Fluid flow control system

Abstract

A fluid flow control system (20) comprises a pumping assembly (22) for pumping a fluid (23) through an orifice (30), and a pressure measuring assembly (32) for measuring, and providing information on, the change in pressure across the orifice (30). The fluid flow control system (20) also includes a controller (36, 38) to adjust the pump assembly (22) in accordance with the aforesaid information and vary the rate of flow of the pumped fluid.

Description

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the upper half of the gas turbine engine;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a fluid flow control system.

Claims

1. A fluid flow control system comprising a pumping assembly for pumping a fluid through an orifice, a pressure measuring assembly for measuring and providing information on the change in pressure across the orifice, and a controller for processing the aforesaid information to adjust the pump assembly in accordance with the aforesaid information and vary the rate of flow of the pumped fluid.

2. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the pumping assembly comprises a torque driven pumping assembly, and the controller is arranged to adjust the drive torque of the pump assembly in accordance with the aforesaid information on the change in pressure.

3. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the pumping assembly comprises a torque driven pump and a prime mover to create the torque for driving the pump, the prime mover having a rotatable component to provide the aforesaid torque to the pump.

4. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system comprises a main compensator to modify the aforesaid information to a form usable by the pumping assembly.

5. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the controller provides a control signal to the pumping assembly to effect the aforesaid adjustment of the pumping assembly.

6. A fluid flow control system according to claim 5 wherein the pressure measuring assembly is arranged to provide a pressure difference feedback signal to the controller to provide the aforesaid information on the change in pressure across the orifice, and the controller is arranged to convert the pressure difference feedback signal to the control signal.

7. A fluid flow control system according to claim 5 wherein the fluid flow control system comprises a demand means for providing a demand for the fluid, the demand means providing a demand signal relating to the rate of flow of fluid provided from the pumping assembly.

8. A fluid flow control system according to claim 7 wherein the controller includes a main comparator for comparing the demand signal with the pressure difference feedback signal to provide a control signal to control the prime mover driving the pump.

9. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system further includes a pump outlet pressure control arrangement comprising a pressure sensor to sense outlet pressure from the pumping assembly and provide information on the aforesaid outlet pressure.

10. A fluid flow control system according to claim 9 wherein the information relating to the aforesaid outlet pressure is provided to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid outlet pressure.

11. A fluid flow control system according to claim 9 wherein the pump outlet pressure control arrangement comprises a pressure compensator to modify the information relating to the aforesaid outlet pressure to a form usable by the pump assembly.

12. A fluid flow control system according to claim 9 wherein the pump outlet pressure control arrangement is configured to provide an outlet pressure feedback signal to the controller, wherein the outlet pressure feedback signal provides the information on the outlet pressure of the pumping assembly.

13. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system further comprises a combustion pressure control arrangement comprising a combustor pressure sensor to sense the pressure in a combustor of an engine and provide information on the pressure in the combustor.

14. A fluid flow control system according to claim 13 wherein the information on the pressure in the combustor is provided to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid pressure in the combustor.

15. A fluid flow control system according to claim 13 wherein the combustor pressure control arrangement is configured to provide a combustor pressure feedback signal to the controller, wherein the combustor pressure feedback signal provides the information on the combustor pressure.

16. A fluid flow control system according to claim 13 wherein the combustor pressure control arrangement comprises a combustor pressure compensator to modify the information on the combustor pressure to a form usable by the pumping assembly.

17. A fluid flow control system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid flow control system further comprises a pumping assembly speed control arrangement comprising a speed sensor to sense the speed of the pumping assembly and provide information on the aforesaid speed.

18. A fluid flow control system according to claim 17 wherein the information on the speed of the pumping assembly is provided to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid speed of the pumping assembly.

19. A fluid flow control system according to claim 17 wherein the pumping assembly speed control arrangement is configured to provide a pumping assembly speed feedback signal to the controller, wherein the pumping assembly speed feedback signal provides the information on the speed of the pumping assembly.

20. A fluid flow control system according to claim 17 wherein the pumping assembly speed control arrangement comprises a speed compensator to modify the information on the speed of the pumping assembly to a form usable by the pumping assembly to a form usable by the pumping assembly.

21. A fluid flow control system according to claim 9 wherein the fluid flow control system comprises at least one subsidiary comparator for comparing a primary control signal with one or more of the outlet pressure feedback signals, the combustor pressure feedback signal, and the speed feedback signal, and provide a subsidiary control signal for controlling the pumping signal.

22. A method of controlling fluid flow, the said method comprising pumping a fluid through an orifice, measuring the pressure drop of the fluid across the orifice, providing information on the change in pressure across the orifice, processing the aforesaid information and adjusting the pumping assembly in accordance with the processed information to vary the rate of flow of the pump fluid.

23. A method according to claim 22 wherein the pumping assembly is a torque driven pumping assembly, and the method involves adjusting the torque of the torque driven pumping assembly in accordance with the processed information.

24. A method according to claim 22 wherein the method further involves modifying the aforesaid information by a main compensator to a form usable by the pump assembly.

25. A method according to claim 22 wherein the method involves providing a control signal from the controller to the pump assembly to effect the aforesaid adjustment of the pump assembly.

26. A method according to claim 22 wherein the stage of measuring the pressure difference across the orifice comprises providing a pressure difference feedback signal to the controller to provide the aforesaid information on the change in pressure across the orifice.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the method comprises converting the pressure difference feedback signal to the control signal by the controller.

28. A method according to claim 26 wherein the method further comprises providing a demand signal relating to the rate of flow of fluid for the pumping assembly, the method comprising comparing the demand signal with the pressure difference feedback signal to provide the control signal to control a prime mover driving the pump.

29. A method according to claim 22 wherein the method comprises sensing the outlet pressure at the pumping assembly and providing information on the aforesaid outlet pressure.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the method comprises providing the information on the aforesaid outlet pressure to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid outlet pressure.

31. A method according to claim 29 wherein the method comprises modifying the information on the aforesaid outlet pressure to a form usable by the pumping assembly.

32. A method according to claim 29 wherein the method comprises providing an outlet pressure feedback signal to the controller wherein the outlet pressure feedback signal provides information on the outlet pressure of the pumping assembly.

33. A method according to claim 22 wherein the method comprises sensing the pressure in a combustor of an engine, and providing information on the pressure in the combustor.

34. A method according to claim 33 wherein the method comprises providing the information on the pressure in the combustor to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid pressure in the combustor.

35. A method according to claim 33 wherein the method comprises providing a pressure feedback signal to the controller, wherein the combustor pressure feedback signal provides the information on the combustor pressure.

36. A method according to claim 33 wherein the method comprises modifying the information on the combustor pressure to a form usable by the pumping assembly.

37. A method according to claim 22 wherein the method comprises sensing the speed of the pumping assembly and providing information on the aforesaid speed.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the method comprises providing the information on the aforesaid speed of the pumping assembly to the controller for adjustment of the pumping assembly, the said adjustment relating to the aforesaid speed of the pumping assembly.

39. A method according to claim 37 wherein the method comprises providing a pumping assembly speed feedback signal to the controller, wherein the pumping assembly speed feedback signal provides the information on the speed of the pumping assembly.

40. A method according to claim 37 wherein the method comprises modifying the information on the speed of the pumping assembly to a form usable by the pumping assembly.