Patent · US Active

Method and device for suppressing the formation of ice on structures at the air intake of a turbomachine

US9708929B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
9References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 2014
Grant dateJul 18, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25C5/08
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The application relates to a method and a device for suppressing ice formation on intake structures of a compressor, particularly the compressor of a gas turbine. The technical aim of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for suppressing the formation of ice on said structures, which avoid the disadvantages of known solutions, such as a reduction of the performance of the gas turbine, and have a simple and broad applicability. According to the present invention the mechanical vibratory energy of said structures during operation is converted into electrical energy by a piezoelectric element, firmly applied to said structure, and in a connected electrical circuit the generated electrical energy is then converted into thermal energy by an ohmic resistor and this thermal energy is conducted to at least a portion of the structure for suppressing ice formation. Excess energy may be transmitted by a transmitter to other circuits in adjacent structures.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.