Aft Electric Machine Integration for Reverse-Flow Turbine Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines with reverse flow configurations face challenges in integrating auxiliary components like electric machines efficiently, particularly due to space constraints and heat management issues.
Innovation Solution
The electric machine is positioned aft of the core turbine engine, rotatingly coupled to the low-pressure shaft, and integrated with the intake channel to facilitate heat exchange, allowing for tighter packaging and effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the electric machine is integrated into the reverse flow gas turbine engine, then power supplementation is improved, but space constraints and heat management become worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electric machine is merged with the exhaust system components, specifically utilizing the exhaust channel and surrounding structure as housing for the electric machine. This combining of functions allows the electric machine to be integrated into the existing engine structure without adding separate cooling systems or increasing overall engine complexity, thereby resolving the contradiction between power supplementation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hot exhaust gases, which represent a harmful thermal byproduct, are converted into a beneficial cooling resource for the electric machine. The exhaust channel serves dual purposes: expelling exhaust gases and providing cooling airflow to the electric machine, thus transforming the heat management challenge into an advantage that enables effective cooling without additional systems
2Temperature
If the electric machine is positioned aft of the core turbine engine, then heat exchange is improved, but packaging density becomes worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electric machine is nested within the exhaust system structure, with the exhaust channel and surrounding components serving as the housing for the electric machine. This nesting arrangement allows the electric machine to be positioned in the aft section for effective heat exchange while utilizing the existing exhaust structure to minimize overall volume and maintain packaging density
3Power
If the electric machine is rotatingly coupled to the low-pressure shaft, then power extraction is improved, but mechanical complexity becomes worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The low-pressure shaft serves multiple functions: it drives the propeller for thrust generation and simultaneously drives the electric machine for power extraction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate drive mechanisms, reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining effective power extraction capability
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
This configuration enables efficient power supplementation and heat management, enhancing the electric machine's performance and reducing operational constraints.
Implementation Method 1
the electric machine in heat exchange communication with the intake flow of air such that the electric machine transfers heat to the incoming flow of air within the intake channel
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft engine assembly includes a gas turbine engine having an intake channel configured to receive an incoming flow of air and thereby form an intake flow of air, the intake channel configured to turn the received incoming flow of air from an incoming flow direction to a first axial direction of the gas turbine engine, the incoming flow direction reverse of the first axial direction, and an electric machine coupled with the low pressure shaft and located at the aft end of the gas turbine engine proximate the intake channel, the electric machine in heat exchange communication with the intake flow of air such that the electric machine transfers heat to the incoming flow of air within the intake channel when the electric machine is operated.