Cryogenic Cooling for Engine Component Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for testing engine components, such as combustor test sections, lack efficient methods for cooling compressed air to effectively simulate engine operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A test system comprising a combustor test section and an air system that includes a cryogenic cooling system with a cryogenic heat exchanger, which cools compressed air by transferring heat energy into a cryogenic liquid, such as liquid nitrogen, and an air circuit that delivers the cooled air to the combustor test section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a refrigeration cooling system is used to cool compressed air, then the air temperature is reduced, but the cooling efficiency and temperature stability are insufficient for effective engine component testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional refrigeration cooling to cryogenic cooling, fundamentally changing the temperature parameter range. The cryogenic cooling system achieves temperatures below -30°F (potentially reaching -100°F or lower), far below what conventional refrigeration can achieve, thereby resolving the contradiction between temperature reduction and cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition of cryogenic liquids (such as liquid nitrogen evaporating from liquid to gas state) as the cooling mechanism. This phase transition absorbs large amounts of latent heat, providing highly efficient cooling that overcomes the limitations of conventional refrigeration systems and achieves both low temperature and high cooling efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional refrigeration cooling is used, then the system structure is relatively simple, but the cooling performance is insufficient to simulate engine operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cryogenic liquids (such as liquid nitrogen) as an intermediary cooling medium. This intermediary substance enables the system to achieve extreme cooling temperatures required for accurate engine component testing, while the liquid nitrogen's inherent stability and availability help maintain system reliability despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cryogenic cooling system serves multiple functions: it provides extreme cooling temperatures, maintains temperature stability, and creates appropriate test conditions for various engine components. This multi-functionality compensates for the increased system complexity by delivering comprehensive testing capabilities in a single integrated system.
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 achieves stable cooling of compressed air to temperatures below -30°F, effectively simulating engine operating conditions and improving the efficiency of engine component testing.
Implementation Method 1
transferring heat energy from the compressed air in the air passage, through the cryogenic heat exchanger, into the cryogenic liquid in the cryogenic liquid passage to provide cooled air
Implementation Method 2
a cryogenic cooling system with a cryogenic heat exchanger, which cools compressed air by transferring heat energy into a cryogenic liquid, such as liquid nitrogen
Data Source
AI summary
A test system is provided for a component of an engine. This test system includes a combustor test section and an air system. The combustor test section includes a fuel injector, an ignitor and a combustion chamber. The fuel injector is configured to direct fuel into the combustion chamber for mixing with cooled air. The ignitor is configured to ignite a mixture of the fuel and the cooled air within the combustion chamber. The air system is configured to deliver the cooled air to the combustor test section. The air system includes a compressed air source, a cryogenic cooling system and an air circuit. The cryogenic cooling system includes a cryogenic heat exchanger. The air circuit extends through the cryogenic heat exchanger and fluidly couples the compressed air source to the combustor test section.