Flow merging device for a fluid system of a gas turbine engine

Abstract

A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a working fluid system capable of moving a working fluid. The working fluid system includes a flow union member capable of combining different streams of working fluid. In one form the flow union member is a T-shape, but other embodiments can take on other shapes. The flow union member is configured to receive separate streams of working fluid. One of the separate streams is routed around another of the separate streams and the streams are combined. In one form the outlet of the flow union member includes an annular flow stream of one of the separate streams that surrounds a core flow of the other of the separate flow streams.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a gas turbine engine having a fluid flow path for the conveyance of air through a rotatable compressor, a rotatable turbine, and a combustor capable of combusting a mixture of a fuel and air that traverses the fluid flow path, the gas turbine engine also having a path for the conveyance of a utility working fluid;   a first gas turbine passage for the conveyance of a first stream of the utility working fluid and a second gas turbine passage for the conveyance of a second stream of the utility working fluid, wherein the first stream and the second stream are combined to form a merged stream; and   a flow merging union to merge the first stream and the second stream of the utility working fluid and having an outlet to pass the merged utility working fluid, the flow merging union also including a first inlet in fluid communication with the first gas turbine passage and a second inlet in fluid communication with the second gas turbine passage, the flow merging union including an internal passage forming a flow path surface between the first inlet and the outlet and an internal fluid flow path that extends from the second inlet toward the outlet, the internal passage disposed within the fluid flow path such that a flow of utility working fluid in the internal fluid flow path is routed around the outside of the flow path surface of the internal passage to form a circumferentially extending fluid flow path adjacent a flow path of the internal passage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet receives fluid in a direction opposite the fluid received in the second inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flow of utility working fluid through the first inlet is at a substantially right angle to a merged flow of the utility working fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the internal passage includes a curvilinear bend between the first inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferentially extending fluid flow path adjacent a flow path of the internal passage forms an annular flow path, and wherein an ejector is formed with the utility working fluid in the internal fluid flow path and the utility working fluid in the internal passage. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , which further includes:
 a pump in fluid communication with the flow merging union, the pump useful to convey the utility working fluid; and   a filter for filtering contaminate from the utility working fluid in fluid communication with the pump.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the utility working fluid is a lubricant, and wherein the utility working fluid is routed to contact relatively rotating mechanisms of a turbomachinery mechanical component. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the lubricant is routed to contact a gearbox. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a gas turbine engine having a working fluid flow path through a compressor and turbine and out an exhaust, the gas turbine engine also having a utility fluid flow path through a mechanical device for the passage of a utility fluid;   a utility fluid circulation system having a first branch to convey a first flow of utility fluid to a confluence area and a separate second branch to convey a second flow of utility fluid to the confluence area, the first branch having a first portion upstream of the confluence area extending substantially enclosed within an interior of a passage and the second branch having a second portion upstream of the confluence extending along the exterior of the passage; and   wherein the confluence area is an area in which the first flow of utility fluid and the second flow of utility fluid are combined during operation of the utility fluid circulation system.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the second branch extends circumferentially around the first portion of the first branch, and wherein the first flow of utility fluid and the second flow of utility fluid interact to form an ejector action during operation of the utility fluid circulation system. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion forms an annular space radially outward from the first portion to convey the second flow of utility fluid, and wherein the utility fluid is a lubricant. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion includes a turn from a first direction at an upstream location to another direction at a downstream location. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second portion is configured to change a direction of the second flow of utility fluid, and wherein the utility fluid is a lubricant. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the confluence area forms an outlet of a union mechanism, the first direction, second direction, and the outlet form one of a T-shape and a Y-shape. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first direction is offset from the another direction by about ninety degrees. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a gas turbine engine having rotating turbomachinery capable of operating at elevated temperatures while compressing and expanding a working fluid, the gas turbine engine also including a first passage and a second passage configured to circulate a utility fluid for use with the gas turbine engine, the first passage in fluid communication with moveable components of the rotating turbomachinery; and   means for merging a stream of utility fluid from the first passage with a stream of utility fluid in the second passage.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 rotating a compressor of a gas turbine engine to elevate a pressure of a working fluid flowing;   circulating a utility working fluid throughout a closed circuit of the gas turbine engine;   separately flowing the utility working fluid through a first passage and a second passage;   merging the utility working fluid in the first passage with the utility working fluid in the second passage, wherein the merging includes:
 conveying the utility working fluid through a portion of the first passage to a junction; 
 routing the utility working fluid in the second passage between an exterior of the portion of the first passage and an interior of a passage junction device; and 
 combining a core flow of the utility working fluid in the first passage with a circumferentially shaped flow of the utility working fluid in the second passage. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the utility working fluid is a lubricating fluid, the flowing includes conveying the lubricating fluid through a lubricating fluid line upstream of the passage junction device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , which further includes pumping the lubricating fluid through the closed circuit and forming an annular flow of the lubricating fluid in the second passage. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the utility fluid is a lubricant, and which further includes receiving lubricant from a reduction gear box through the first passage and lubricant from a power section of the gas turbine engine through the second passage.