IL198606A

IL198606A - Method and device for internal preservation and/or depreservation of gas-turbine engines

Info

Publication number: IL198606A
Application number: IL198606A
Authority: IL
Inventors: Viktor Ivanovich Gribakin; Viktor Nikolaevich Eliseev; Alexander Alexandrovich Sarkisov
Original assignee: Zakrytoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Vao Interprofavia; Viktor Ivanovich Gribakin; Viktor Nikolaevich Eliseev; Alexander Alexandrovich Sarkisov; Federalnoe G Uchrezhdenie Federalnoe Agentstvo Pravovoi Zaschite Rezultatov Intellekttualnoi Deyatel
Priority date: 2006-11-07
Filing date: 2009-05-06
Publication date: 2012-04-30
Also published as: IL198606A0; WO2008057002A1

Description

Method and Device for Internal Preservation and/or Depreservation of Gas-Turbine Engines Method and Device for Internal Preservation and/or Depreservation of Gas-Turbine Engines Field of the invention The invention relates to operating gas-turbine engines, in particular, to the methods of internal engine preservation and depreservation carried out on nonrunning engines installed both on in-service vehicle, for example, an aircraft, and outside it, and devices for their realization.

Background of the invention It is known that a life of aircraft engine is considerably lower than airframe one, and therefore there is an obvious need for providing the required operating life of engines for each aircraft. Furthermore, there is an urgent task to preserve the gas-turbine engines installed on the aircrafts before their storing and to re-preserve the aircraft engines removed from the aircraft and being stored. There is also urgent task to preserve and depreserve the gas-turbine engines which are used at pumping stations and power plants.

Preserving the operating gas-turbine engines, which have several fuel units, for example, the units of main and afterburning channels and fuel pumps, presents specific problems. The fuel units of such engines have some groups of normally closed and normally opened electrically controlled distribution devices. The cavities of the hydraulic and electrical distribution devices installed on the engine have complex configuration. During the preservation it is necessary to pump through a large quantity of preservative oil for thorough removal of fuel from the basic cavities of units, pumps, and distribution devices. Respectively, this requires a significant time of pumping and engine operation. If it is impossible to start up the engine or carry out its motoring for any reasons, then it is practically impossible to carry out complete preservation of such engine.

There are different methods and devices for the preservation of aircraft gas-turbine engines.

There is well-known method of internal preservation of fuel system of aircraft gas-turbine engine (SU, 830720, Al), which includes the pumping of oil heated in a preservation installation through the units of fuel system on nonrunning engine installed on the aircraft, at opened hydraulic and electrical distribution devices. This method is realized with the aid of preservation installation connected to the fuel system of gas-turbine engine, and with the use of oil of engine fuel system. A quantity of oil drained into the process tank is controlled during the preservation and the engine is considered as preserved after draining 25-30 liters. Engine depreservation is carried out with the use of working fuel in the preservation installation instead of oil.

There is well-known method of internal preservation of fuel system of gas-turbine engine (SU, 902406, Al), which includes the pumping of preservative oil in the process of motoring-over through the units of fuel system with injectors and draining the oil into the process tank. In this case drained oil is throttled to liquid resistance equal to the injector resistance, and the pumping is stopped when the oil starts to flow into the tank. There is well-known device for realizing this method.

There is well-known method of preservation of aircraft gas-turbine engine (SU, 1039129, A2), at which, while motoring-over from the starter and pumping the heated oil from ground-based installation, some part of preservative oil is removed, at least, from one of the engine pumps to closed fuel cavities. Opening the cavities is produced both with oil pressure and by transmitting control signals to electrically controlled distribution devices. In this case the opening of the cavities of units by means of the electrically controlled distribution devices is produced alternately. Moreover, oil draining through all other units is interrupted at the opening of the cavities of one unit.

There is well-known method of internal preservation of fuel system of aircraft gas-turbine engine (SU, 1 160678, Al), which includes the pumping of oil heated in the preservation installation on nonrunning engine through the cavities of the opened hydraulic and electrical distribution devices of fuel system and through the cavities of its units. In this case the basic cavities of fuel-system units are flushed with inert gas before the pumping of oil through them.

There is well-known device for cleaning and preservation of gas-turbine engine (US, 4059123, B) that has starter for motoring the compressor stages and contains the frame, which has supporting wheels for its rotation and the following equipment installed on it: the first water tank; additional tanks for cleaning agent, solvent, and preservative solutions; internal combustion engine; control console; air rotary compressor and alternator (the internal combustion engine is started both from the air compressor and from the above generator; electrical battery on the control console; electrical connectors between the generator and the battery for battery charging (the electrical connectors include operator's controls for controlling power transfer from the generator to the battery; interconnector between the air compressor and the first tank with compressed air; interconnectors for connecting air volume with additional tanks for supercharging these tanks and the means of control of each interconnector to monitor the supercharging of each of the tanks; injector installed on the gas turbine for injecting fluid medium, interconnector for connecting each tank with the injector (it includes reducing nipples); circuit that includes two-wire electric cable connecting the battery with the starter for starting the above compressor.

However, all above-mentioned methods and devices intended for the preservation of aircraft gas-turbine engines have a number of essential deficiencies: - The above-mentioned methods are mainly intended for the preservation of engine installed on the vehicle (aircraft) and in this case it is necessary to connect the aircraft to some electrical power source or to carry out engine motoring from the starter and thus to ensure false starting. Besides, re-preserving the engines which are stored outside the aircraft requires their mounting on the aircraft and then their dismantling; - The preservation carried out on a nonrunning gas-turbine engine does not ensure the actuation of normally closed valves that does not ensure a complete filling of all internal cavities with preservative compound; - The above-mentioned methods require significant time consumption for the preservation and the devices intended for engine preservation or de-preservation must include additional process tanks and power sources and is connected with extra fuel consumption for the operation of auxiliary power plant; it strongly contaminates environment and does not exclude the formation of air pockets in interna! cavities of engine mains and units.

Disclosure of the invention The purpose of this invention is to develop the method of internal preservation and de-preservation of gas-turbine engines, allowing to carry out engine preservation and depreservation with the smallest expenditures of time, energy, fuel, and preservative media, under any weather conditions, including the engines installed on in-service vehicle, for example, aircraft, and preventing the need for false starting and engine motoring from the starter. The purpose of the invention is also the development of method and device for the preservation of engines, being located outside the in-service vehicle. Such method and device should prevent the need for setting the engines to the vehicle for fulfilling these operations and should also ensure an increase in reliability and quality of the preservation of engine and its units in order to extend the period of storage of engine preserved both as a part of the vehicle and outside the vehicle.

When creating the invention, we set the task to develop the method of internal preservation or depreservation of gas-turbine engines, that allows to ensure a low residual content of fuel in preservative medium after the preservation and the absence of undesirable air pockets, clearances, and cavities, and to ensure the technological capability of preservation or de-preservation of air starter during the engine preservation or de-preservation due to the automation of sequentially combined processes of working-media pumping through the engine units and devices, including with destroyed engine gas-air duct, and due to the application of optimum compositions of working media .

When creating the invention, we also set the task to design the device for internal preservation and/or depreservation of gas-turbine engines, that ensures the presence and interaction of structural elements, required to fulfill the operations of the method of internal preservation and/or de-preservation in required modes and sequences of the operation of actuating mechanisms of the device and engine.

The set problem was resolved by inventing the method of internal preservation or depreservation of gas-turbine engines that is used on a nonrunning engine for automatic supplying, in a preset sequence, at a pressure and in a pulse mode, the working media, which are used for preservation or depreservation, from self-contained working medium sources to the internal mains and cavities of units and systems of the engine to be preserved or depreserved, by transmitting control electric signals, which have a specified duty ratio and are intercoordinated in a preset sequence, from a self-contained control device to the actuating devices of the above-mentioned engine units and to the actuating devices of self-contained working medium sources, wherein said signals are used for operating said actuating devices according to a predetermined cycle and with the number of cycles which is sufficient for obtaining the required parameters of the pumped working medium, and the electric power supply is carried out with the aid of an self-contained electrical power source.

Besides, according to the invention, it is expedient to supply preheated working media to the engine units and systems to be preserved or depreserved, at a pressure which corresponds to maximum allowable operating pressure of appropriate system or unit.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it is expedient to ensure a change in the pressure of working-medium supply when pumping the working media.

In this case, according to the invention, it is possible to carry out simultaneous or series preservation of engine fuel and oil systems, combustion chamber, gas-air duct, and air starter.

In this case, according to the invention, during the preservation it is expedient to use the following agents as working media: inert gas and liquid preservative mixture in sequence - for fuel and oil systems and basic units; inert gas and preservative-mixture aerosol in sequence - for gas-air duct; and inert gas and preservative mixture - for air starter.

In this case, according to the invention, during the preservation it is expedient to use the following agents as working media: dried nitrogen and light oil or preservative compound recommended in the engine operation guide - in sequence, for fuel and oil systems and basic units; dried nitrogen and aerosol of oil used in the engine during its operation - in sequence, for gas-air duct; and dried nitrogen and light oil - for air starter.

In this case, according to the invention, during the preservation it is expedient to use the following agents as working media: flushing mixture or its aerosol and inert gas in sequence - for fuel and oil systems and basic units; flushing-mixture aerosol and inert gas in sequence - for gas-air duct; and flushing-mixture aerosol and inert gas in sequence - for air starter.

In this case, according to the invention, during the preservation it is expedient to use the following agents as working media: light oil used in the engine during its operation, and dried nitrogen in sequence - for fuel and oil systems and basic units; aerosol of fuel used in the engine during its operation, and dried nitrogen in sequence - for gas-air duct and air starter.

Furthermore, according to the invention, several nonrunning gas-turbine engines may subject to simultaneous preservation or de-preservation.

In this case, according to the invention, during the pumping of working media it is desirable to carry out motoring-over at low rpm.

Furthermore, according to the invention, it is expedient to ensure the specified sequence, duty ratio, and cycling of control signals by shaping the control signals according to adjustable cyclogram programmable for operating the above-mentioned actuating mechanisms.

The set problem was also resolved by developing automated device for internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines that contains: - Self-contained sources of working media used for preservation or de-preservation; they contain electrical actuating devices adapted in ON-mode for supplying the working media at a pressure to the outlets of the self-contained sources; - The distribution device, which contains the electrical actuating devices adapted in ON-mode for communicating the above outlets of self-contained working medium sources with relevant inlets of engine mains, systems, and units to be preserved or depreserved; - Self-contained electrical power source; - Self-contained control device connectable to the self-contained electrical power source and ensuring the following: - Creation and retention of: correctable databases of operating modes for the above electrical actuating devices of the above self-contained working medium sources and the above distribution device and electrical actuating devices of gas-turbine engine systems and units; databases of the parameters of working-media supply; and databases of relevant engine cyclograms of sequences for automatic transmitting of control intercoordinated commands for enabling disabling the above electric actuating devices; - Providing the operator with information available in the above databases in the form and volume sufficient for his selection of functional cyclograms of preservation or de-preservation; - Generation of control commands as per selected cyclogram; - Generation of control electric signals with specified duty ratio in accordance wit control commands and their automatic transmitting in a preset sequence for enabling/disabling relevant electrical actuating devices of automated device and engine.

In this case, according to the invention, it is expedient so that the self-contained working medium sources would additionally contain the actuating devices, which ensure heating the working media.

Furthermore, according to the invention, the automated device can be adapted for simultaneous preservation and/or depreservation of several gas-turbine engines and in this case may contain one self- contained control device with one electrical power source and several self-contained working medium sources and several distribution devices.

In this case, according to the invention, it is expedient so that the automated device would contain self-contained device for motoring-over at low rpm.

Furthermore, it is expedient so that the automated device would be designed with possible current correction of the sequence and duty ratio of control commands and relevant control electric signals and of the parameters of working-media supply.

Brief description of the drawings Hereinafter the invention is explained by examples of its realization and by accompanying drawings, on which: Fig. 1 - Diagram of gas-turbine engine preservation or de-preservation according to the invention; Fig. 2 - Layout view of the version of preservation cyclogram for the fuel and oil systems and gas-air duct of gas-turbine helicopter engine according to the invention: Fig. 3 - Layout view of the version of preservation cyclogram for the fuel and oil systems, gas-air duct, and air starter of gas-turbine aircraft engine according to the invention.

In this case given examples of the realization of the method of internal preservation and/or depreservation and examples of design of the automated device for internal preservation or depreservation of gas-turbine engines according to the invention do not limit the embodiments and uses of inventions and do not exceed the scope of patent claims.

The best embodiment of the invention The method of automated internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines can be realized according to the invention with the aid of the device that allows automatic execution of preservation or de-preservation operation in a preset sequence with supplying of working media at a predetermined pressure with enabling/disabling the electrical actuating devices in a preset sequence.

Further the method according to the invention is illustrated by the example of simultaneous preservation of fuel and oil systems and gas-air duct of small aircraft gas-turbine engine, which is located on the aircraft in inoperative state or outside the aircraft, with the aid of the automated device for the preservation and/or de-preservation of small-size gas-turbine engines according to the invention, as shown in Fig. I.

The automated device (1) shown in Fig. l for preservation and/or de-preservation includes: - Self-contained working medium sources (2, 3, 4) and actuating devices supplying the working media to the outlets of these sources: - Self-contained source (2) of preservative mixture for fuel system, - Self-contained source (3) of preservative mixture for oil system, and - Self-contained source (4) of inert gas; - The distribution device (5), for example, pneumohydraulic one) connected, for example, via the mains to the inlets of engine mains, systems, and units to be preserved and/or depreserved, and to the outlets of self-contained working-medium sources; - Self-contained control device (6), which has a control console (7) with indication panel (8) for the device (1) and is adapted for shaping and transmitting the electric signals with specified sequence and duty ratio to the actuating devices of self-contained working medium sources (2,3,4) and pneumohydraulic distribution device (5) and to the actuating devices of engine systems and units to be preserved or depreserved; - Self-contained electrical power source (9) for supporting the self-contained control device (6).

In this case the self-contained working media sources (2 and 3) serve as sources of preservative mixtures during the preservation and can be used as self-contained sources of flushing mixtures during the depreservation.

If the manual on the operation of gas-turbine engine, which is subject to preservation, recommends identical types of preservative mixture for the engine fuel and oil systems or mixing the preservative mixtures is permitted according to the specifications, then one self-contained source can be used or self-contained sources can combined via the mains.

For example, the self-contained source (2) can contain the tank 10 for holding the preservative mixture for fuel system and the following actuating devices: electric pump (1 1) for its supply and hydraulic distribution device (12) and mixer (13) for preparing its aerosol.

For example, the self-contained source (3) can contain the tank (14) for holding the preservative mixture for oil system and electric pump (15), hydraulic distribution device (16), and mixer (17) for preparing its aerosol, and electric pump (1 1 ) for its supplying and hydraulic distribution device (12) and mixer (13) for preparing its aerosol.

In this case the tanks (10 and 14) of the self-contained sources of working media (2 and 3) can be designed with the possibility of medium preheating and temperature control and can contain the actuating devices that ensure such heating, and also they must be supplied with the displays of quantity or level of working medium in the tanks 10 and 14.

In this case the electric pumps 1 1 and 15 can be designed with variable pressure level of working media and can be equipped with automatic pump safety-relief devices and with the group of safety-overflow valves settable for different pressure levels of working medium.

Depending on selected type of electric pump, the pumps 1 1 and 15 can be combined in one house with separate suction and outlet lines. One pump can be used instead of two pumps (11 and 15) in the case of identical preservative mixture used for fuel and oil systems or in the case of their possible mixing.

Self-contained source (4) of inert gas used during the preservation and during the de-preservation for scavenging of fuel and oil systems and scavenging of gas-air duct, and also for preparing the aerosols of working media, may contain inert-gas cylinder ( 18), pneumatic reducer (19), and valve (20).

According to the invention, oil or any other preservative liquid recommended in the engine operation guide can be used as preservative mixture; for example, liquid fuel used in the engine during its operation can be used as flushing mixture; and dried nitrogen can be used as inert gas.

The automated equipment 1 also contains the device 21 for supplying the aerosols of preservative mixture (or during the depreservation - aerosols of flushing mixture) or inert gas into the engine gas-air duct.

The pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 can contain the actuating device 22 with valves 23 for supplying the working media, for example, according to the invention, preservative mixture or its aerosols (or during the de-preservation - flushing mixture or its aerosols), or dried nitrogen into the mains and to the actuating devices of engine (24) in accordance with specified sequence and supply time. For example, to the valves 23-Mi for supplying into the oil mains and the engine oil systems and units (24), and to the valves 23-Ti for supplying into the fuel mains and the engine fuel systems and units (24).

Self-contained control device (6) is electrically connected with all actuating devices of the automated equipment (1 ) and with the actuating devices of the engine systems and units (24) that subject to the preservation (or de-preservation), for example, with electric distribution devices of the engine fuel and oil systems (24).

In this case the self-contained control device (6) contains programmable distribution device (25), which includes, for example, two-level industrial processor, which contains in its memory the database (26) of cyclograms of different modes of the operation of automated equipment ( 1 ) during the preservation or de-preservation for several types of engines.

In this case, at control level, the programmable distribution device (25) generates control programs according to the cyclograms available in the database (26) for the operation of actuating devices of the automated equipment (1), and at execution level, with the aid of electrical device (27), generates control signals with voltage level that corresponds to operating voltage of the electrics of gas-turbine engine (24) and equipment (1).

The device (27) is operated from the console (7), and its operating sequence is controlled with visual indication on the panel (8). The visual indication can be realized both on the basis of individual elements, such as pressure gages, ammeters, voltmeters, and light emitters (electric lamps, light-emitting diodes, etc.) and on the basis of displaying the required parameters of preservation or de-preservation process, for example, liquid-crystal display, which besides the indication of the parameters of executed operations can visualize the sequence of process operations, which must be executed during the preservation or de-preservation of one or several engines.

Furthermore, the control console (7) with indication panel (8) is designed enabling the operator to carry out manual changeover control of operation modes of the installation 1, to monitor the preservation and de-preservation process, for example, in proportion to the execution of commands in accordance with operating sequence of the equipment (1 ), and to monitor the sequence of enabling/disabling the units of the equipment (1 ) and actuating devices of gas-turbine engine, in particular, hydraulic and electrical distribution devices of the fuel- and oil-system units as well as the volumes and pressure of working media in the self-contained sources 2, 3, and 4.

In this case the panel 7 enables switching-over the automated equipment 1 into manual operation, for example, in order to include individual cycles required for the operation of actuating devices into preselected cyclogram, for example, for the cases, when individual engine systems and units require considerably more prolonged pumping of working media to maintain a high quality of their preservation, for example, with the correction of the parameters of pulse mode of pumping, for example, duty ratio of control electric signals.

Fig. 1 also shows the devices 28 intended for draining spent preservative media from the engine fuel and oil systems. The quality of executed preservation (or de-preservation) is assessed on the basis of sampling of such media, for example, on the basis of air pockets present in the preservative mixture (or oil particles present in the flushing mixture).

Spent preservative (or flushing) mixtures can be cleaned up and returned to relevant self-contained sources of working media. Such cleaning can be also carried out in the automated equipment 1. In this case the automated equipment I can contain some devices for collecting the pumped preservative and flushing mixtures and some device for their cleaning that enables returning the cleaned mixtures into corresponding tanks 10 and 14 for their reuse or repumping of media, if required.

The self-contained power source 9 may include, for example, storage battery with 27V output voltage.

According to the invention, the method of internal preservation or de-preservation is realized as follows: When preparing the engine for its preservation, pneumatic and hydraulic mains and electric systems with the connectors from the automated equipment 1 are connected to it instead of in-service engine mains and systems. The places of connection depend on the type of engine.

The automated equipment 1 is started up by voltage supply to the self-contained control device 6 by pressing start button on the console 7.

Engine type and preservation mode are selected on the control console 7, i.e., specific operating cyclogram is selected for the actuating devices of automated equipment (1) and engine (24).

The following is provided during automatic transmitting the control signals of given duty ratio synchronized in a preset sequence from the self-contained control device 6 to the actuating devices 24-Mi and 24-Ti of fuel and oil systems, gas-air ducts, air starter, combustion chamber, and other engine units, to the actuating devices 10-17 and 19-20 of the self-contained sources of working media (2,3,4), and to the actuating devices 22, 23-Mi, and 23-Ti and the device 21 : - Opening (in a preset sequence for preset time) of internal mains and cavities of engine units and systems that are accessed via electric distribution devices; - Preparation and supply of working media at a specific temperature, in a preset sequence and at a specified pressure, which corresponds to maximum engine operating modes, during a preset time, from the self-contained working medium sources into the internal mains and cavities of engine units and systems that are accessed at opened electrical distribution devices, and into the internal cavities of engine hydraulic distribution devices; - Opening of internal cavities of engine hydraulic distribution devices when the pressure in the internal cavity of each hydraulic distribution device achieves working-medium pressure sufficient for their opening; - The pumping of working media at a specific temperature, under specified pressure, in a preset sequence of their pumping during a preset time through the mains and internal cavities of fuel and oil systems, gas-air duct, air starter, combustion chamber, and through the internal cavities of engine hydraulic distribution devices; Subsequent closing of the above hydraulic and electrical distribution devices in a preset sequence and stopping the supply of working media; in this case each of the actuating devices is operated according to specified cycle in specified number of cycles sufficient for achieving the required parameters of the pumped working medium.

According to the invention, it is desirable to motor the turbocompressor rotor of the engine that is subject to the preservation or de-preservation, synchronous with supplying of working media, at low speed with the aid of standard manual key or self-contained electric device.

Preservative mixture passes through the pipelines and through all engine units actuating in specific sequence as well as through the engine supports. Their preservation occurs.

During internal preservation of gas-air duct, dried nitrogen is supplied at specified pressure from the cylinder 18 to the devices 21 for spraying the preservative mixture, for example, oil aerosol (so called oil mist) that is then supplied to the inlet of engine gas-air duct. In this case the turbocompressor rotor is smoothly motored with the aid of standard manual key or self-contained electrical device. The preservation is conducted, for example, by means of 2-3 repetitions of cyciogram selected on the console 7 from the cyclograms available in the database, or, if necessary, the cyciogram is corrected by introducing additional cycles available in the database.

According to the invention, operating sequence and cycle number can be different and depend on the type of engine and its service life and design features.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the version of the cyclogram of internal conservation of the fuel and oil systems and gas-air duct of gas-turbine helicopter engine according to the invention with the use of only oil as preservative medium for the fuel and oil systems, and only oil aerosols - for the gas-air duct. Besides, the cyclogram (Fig. 2) that includes two preservation cycles shows the signals of one preservation cycle, where: "i" - number of electric actuating device or unit: "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump 1 1 for the preservation of fuel system; in this case, the valve of hydraulic distribution device (12) supplying the oil into the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 is opened; "b" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump ( 15) for the preservation of oil system; in this case, the valve of hydraulic distribution device 16 supplying the oil into the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 is opened and then is closed according to specified duty ratio; "c" - signal of oil supply into the oil system; in this case the valves 23-Mi are opened and then closed according to specified duty ratio; "d" - signal of oil supply into the fuel system; in this case the valves 23 -Ti are opened and then closed according to specified duty ratio; «e» and «g» - signals for opening/closing the actuating devices 24-Ti, 24-T2,... 24-Ti, 24-Mi,... 24-ΜΪ of fuel and oil systems, respectively; "f - signal for opening/ closing the valve (it is not shown on the drawing) for oil supply to the engine injectors; "h" - signal of gas supply into the engine gas-air duct; in this case the valves 20 and 13 are opened; As shown in Fig.2, total duration of conservation does not exceed 68 seconds (two cycles, 34sec.) according to this cyclogram.

Fig. 3 schematically shows the version of preservation cyclogram for the fuel and oil systems, gas-air duct, and air starter of gas-turbine aircraft engine, respectively, according to the invention.

The cyctogram shown in Fig. 3 represents the version of sequence and duty ratio for control electric signals sent according to the invention from the self-contained control device 6 to the actuating devices of automated equipment (1) and gas-turbine engine (24) during its conservation, with sequential automatic processing according to the invention: -with the use of dried nitrogen, for example, under pressure of 1.0-2.0kg/cm2; -with the use of oil, for example, under pressure of 0.5-2.5kg cm'; - with the use of oil aerosol, for example, under pressure of 1.0-2.0kg/cm2, and then -with the reuse of oil, for example, under pressure of 1.0-2.0kg/cm2.

The cyctogram (Fig.3) shows the following cycles: Cycle A - supply of dried nitrogen (from the Ist second till the 19^ second): "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric pump 1 1 (Fig. I) which withdraws the oil from the tank 10 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main - is absent; "b" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump 15 which withdraws the oil from the tank 14 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main - is absent; "c" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 16 (Fig. l) which supplies the oil from the pump 15 into the actuating device (22) of pneumohydralic distribution device (5) - is absent; "d" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 12 (Fig. l) which supplies the oil from the pump 1 1 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 - is absent; "e" - signal for opening closing the actuating devices 24- Ti of engine fuel system which supplies the dried nitrogen into the engine fuel system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the nitrogen supply; "f ' - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Ti which supply the dried nitrogen to the inlet 24-TF into the manifold of combustion-chamber injectors; "g" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Mi which supply the dried nitrogen to the inlets of the mains and 24-Mi actuating devices of engine oil system; "h" - signal for opening closing the pneumatic reducer 19 which withdraws the dried nitrogen from the cylinder 18 and supplies the nitrogen to the valve 20; "q" - signal for opening/closing the valve 20 which supplies the dried nitrogen into the actuating device 22; "j" - signal for enabling disabling the mixer 17 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22; "k" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the device 21 supplying the preservative media into the engine gas-air duct; "r" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Ti of actuating device (22) which supply the dried nitrogen to the actuating devices 24-Ti of engine fuel system; "m" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Mi of actuating device (22) which supply the dried nitrogen to the inlets of the mains and 24-Mi actuating devices of engine oil system; "n" - signal for enabling/disabling the device 21supplying the dried nitrogen into the engine gas-air duct and air starter; "p" - signal for enabling disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22.

Cycle B - oil supply (from the 2(f second till the 40h second): "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric pump 1 1 (Fig. 1) which withdraws the oil from the tank 10 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "b" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump 15 which withdraws the oil from the tank 14 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "c" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 16 (Fig.1) which supplies the oil from the pump 15 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydrauhc distribution device 5; "d" - signal for enabling disabling the hydraulic distribution device 12 (Fig. l) which supplies the oil from the pump 1 1 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "e" - signal for opening/closing the actuating devices 24- Ti of engine fuel system which supply the dried nitrogen into the engine fuel system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices (not shown on the drawings) required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the nitrogen supply; "f" - signal for opening/closing the valve 23-Ti which supplies the oil into the manifold of combustion-chamber injectors; "g" - signal for enabling/disabling the actuating devices 24-Mi of engine oil system which supply the oil into the engine oil system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the oil supply; "h" - signal for enabling/disabling the pneumatic reducer 19 which withdraws the dried nitrogen from the cylinder 18 and supplies the nitrogen to the valve 20 - is absent; "q" - signal for opening/closing the valve 20 which supplies the dried nitrogen into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 - is absent; "j" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 17 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22 - is absent; "k" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the device 21 supplying the preservative media into the engine gas-air duct - is absent; "r" - signal for opening closing the valves 23-Ti which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Ti of engine fuel system; "m" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Mi which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Mi of engine oil system; "n" - signal for enabling/disabling the device 21 supplying the dried nitrogen into the engine gas-air duct and air starter - is absent; "p" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22 - is absent; Cycle B, - supply of oil aerosol (from the 4fh second till the 72nd second): "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric pump 1 1 (Fig. 1) which withdraws the oil from the tank 10 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "b" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump 15 which withdraws the oil from the tank 14 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "c" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 16 (Fig. I) which suppties the oil from the pump 15 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "d" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 12 (Fig.1 ) which supplies the oil from the pump 1 1 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "e" - signal for enabling/disabling the actuating devices 24-Ti of engine fuel system which supplies the oil aerosol into the engine fuel system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices (not shown on the drawings) required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the oil-aerosol supply; "f ' - signal for opening closing the valve 23-Ti, which supplies the oil aerosol into the manifold of combustion-chamber injectors; "g" - signal for enabling disabling the actuating devices 24-Mi of engine oil system which supply the oil into the engine oil system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the oil supply; "h" - signal for enabling/disabling the pneumatic reducer 19 which withdraws the dried nitrogen from the cylinder 18 and supplies the nitrogen to the valve 20; "q" - signal for opening closing the valve 20 which supplies the dried nitrogen into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "j" - signal for enabling disabling the mixer 17 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22; "k" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the device 21 supplying the preservative media into the engine gas-air duct - is absent; "r" - signal for opening closing the valves 23-Ti which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Ti of engine fuel system; "m" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Mi which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Mi of engine oil system; "n" - signal for enabling/disabling the device 21 supplying the dried nitrogen into the engine gas-air duct and air starter - is absent; "p" - signal for enabling disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22.

Cycle B2 - oil pumping (from the 7$h second till the 100fh second): "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric pump 1 1 (Fig. I) which withdraws the oil from the tank 10 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "b" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric oil pump 1 which withdraws the oil from the tank 14 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; "c" - signal for enabling/disabling the hydraulic distribution device 16 (Fig. l) which supplies the oil from the pump 15 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "d" - signal for enabling disabling the hydraulic distribution device 12 (Fig. l ) which supplies the oil from the pump 1 1 into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5; "e" - signal for opening closing the actuating devices 24- Ti of engine fuel system which supply the dried nitrogen into the engine fuel system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices r(not shown on the drawings) required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the nitrogen supply; "f - signal for opening/closing the valve 23-Ti which supplies the oil into the manifold of combustion-chamber injectors; "g" - signal for enabling/disabling the actuating devices 24- i of engine oil system which supply the oil into the engine oil system, generate the pressure in hydraulic distribution devices required for their opening, maintain such conditions during fixed time, and then depressurize for their closing by stopping the oil supply; "h" - signal for enabling/disabling the pneumatic reducer 19 which withdraws the dried nitrogen from the cylinder 18 and supply the nitrogen to the valve 20 - is absent; "q" - signal for opening/closing the valve 20 which supplies the dried nitrogen into the actuating device 22 of the pneumohydraulic distribution device 5 - is absent; "j" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 17 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22 - is absent; "k" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the device 21 supplying the preservative media into the engine gas-air duct - is absent; "r" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Ti, which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Ti of engine fuel system; "m" - signal for opening/closing the valves 23-Mi, which supply the oil to the actuating devices 24-Mi of engine oil system; "n" - signal for enabling/disabling the device 21 supplying the dried nitrogen into the engine gas-air duct and air starter - is absent; "p" - signal for enabling disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the preservative-mixture aerosol into the actuating device 22 - is absent; Cycle C - preservation of gas-air duct (from the 101st second to the 114"1 second): "a" - signal for enabling/switching-over/disabling of electric pump 1 1 (Fig. 1) which withdraws the oil from the tank 10 and generates desired pressure level in oil-supply main; «b», «c», «d», «e», «f», «g» - these signals are absent; "h" - signal for enabling/disabling the pneumatic reducer 1 which withdraws the dried nitrogen from the cylinder 18 and supplies the nitrogen to the valve 21 ; «q» , «j» - these signals are absent; "k" - signal for enabling/disabling the mixer 13 which supplies the oil aerosol into the device 21 supplying the preservative media into the engine gas-air duct; «r» , «m» - these signals are absent; "n" - signal for enabling/disabling the device 21 which sprays the aerosol mixture in the engine gas-air duct; «p» - this signal is absent.

Besides, the cyclogram can be provided with "D" pause during which, for example, it is possible to stabilize the air-drop mixture of oil aerosol with the air pockets in internal cavities of engine units and systems that will enable removing the air gaps more effectively during the subsequent pumping of preservative medium. Or necessary testing of the pumped mixtures can be carried out during the pause.

If necessary, the shown cycles can be repeated as many times as required to achieve desired quality of preservation or de-preservation. For example, during the engine de-preservation - with supply of flushing mixture before the pumped mixture is free of fuel or oil particles. Or during the preservation - before the absence of air pockets in the preservative mixture pumped through the engine fuel and oil mains and units.

The operation of automated equipment 1 is controlled by the indications on the panel 8. At will the quality of the pumped preservative mixture (for example, preservative oil at the drain outlets 28-Mi and 28 -Ti of engine (24)) can be controlled periodically as the cycle progresses or after the completion of the entire block of cycles of given cyclogram. In this case it is possible to make a conclusion on sufficient or insufficient number of executed preservation cycles on the basis of air pockets present in the oil.

If necessary, the cyclogram can be restarted. In this case the entire block of cycles of given cyclogram can be repeated or other cyclograms can be used, for example, shortened ones containing some of the cycles shown in Fig. 3, with the repetition of only individual cycles.

The developed work-execution method also enables carrying out semiautomatic preservation of air starter after the completion of internal engine preservation in automatic mode.

The de-preservation of gas-turbine engine is carried out in similar way.

According to the invention, the method of internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines enables carrying out simultaneous operations of preservation and/or de-preservation on several engines, simultaneously combining internal preservation for some engines and internal de-preservation - for others, using in this case one automated device provided with several self-contained sources of preservative media, several self-contained sources of flushing media, at least one distribution device, one self-contained control devices, and one self-contained power source. In this case it is possible to reach significant invariance and mobility of the execution of preservation or de-preservation of different engines outside the aircrafts, for example, under the conditions of storage.

According to the invention, the method of internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines can be realized with the use of devices which contain known units, or with the use of automated equipment of internal preservation and/or de-preservation according to the invention. The method enables carrying out simultaneous or sequential preservation or de-preservation of systems and units of one shut-down engine as well as simultaneous or sequential preservation and de-preservation of systems and units of several shut-down engines. In this case it is not required to dismantle the engines from the aircraft and to connect the aircraft to power supply sources.

Furthermore, the method provides for checking out the actuation of all actuating devices of engine systems that subject to internal preservation or de-preservation and for filling all mains and units with working media.

Furthermore, the types of canning media, in particular, oils and their aerosols, pressures, and sequences of their supply can be selected so that to exclude the formation of air pockets in internal cavities of engine mains and units.

Besides, according to the invention, the method does not require significant expenditures of time for conservation, additional process tanks of significant volume, powerful sources of energy, and additional fuel consumption for auxiliary power plant. Spent working media do not cause environmental pollution and can be reused after their cleaning. According to the invention, the automated equipment is maintainable and simple to operate and can be easily subjected to modification in accordance with stated problems of internal preservation or de-preservation of systems and units of gas-turbine engines.

Aeronautical-engineering specialist must understand that the method and equipment of internal preservation according to the invention may be improved keeping within the scopes of patent claims. For example, it is possible to introduce automatic QC system for pumped mixtures, to unify the actuating devices of distribution device, to introduce automated system for the preparation of the aerosols of working media of different concentrations, and to enhance the invariance of the generation of cyclograms for the preservation of engines of different types. In this case there is no doubt that the method and equipment according to the invention have significant advantages as compared with known methods and equipment of internal preservation or de-preservation.

Industrial applicability The method of internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines according to the invention can be realized with the aid of known simple-to-operate devices and known technologies of the development of automated control programs The automated equipment invented for internal preservation and/or de-preservation of gas-turbine engines according to the invention enables conducting the operations of the method of internal preservation and/or de-preservation according to the invention in optimum modes with insignificant expenditures of electric power and working media without engine starting and without the use of fuel and oil resources of the engine installed on in-service vehicle, for example, on the aircraft.

Claims

We claim:

The method for internal preservation and/or depreservation of gas-turbine engines is used on a nonrunning engine for automatic supplying, in a preset sequence, at a pressure and in a pulse mode, the working media, which are used for preservation or de-preservation, from self-contained working medium sources to the internal mains and cavities of engine units and systems to be preserved or depreserved, by transmitting control electric signals, which have a specified duty ratio and are intercoordinated in a preset sequence, from a self-contained control device to the actuating devices of the above-mentioned engine units and systems and to the actuating devices of self-contained working medium sources, wherein said signals are used for operating said actuating devices according to a predetermined cycle with the number of cycles which is sufficient for obtaining the required parameters of the pumped working medium, and the electric power supply is carried out with the aid of an self-contained electrical power source.
The method of claim 1 is distinguished by supplying a pre-heated working media at a pressure corresponding to maximal working pressure for relevant engine system or unit.
The method of claim 1 is distinguished by providing the change of supply pressure level for working medium.
The method of claim 1 is distinguished by the preservation of the engine fuel and oil systems, combustion chamber, gas-air duct, and air starter. In this case the following agents are used as working media: inert gas and liquid preservative mixture in sequence - for fuel and oil systems and basic units; inert gas and preservative aerosol in sequence - for gas-air duct; and inert gas and preservative mixture in sequence - for air starter.
The method of claim 4 is distinguished by the use of the following agents as working media: dried nitrogen, oil aerosol, and liquid oil used in the engine during its operation - in sequence, for fuel and oil systems and basic units; dried nitrogen and aerosol of oil used in the engine during its operation - in sequence, for gas-air duct; and dried nitrogen and liquid oil in sequence - for air starter.
6. The method of claim 1 is distinguished by the depreservation of the engine fuel and oil systems, combustion chamber, gas-air duct, and air starter. In this case the following agents are used as working media: flushing mixture or its aerosol and inert gas in sequence - for fuel and oil systems and basic units; flushing mixture aerosol and inert gas in sequence - for gas-air duct; and flushing mixture and inert gas in sequence - for air starter.
7. The method of claim 6 is distinguished by the use of the following agents as working media: dried nitrogen and liquid fuel used in the engine during its operation - in sequence, for fuel and oil systems and basic units; dried nitrogen and aerosol of fuel used in the engine during its operation - in sequence, for gas-air duct; and liquid fuel and dried nitrogen in sequence - for air starter.
8. The method of claim 1 is distinguished by simultaneous preservation and depreservation of several shut-down gas-turbine engines; in this case electrical control signals are formed and fed from one self-contained control device.
9. The method of claim 1 is distinguished by rotor motoring at low rpm when pumping the working media.
10. The method of claim 1 is distinguished by providing the specified sequence, duty ratio, and cycling of control signals by generating the signals according to programmable correctable cyclogram of operation of the above actuating devices.
1 1. The automated equipment invented for internal preservation and/or de-preservation of shut-down gas-turbine engines, including: - self-contained working medium sources (2, 3, 4) used during the preservation or de-preservation, containing electric actuating devices (1 1, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) in ON mode, adapted for supply of working media at a pressure to the outlets of self-contained sources; - distribution device (5) containing electrical actuating devices (23-Mi, 23-Ti) adapted in ON-mode to provide the communication of the above outlets of self-contained working medium sources (2,3,4) with relevant inlets of the engine mains, systems, and units (24) to be preserved or depreserved; - self-contained power source (9); - self-contained control device (6) connectable to self-contained power source (9) and ensuring: - formation and retention of: correctable databases of operation modes for the above electric actuating devices ( 1 1, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23-Mi, 23-Ti) of self-contained working medium sources and the above distribution device and electric actuating devices (24-Mi, 24-Ti) of systems and units of gas-turbine engines; parameter databases for working-media supply; and databases of cyclograms of automatic serial transmitting of intercoordinated control commands for enabling/disabling the above actuating devices (1 1, ,12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23-Mi,23-Ti, 24-Mi, 24-Ti) for relevant type of engines; - providing the operator with information available in the above databases in the form and volume sufficient to form or select operational preservation/depreservation cyclograms; - formation of control commands according to selected cyclogram; - according to control commands, formation and automatic sending in specified sequence of control signals with specified duty ratio for enabling disabling relevant electric actuating devices (1 1, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23-Mi, 23-Ti, 24-Mi, 24-Ti) of automated equipment and engine.
12. The equipment of claim 1 1 is distinguished by the fact that self-contained working medium sources (2, 3, 4) include additional electric heaters for working media.
13. The equipment of claim 1 1 is distinguished by the fact that it is adapted for simultaneous preservation/de-preservation of several engines (24); meanwhile, it includes one self-contained control device (6) with one self-contained power source (9), several self-contained working medium sources (2, 3, 4), and several distribution devices (5). , The equipment of claim 1 1 is distinguished by the fact that it includes self-contained device for motoring-over at low rpm. . The equipment of claim 1 1 is distinguished by the fact that it is designed with possible current correction of sequence and duty ratio for control commands and parameters of modes for working-media supply. For the Dr. Ophir TAL, Patent Attorney Fisher Weiler Jones Method and Device for Internal Preservation and/or Depreservation of Gas-Turbine Engines Abstract The invention relates to operating gas-turbine engines. The inventive method and device for internal preservation and/or depreservation of gas-turbine engines are used for carrying out sequential operations on a nonrunning engine, consisting in automatically supplying, in a preset sequence, at a pressure and in a pulse mode, the working media, which are used for preservation or depreservation, from self-contained working medium sources (2, 3, 4) to the internal mains and cavities of units and systems of the engine (24) to be preserved or depreserved, by transmitting control electric signals, which have a specified duty ratio and are intercoordinated in a preset sequence, from a self-contained control unit (6) to the actuating devices (24-Mi, 24-Ti) of the above-mentioned units and systems of the engine (24), to the actuating devices (23-Mi, 23-Ti) of distribution device (5), and to the actuating devices ( 1 1 , 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20) of the self-contained working medium sources (2,3,4), wherein said signals are used for providing the conditions required for a working media supply and for operating said actuating devices in an automatic operation mode according to a predetermined cycle and with the number of cycles which is sufficient for obtaining the required parameters of the pumped working medium, and the electric power supply is carried out with the aid of an self-contained electrical power source (9).