Bleed Air Heat Exchanger Cooling for Tail Cone Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Future hybrid engine programs require a ventilation system capable of maintaining low thermal capability electronics in the tail cone zone without causing damage or degradation due to excess thermal energy.
Innovation Solution
An environmental control system utilizing bleed air from a bleed air system, a heat exchanger, and ambient cooling air to manage thermal energy, with components like a pylon structure, shutoff valve, and air scoops to enhance cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronics are installed in the tail cone zone of hybrid engines, then functional capability is improved, but thermal management becomes problematic due to low thermal capability and excess thermal energy generation
Solution Approach 1:
A heat exchanger is introduced as an intermediary component between the bleed air system and the tail cone zone where electronics are located. The heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the hot bleed air to cool the electronics, enabling the electronics to operate in the tail cone zone without being directly exposed to excessive heat. This mediator allows functional capability to be improved while thermal management requirements are satisfied.
2Temperature
If a ventilation system is designed to cool electronics in the tail cone, then temperature control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bleed air system, which serves multiple functions including pressurization and cooling of various engine components, is extended to also cool the electronics in the tail cone zone through the heat exchanger. This multi-functional use of the existing bleed air system allows temperature control of electronics to be achieved without adding a completely separate ventilation system, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
3Temperature
If bleed air is used for cooling electronics, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but availability of bleed air for other engine components may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes variations in bleed air pressure and temperature parameters at different engine operating conditions to dynamically allocate cooling capacity. During normal operation, bleed air is distributed to various components as needed. When electronics cooling is required, the system adjusts parameters to direct sufficient cooled bleed air through the heat exchanger while maintaining adequate supply to other components, thereby maintaining cooling effectiveness without compromising overall reliability.
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 maintains operational temperatures within predetermined limits, providing dedicated cooling to electronics and other engine components, even under off-normal conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger fluidly coupled between the bleed air system and a gas turbine engine; and ambient cooling air fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger, wherein the ambient cooling air is configured to remove thermal energy from the bleed air flowing through the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental control system bleed cooling system including bleed air from the environmental control system bleed air system; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled between the environmental control system bleed air system and a gas turbine engine; and ambient cooling air fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger, wherein the ambient cooling air is configured to remove thermal energy from the bleed air flowing through the heat exchanger.