level to the particulate threshold and instruct the actuator to move the outer wall and inner wall relative to the splitter in response to the particulate level being at or greater than the particulate threshold.
8. A gas turbine engine system having an adaptive inertial particle separator with an active configuration and a passive configuration, comprising:
a combustor;
a compressor coupled to the combustor;
an air-intake duct coupled to the compressor, the air-intake duct including:
an outer wall spaced apart from a central axis, and
an inner wall located between the outer wall and the central axis;
an intake passage defined in part by the inner wall and the outer wall;
a splitter located between the outer wall and the inner wall and including an outer splitter surface and an inner splitter surface, the inner splitter surface and the inner wall defining a compressor passage having a first area in the active configuration and a second area in the passive configuration, and the outer splitter surface and outer wall defining a scavenge passage in the active configuration;
a sensor operatively connected to air-intake duct, the sensor being configured to measure a particulate level with respect to the intake passage and initiate at least one of the active configuration and passive configuration based on the particulate level reaching a particulate threshold; and
an actuator configured to move the outer wall and the inner wall relative to the splitter.
9. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , wherein the first area of the compressor passage increases to the second area of the compressor passage between the active configuration and the passive configuration.
10. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , wherein the outer wall and inner wall move relative to the splitter to selectively open the scavenge passage in the active configuration and close the scavenge passage in the passive configuration.
11. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , further comprising an injector configured to apply at least one of suction and pressure to the intake passage.
12. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , further comprising an electrostatic generator configured to apply at least one of a positive or negative charge to air of the intake passage.
13. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , further comprising an electrostatic generator configured to apply at least one of a positive and negative charge to at least one of the outer wall and inner wall.
14. The gas turbine engine system of claim 8 , further comprising a computer system having a processor configured to compare the particulate level to the particulate threshold and instruct the actuator to move the outer wall and inner wall relative to the splitter in response to the particulate level being at or greater than the particulate threshold.
15. A method of operating an adaptive inertial particle separator with an active configuration and a passive configuration, the method comprising:
providing an actuator, an air-intake duct including an outer wall, an inner wall, and an intake passage, and a splitter configured to be positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall;
instructing a sensor to measure a particulate level of the intake passage;
receiving the particulate level from the sensor;
comparing the particulate level to a particulate threshold;
instructing the actuator to utilize the active configuration or the passive configuration based on the comparison indicating that the particulate level has reached the particulate threshold; and
moving, by the actuator, the outer wall and the inner wall relative to the splitter.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a scavenge passage of the air-intake duct is open in the active configuration and closed in the passive configuration.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising moving, using the actuator, the air-intake duct between the active configuration and the passive configuration.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying, with an injector, at least one of suction and pressure to the intake passage.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying, with an electrostatic generator, at least one of a positive or negative charge to air of the intake passage.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying, with an electrostatic generator, at least one of a positive and negative charge to at least a portion of the air-intake duct.