Static de-aerator and lubricant system
A de-aerator is provided that includes a body, a cover panel, a fluid inlet, a helical fluid passage, at least one partition, and at least one fluid outlet. The body extends between opposing first and second axial ends. The body has a sidewall, a base panel, and an internal cavity. The fluid inlet is in communication with the body and is configured to direct fluid tangentially into the internal cavity. The helical fluid passage is disposed within the internal cavity and has entry and exit ends. The helical fluid passage has circumferential turns that each include an air passage. The at least one partition is disposed within the internal cavity at or below the passage exit end, spaced above the base panel. The at least one fluid outlet is configured to permit liquid passage from the internal cavity of the body to outside the body.
1 . A de-aerator for an oil system of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a body extending between a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, the body having at least one sidewall that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end, and a base panel connected to the at least one sidewall at the second axial end, wherein the base panel and the at least one sidewall define an internal cavity of the body;
a cover panel connected to the body at the first axial end;
a fluid inlet in communication with the body at the first axial end, the fluid inlet having an internal flow passage configured to direct fluid tangentially into the internal cavity;
a helical fluid passage disposed within the internal cavity having an entry end and an exit end, the entry end disposed to receive fluid from the fluid inlet, the helical fluid passage having a plurality of circumferential turns that collectively axially descend toward the second axial end of the body;
at least one partition disposed within the internal cavity at the exit end of the helical fluid passage and spaced above the base panel of the de-aerator; and
at least one fluid outlet disposed adjacent the base panel, the at least one fluid outlet configured to permit liquid passage from the internal cavity of the body to outside the body;
wherein the helical fluid passage includes at least one helically extending panel that extends radially inwardly from an interior surface of the at least one sidewall to an inner radial edge, and an inner radial wall joined to the inner radial edge of the helically extending panel.
2 . The de-aerator of claim 1 , wherein the helical fluid passage is an enclosed passage.
3 . The de-aerator of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of vent apertures disposed in the inner radial wall.
4 . The de-aerator of claim 1 , wherein the inner radial wall extends axially a distance and defines a passage above the inner radial wall configured to permit passage of air out of the helical fluid passage and into a central region of the de-aerator.
5 . A de-aerator for an oil system of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a body extending between a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, the body having at least one sidewall that extends between the first axial end and the second axial end, and a base panel connected to the at least one sidewall at the second axial end, wherein the base panel and the at least one sidewall define an internal cavity of the body;
a fluid inlet in communication with the body at the first axial end, the fluid inlet having an internal flow passage configured to direct fluid tangentially into the internal cavity;
a helical fluid passage disposed within the internal cavity having an entry end and an exit end, wherein the entry end is disposed to receive fluid from the fluid inlet, and wherein the helical fluid passage has a plurality of circumferential turns that collectively axially descend toward the second axial end of the body;
wherein the helical fluid passage includes at least one helically extending panel that extends radially inwardly from an interior surface of the at least one sidewall to an inner radial edge, and an inner radial wall disposed at the inner radial edge of the helically extending panel;
at least one partition disposed within the internal cavity at the exit end of the helical fluid passage and spaced above the base panel of the de-aerator; and
at least one fluid outlet configured to permit liquid passage from the internal cavity of the body to outside the body.
6 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , further comprising a cover panel connected to the body at the first axial end.
7 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one helically extending panel includes a first helically extending panel segment and a second helically extending panel segment and the inner radial wall extends between the first helically extending panel segment and the second helically extending panel segment.
8 . The de-aerator of claim 7 , further comprising one or more vent apertures disposed in the inner radial wall.
9 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one partition is disposed within the internal cavity in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the de-aerator.
10 . The de-aerator of claim 9 , wherein the at least one partition has an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a plurality of apertures extending through the partition between the upper surface and the lower surface.
11 . The de-aerator of claim 10 , wherein the apertures of the plurality of apertures are arranged in patterns concentric with the central axis.
12 . The de-aerator of claim 10 , wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures has a slot configuration.
13 . The de-aerator of claim 10 , wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures has a circular configuration.
14 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one partition includes a first partition and a second partition axially spaced apart from one another.
15 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one partition has an upper surface, a lower surface, a thickness extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a circumferential edge; and
wherein the at least one sidewall has an interior sidewall surface and at least a portion of the partition circumferential edge is spaced apart from the interior sidewall surface thereby forming a passage between the circumferential edge and the interior sidewall surface.
16 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the internal flow passage extends along a path having a circumferential component and an axial component.
17 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the internal flow passage includes at least one swirl groove.
18 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one fluid outlet comprises a plurality of fluid outlets.
19 . The de-aerator of claim 5 , wherein the at least one fluid outlet is disposed in the at least one side wall contiguous with the base panel.