A variable geometry inlet system of an aircraft engine includes an inlet duct. The inlet duct includes at least first and second sections moveable between extended and retracted positions such that the inlet duct defines a variable axial length of an inlet passage for selective flight conditions. The inclusion of acoustic treatment may assist in controlling noise.

An inlet duct for use with an engine is presented. The invention includes a duct structure, at least one spike disposed along an interior surface of the duct structure, and an inlet throat formed by one or more apexes disposed along an equal number of spikes. The inlet throat corresponds to the minimum cross-sectional area through which airflow passes as otherwise allowed by the maximal obstruction formed by the apex(es) within the duct structure. Each spike is bounded by a longitudinal ridge and a lateral ridge along an upper end and a base along a lower end. The longitudinal ridge and the lateral ridge intersect at the apex. In preferred embodiments, the longitudinal ridge is at least partially non-linear so as to properly conform to the interior surface of the duct structure. The portion of each spike upstream of the inlet throat functions primarily as a supersonic diffuser. The portion of each spike downstream of the inlet throat functions primarily as a subsonic diffuser. Airflow is isentropically compressed and then expanded within the inlet duct so that greater-than-subsonic flow at an input end is reduced to subsonic flow at an output end.

A system for optimizing engine air-mass-flow intake of an aircraft includes a forward-facing airframe-inlet duct interoperably coupled to an inlet of an engine of the aircraft, an air-mass-flow bypass mechanism coupled to the forward-facing airframe-inlet duct and adjustable to allow a selected amount of air entering an inlet of the forward-facing airframe-inlet duct to bypass the inlet of the engine, and an air-pressure sensor arranged in the forward-facing airframe-inlet duct adjacent to the inlet of the engine. A measured value (“PT1”) from the air-pressure sensor is used to determine a degree to which the air-mass-flow bypass mechanism is to be opened.

A pulverizer that pulverizes coal into pulverized coal; a gasifier that gasifies pulverized coal pulverized by the pulverizer; a combustor that combusts a gasified gas gasified by the gasifier; a compressor that supplies compressed air to the combustor; a gas turbine driven by a combustion gas generated by the combustor; a generator driven by the gas turbine to generate power; a flue gas supply channel that guides a part of a flue gas from the gas turbine to the pulverizer; an IGV that adjusts a flow rate of air supplied from the compressor to the combustor; and a controller that applies an air flow-rate reduction operation to control the IGV so that the flow rate of air is smaller than a set air flow rate determined from a set combustion temperature of the combustor.

A pulverizer that pulverizes coal into pulverized coal; a gasifier that gasifies pulverized coal pulverized by the pulverizer; a combustor that combusts a gasified gas gasified by the gasifier; a compressor that supplies compressed air to the combustor; a gas turbine driven by a combustion gas generated by the combustor; a generator driven by the gas turbine to generate power; a flue gas supply channel that guides a part of a flue gas from the gas turbine to the pulverizer; an IGV that adjusts a flow rate of air supplied from the compressor to the combustor; and a controller that applies an air flow-rate reduction operation to control the IGV so that the flow rate of air is smaller than a set air flow rate determined from a set combustion temperature of the combustor.

An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This assembly includes a center body, a scarfed inlet structure and an inlet passage. The scarfed inlet structure extends circumferentially about the center body. The inlet passage is radially between and formed by at least the center body and the scarfed inlet structure. A first component of the assembly is configured to rotate about an axis relative to a second component of the assembly between: (A) a first position where a metering portion of the inlet passage has a first area; and (B) a second position where the metering portion has a second area. The first component is one of the center body or the scarfed inlet structure, and the second component is the other one of the center body or the scarfed inlet structure.

An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This assembly includes a center body, a scarfed inlet structure and an inlet passage. The scarfed inlet structure extends circumferentially about the center body. The inlet passage is radially between and formed by at least the center body and the scarfed inlet structure. A first component of the assembly is configured to rotate about an axis relative to a second component of the assembly between: (A) a first position where a metering portion of the inlet passage has a first area; and (B) a second position where the metering portion has a second area. The first component is one of the center body or the scarfed inlet structure, and the second component is the other one of the center body or the scarfed inlet structure.

Method for using an air intake of a turbojet engine nacelle comprising at least one elastically deformable portion, at least one connecting member mounted in an annular cavity integrally with the elastically deformable portion, and at least one controllable displacement member, in which method: during a thrust phase of the turbojet engine, the controllable displacement member moves the connecting member into a first position in which the elastically deformable portion of the air intake lip has an aerodynamic profile, and during a thrust reversal phase of the turbojet engine the controllable displacement member moves the connecting member into a second position in which the elastically deformable portion of the air intake lip has an irregular profile so as to allow a release of the reverse air flow from the elastically deformable portion.

Method for using an air intake of a turbojet engine nacelle comprising at least one elastically deformable portion, at least one connecting member mounted in an annular cavity integrally with the elastically deformable portion, and at least one controllable displacement member, in which method: during a thrust phase of the turbojet engine, the controllable displacement member moves the connecting member into a first position in which the elastically deformable portion of the air intake lip has an aerodynamic profile, and during a thrust reversal phase of the turbojet engine the controllable displacement member moves the connecting member into a second position in which the elastically deformable portion of the air intake lip has an irregular profile so as to allow a release of the reverse air flow from the elastically deformable portion.

A system, as well as associated methods, for increasing the efficiency of a gas turbine including an inlet assembly and a compressor may include a housing configured to channel airstream towards the inlet assembly, an air treatment module positioned at a proximal end the housing, and at least one air conditioning module mounted downstream of the air treatment module for adjusting the temperature of the airstream entering the compressor. The air treatment module may include a plurality of inlet air filters and at least one blower configured to pressurize the air entering the air treatment module.