Engine Casing Waste Heat Recirculation Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face inefficiencies in waste-heat recovery due to limitations in managing pressure and flow rates within recirculation loops, leading to unstable operation and increased size and weight of thermal waste-heat management systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a recirculation loop with a rotating valve into the engine casing to regulate fluid flow and pressure ratios, allowing for compact waste-heat recovery by recirculating supercritical carbon dioxide or water, and using a metering valve to control fluid entry into the loop based on flow measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a recirculation loop is added to improve waste-heat recovery, then waste-heat recovery efficiency is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation loop is integrated within the existing engine casing structure, merging the waste-heat recovery function with the engine housing. The conduit is formed in a wall of the casing, and the valve is positioned at an inlet to the recirculation flow path within the casing, eliminating the need for separate external piping and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation loop components are nested within the engine casing. The conduit is formed in the casing wall, the valve is positioned within the casing at the inlet, and the recirculation flow path is contained within the casing structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that minimizes space occupation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If external piping and valve are used for recirculation loop, then recirculation function is achieved, but ease of manufacture and packaging are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation loop is integrated within the existing engine casing structure, merging the waste-heat recovery function with the engine housing. The conduit is formed in a wall of the casing, and the valve is positioned at an inlet to the recirculation flow path within the casing, eliminating the need for separate external piping and reducing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If recirculation loop is integrated into casing, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The recirculation loop is divided into discrete functional components: a valve positioned at an inlet, a conduit formed in the casing wall, and a recirculation flow path. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and assembled separately, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to an integrated monolithic structure.
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 solution enhances operational stability, increases fluid flow through compressors, and reduces the overall size and weight of the engine by integrating the recirculation loop within the casing, improving waste-heat recovery efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
recirculating supercritical carbon dioxide or water
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the recirculation loop and configured to transfer heat from the fluid to the air
Implementation Method 3
a compressor configured to compress the air
Data Source
AI summary
Casing waste heat recirculation loops and related methods are disclosed. An example engine includes at least one of a compressor or a pump; a casing for at least one of the pump or the compressor, the casing including a conduit formed in a wall of the casing, the conduit to define a recirculation flow path for a fluid at least partially within the wall of the casing; a valve positioned at an inlet to the recirculation flow path; and an actuator operatively connected to the valve and configured to adjust a position of the valve among at least one of open, partially open, or closed, the valve to allow passage of at least a portion of the fluid when at least one of open or partially open.