Diffusing Gas Turbine Recuperator Exhaust Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines lack an effective means to diffuse and cool the exhaust flow efficiently, which limits the heat exchange performance and fuel efficiency of the engine.
Innovation Solution
A recuperator is designed to extend within the exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine, featuring exhaust passages with a progressively increasing cross-sectional area to diffuse the exhaust flow, and air passages for heat exchange with the exhaust passages, allowing for improved heat transfer and flow diffusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the exhaust passage cross-sectional area is constant, then the structure is simple, but the exhaust flow cannot be effectively diffused and cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust passage cross-sectional area is changed progressively from inlet to outlet, creating a diffusion effect that improves exhaust flow cooling and heat exchange performance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a gradual geometric transition
2Productivity
If the exhaust passage cross-sectional area increases progressively, then the exhaust flow diffusion and cooling is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross-sectional area parameter of the exhaust passage is varied progressively along the flow direction, creating a diffusion geometry that enhances cooling efficiency while the gradual change keeps the geometric complexity manageable for manufacturing
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 solution enhances the diffusion and cooling of the exhaust flow, leading to improved heat exchange and fuel efficiency, while minimizing the infrared signature of the aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a cross sectional area of each exhaust passage progressively increasing from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet such as to diffuse the exhaust flow
Implementation Method 2
a recuperator, which is a heat exchanger using hot exhaust gas from the engine to heat the compressed air exiting the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine recuperator including exhaust passages providing fluid flow communication between an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet, the exhaust inlet being oriented to receive exhaust flow from a turbine of the engine and the exhaust outlet being oriented to deliver the exhaust flow to atmosphere, the exhaust inlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the exhaust outlet, and a cross sectional area of each exhaust passage progressively increasing from the exhaust inlet to the exhaust outlet such as to diffuse the exhaust flow. Air passages are in heat exchange relationship with the exhaust passages and provide fluid flow communication between an air inlet and an air outlet designed to sealingly engage respective plenums of the gas turbine engine.