DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESERVING FLUID SYSTEMS AND AN ENGINE

• US 20130032215A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH (MTU)
• Original Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH (MTU)
• Inventors: Streifinger, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 9,441,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/002 Cleaning of turbomachines
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/32 Collecting of condensation water; Drainage ; Removing solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/22 Fuel supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/00 Arrangements for conditioning of lubricants in the lubricating system cleaning of lubricating oil, lubricating compositions C10M
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 Combined with fluid receiver

Abstract

Disclosed is a device for preserving fluid systems, for example of a fuel system and an oil system of a turbine engine, with at least one drive for driving at least one fuel pump and at least one oil pump, wherein a valve arrangement is provided, which makes transfer-pumping a fluid between the fluid systems possible, an engine having such a device as well as a method for triggering such a device or for preserving fluid systems.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A device for preserving fluid systems of a turbine engine, the fluid systems including a fuel system and an oil system, the device comprising:

at least one fuel pump operatively connected to the fuel system for conveying fluids in the fuel system;

at least one oil pump operatively connected to the oil system for conveying fluids in the oil system;

at least one drive operatively connected to the at least one fuel pump and the at least one oil pump for driving the at least one fuel pump and the at least one oil pump; and

a valve assembly operatively connected between the fuel system and the oil system and switchable between at least a first setting and a second setting;

wherein, when switched to the first setting, the valve assembly allows transfer-pumping of a fluid between the fuel system and the oil system; and

wherein, when switched to the second setting, the valve assembly interrupts transfer pumping of a fluid between the fuel system and the oil system.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein a respective circulation of the fluid in the fuel system and the oil system is possible.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the valve assembly is configured to have a fail-safe mode, and when in the fail-safe mode, fluid interconnection of the fuel system and the oil system is prevented.

19. A device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a pressure relief valve operatively connected between the fuel system and the oil system; and

wherein a pressure relief of the fuel system is accomplished by a release of fluid by the pressure relief valve from the fuel system into the oil system.

20. A device according to claim 16, further comprising:

at least one cleaning device operatively connected to one of the fluid systems to filter or separate impurities from the conveyed fluid; and

a heater capable operatively connected to the fluid system to heat the conveyed fluid to a temperature (T) greater than 100°

C.

21. A device according to claim 16, further comprising at least one measuring device operatively connected to one of the fluid systems to measuring a condition of the conveyed fluid.

22. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a control device disposed adjacent to the fluid systems and operatively connected to the at least one fuel pump, the at least one oil pump and the valve assembly to selectively control operation of the at least one fuel pump and the at least one oil pump and the setting of the valve assembly from the location of the control device.

23. A device according to claim 22, further comprising:

a filling device operatively connected to the control device and the valve assembly; and

whereby the introduction of a fluid into at least one of the fluid systems can be performed from the location of the control device.

24. A device according to claim 23, further comprising:

a removal device operatively connected to the control device and the valve assembly; and

whereby removal of the fluid from at least one of the fluid systems can be performed from the location of the control device.

25. A device according to claim 16, wherein a fluid changing device is operatively connected to the valve assembly such that an old fluid in the fuel system can be replaced with a fresh fluid.

26. A turbine engine having fluid systems including a fuel system and an oil system and a device for preserving the fluid systems in accordance with claim 16.

27. A method for preserving fluid systems in a turbine engine having engine shafts, the fluid systems including a fuel system having a fuel therein and at least one fuel pump for conveying the fuel or an oil in the fuel system and an oil system having the oil therein and at least one oil pump for conveying the oil in the oil system, the method comprising the following steps:

providing at least one drive driving the at least one fuel pump and the at least one oil pump;

removing the fuel from the fuel system;

conveying at least a partial flow of the oil from the oil system or an external tank to the fuel system; and

transfer-pumping the oil throughout the fuel system and the oil system.

28. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the following steps:

providing an alternative connection between the engine shafts that do not have a connection to a starter/generator that can be switched into motor operation, the alternative connection being one of a pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical or electrical connection;

rotating the engine shafts that have a connection to a starter/generator that can be switched into motor operation using the starter/generator; and

rotating the engine shafts that do not have a connection to a starter/generator using the alternative connection(s).

29. A method according to claim 27, further comprising the following steps occurring after the step of transfer-pumping the oil throughout the fuel system and the oil system but prior to a subsequent engine start:

closing the oil system from the fuel system; and

replacing the oil in the fuel system with fuel.

30. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step occurring when the engine is not operating of heating the oil in the fuel system and/or the oil system to a temperature (T) greater than 100°

C., whereby water is separated therefrom and bacteria, fungi and the like in the oil are killed.

31. A device for preserving fluid systems of a turbine engine, the turbine engine including engine shafts, the fluid systems including a fuel system and an oil system, the fuel system having a fuel therein and a fuel pump for conveying the fuel or an oil therein, and the oil system having the oil therein and an oil pump for conveying the oil therein, the device comprising:

at least one drive operatively connected to each of the fuel pump and the oil pump for driving the fuel pump and the oil pump;

a first valve assembly operatively connected between the fuel system and the oil system and switchable between at least a first setting and a second setting;

wherein, when switched to the first setting, the first valve assembly provides fluid communication between the fuel system and the oil system such that transfer-pumping of oil between the oil system and the fuel system can occur therethrough; and

wherein, when switched to the second setting, the first valve assembly interrupts fluid communication between the fuel system and the oil system such that transfer-pumping of oil between the oil system and the fuel system therethrough is blocked;

a second valve assembly having a first inlet fluidly connected to a first location on the fuel system downstream of the fuel pump and a first outlet fluidly connected to a second location on the fuel system upstream of the fuel pump and switchable between at least a first setting and a second setting;

wherein, when switched to the first setting, the second valve assembly provides fluid communication between the first inlet and the first outlet such that a fluid in the fuel system can circulate therethrough from downstream of the fuel pump to upstream of the fuel pump; and

wherein, when switched to the second setting, the second valve assembly interrupts fluid communication between the first inlet and the first outlet such that the fluid in the fuel system cannot circulate therethrough.

32. A device according to claim 31, further comprising a heater disposed between the first outlet of the second valve assembly and the second location on the fuel system upstream of the fuel pump, whereby the fluid in the fuel system can be heated as it circulates from downstream of the fuel pump to upstream of the fuel pump.

33. A device according to claim 31, further comprising:

a fuel tank line fluidly connectable at a first location to a fuel tank and fluidly connected at a second location to a second outlet on the second valve assembly and providing fluid communications between the first and second locations;

wherein the second valve assembly is further switchable to a third setting;

wherein, when switched to the first setting or the second setting, the second valve assembly interrupts fluid communication between the first inlet and the second outlet such that a fluid in the fuel system cannot pass therethrough from the location downstream of the fuel pump to the fuel tank line; and

wherein, when switched to the third setting, the second valve assembly provides fluid communication therethrough between the location downstream of the fuel pump to the fuel tank line.

34. A device according to claim 33, further comprising:

a pressure relief line fluidly connected at a first location to the fuel tank line and fluidly connected at a second location to the oil system; and

a non-return valve disposed along the pressure relief line between the first location and the second location and allowing fluid flow therethrough to occur only from the fuel system to the oil system.

35. A device according to claim 33, further comprising:

a drainage line fluidly connected at a first location to a third outlet of the second valve assembly;

wherein the second valve assembly is further switchable to a fourth setting;

wherein, when switched to the first setting, the second setting or the third setting, the second valve assembly interrupts fluid communication between the first inlet and the third outlet such that a fluid in the fuel system cannot pass therethrough from the location downstream of the fuel pump to the drainage line; and

wherein, when switched to the fourth setting, the second valve assembly provides fluid communication therethrough between the location downstream of the fuel pump to the drainage line; and

whereby the oil can be removed from the fuel system into the drainage line when the second valve assembly is switched to the fourth setting.