Heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a plurality of heat exchanger pipes, each pipe having first and second ends; wherein the heat exchanger pipes are disposed in a repeating pattern such that each heat exchanger pipe is joined to at least one other heat exchanger pipe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates generally to gas turbine engines and methods for oil cooling in such engines.[0002]Gas turbine engines are commonly provided with a circulating oil system for lubricating and cooling various engine components such as bearings, gearboxes, electrical generators, and the like. In operation the oil absorbs a substantial amount of heat that must be rejected to the external environment in order to maintain the oil at acceptable temperatures. As engine designs evolve the amount of heat to be rejected is increasing.[0003]Known oil cooling systems for gas turbine engines typically include one or more air-to-oil heat exchangers, referred to as “air cooled oil coolers” or “ACOCs”, and may also include air-to-air heat exchangers. These heat exchangers can be heavy and have high drag, and can require special inlet and outlet ducts and large, heavy brackets.[0004]The high weight is attributable partially to the need with existing designs to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a heat exchanger with multiple heat exchanger pipes that are joined, mutually supporting each other. The joints between the pipes are defined by mutually shared wall portions. The heat exchanger pipes can be joined at two or more locations. Each heat exchanger pipe is connected in fluid communication with a fluid manifold that includes inlet and outlet channels. The heat exchanger pipes can have a straight central portion and curved ends, and they can be grouped in pairs, each pair mutually joining to form an X shape. The heat exchanger pipes can also have bends and be designed with an area-increasing structure. The channels between the heat exchanger pipes have a constant flow area. Overall, this invention provides an efficient and effective heat exchanger for gas turbine engines.

Problems solved by technology

These heat exchangers can be heavy and have high drag, and can require special inlet and outlet ducts and large, heavy brackets.

Furthermore, these heat exchangers are used in a challenging environment with high temperatures and pressures that can cause low cycle fatigue (“LCF”) problems and high vibration levels that can cause high cycle fatigue (“HCF”) problems.

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