Actuation Network Cooling Reservoir for Engine-Off Thermal Soakback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pressure-controlled pump systems fail to provide adequate cooling to actuators during non-operational conditions, leading to high temperature thermal conditions that impact their operability and service life.
Innovation Solution
A fluid system with a cooling reservoir and control valve network that distributes cooling flow to an actuation network during engine off conditions, using a spring-loaded piston to depressurize and distribute stored fluid for continuous cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the pump system operates in traditional pressure-controlled mode, then fluid supply to actuators is maintained during operational conditions, but cooling is insufficient during non-operational conditions leading to high temperature thermal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling reservoir pre-stores pressurized cooling fluid during operational conditions so that cooling can be immediately provided to actuators during non-operational conditions when the pump is off, preventing thermal soakback and maintaining actuator reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling reservoir acts as an intermediary between the pump system and actuators, storing pressurized cooling fluid that can be released to cool actuators independently of pump operation, thus resolving the contradiction between operational cooling and non-operational thermal management
2Temperature
If cooling flow is provided continuously to actuators, then thermal management is improved during non-operational conditions, but additional components and system complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling reservoir serves multiple functions: it stores cooling fluid during operational conditions and provides pressurized cooling flow during non-operational conditions, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems for different operational states and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own operational cooling flow to charge the reservoir during normal operation, and the stored pressurized fluid automatically serves the cooling need during shutdown without requiring external power or control systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively mitigates thermal soak back in actuators by providing continuous cooling during engine shutdown, maintaining their operational readiness and extending their service life with minimal additional components.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of the fluid provided to the actuation network is bled off to fill the cooling reservoir with pressurized fluid during the operational state... Cooling flow is distributed from the cooling reservoir to the actuation network during the non-operational state
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid system includes a fluid inlet fluidically connected to a fluid source, a boost pump fluidically coupled to the fluid inlet, a control valve network fluidically coupled to the boost pump, a cooling reservoir fluidically coupled to the control valve network, wherein the cooling reservoir comprises a bleed orifice, an actuation network fluidically coupled to the check valve network and the cooling reservoir, and a fluid outlet path fluidically coupled to the actuation network. The fluid system may be housed within a gas turbine engine, and can distribute cooling flow from the cooling reservoir to the actuation network when the gas turbine engine is in an off state, mitigating thermal soak back during engine off conditions.