Adaptive Aircraft Fuel Thermal Management via Dynamic Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal management systems in gas turbine engines are not adaptive to dynamically changing operating conditions and have limited capacity to absorb heat due to fuel degradation at high temperatures, leading to inefficient heat transfer and potential system malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive thermal management system that includes a heat exchanger, temperature sensors, and a sensor assembly to measure the coolant's heat acceptance capacity, with a controller adjusting coolant flow based on measured parameters such as fuel oxygen content and mass, allowing for dynamic heat transfer optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If fuel is used as coolant to absorb heat from engine systems, then heat transfer capacity is improved, but fuel temperature increases causing degradation and deposit accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the thermal management strategy based on real-time fuel temperature monitoring. The controller modulates heat transfer rates and fuel flow rates to maintain fuel temperature within safe operating limits, preventing degradation while maximizing heat absorption capacity during varying engine conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor fuel temperature, and the controller uses this feedback to adjust heat exchanger operations and fuel flow rates. This closed-loop control ensures that heat transfer occurs within safe temperature boundaries, preventing fuel degradation while optimizing thermal management
2Loss of energy
If thermal management systems are designed for worst case heat loads, then heat absorption capacity is sufficient, but system complexity increases and active adaptation to changing conditions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static worst-case design to dynamic adaptive operation. The controller actively adjusts heat exchanger flow rates and thermal management strategies in real-time based on actual engine conditions, fuel temperature, and heat load requirements, optimizing performance without requiring oversized system components
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as heat exchanger flow rates, fuel circulation rates, and thermal management modes based on real-time conditions. This allows the same hardware to efficiently handle varying heat loads without being designed for worst-case scenarios, reducing system complexity while maintaining adequate heat absorption capacity
3Duration of action of moving object
If fuel mass in tank is increased to extend operation time, then duration of action is improved, but heat capacity to absorb thermal loads decreases due to higher initial temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the fuel mass in the tank before it is needed for combustion. By pre-cooling the fuel using heat exchangers during periods when heat loads are low or ambient conditions are favorable, the system extends the duration over which the fuel can effectively absorb thermal loads, maximizing operation time while maintaining adequate heat capacity
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 efficiently manages thermal loads by optimizing heat transfer based on real-time fuel capacity, preventing degradation and ensuring stable engine operation under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger transferring heat into a coolant
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger transferring heat into a coolant
Implementation Method 3
a temperature sensor measuring a temperature of the coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An adaptive thermal management system (74) for a gas turbine engine (20) includes a heat exchanger (78) transferring heat into a coolant, a temperature sensor (86, 88) measuring a temperature of the coolant, and a sensor assembly (90, 92) that measures a parameter of the coolant during operation of the gas turbine engine (20). The parameter measured by the sensor assembly (90, 92) is indicative of a capacity of the coolant to accept heat from the hot flow. A control valve (96) governs a flow of coolant into the heat exchanger (78). A controller (94) adjusts the control valve to communicate coolant to the heat exchanger (78) based on a determined capacity of the coolant to accept heat in view of the measured temperature of the coolant and that the measured parameter of the coolant is within a predefined range.