Engine Housing Heat Exchanger Layout for Water Vapor Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for recovering water vapor and heat energy from turbine engine combustion products are inefficient and require improvement.
Innovation Solution
A turbine engine design incorporating an evaporator and condenser module within the engine housing, with a core flowpath that sequences through the compressor, combustor, turbine, and condenser sections, and a recovery system that condenses water vapor and evaporates it into steam for reuse in the engine core, utilizing a refrigerant flow circuit for heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If water vapor and heat energy are recovered from turbine engine combustion products, then emissions are reduced and engine performance is enhanced, but the device complexity increases due to additional evaporator and condenser modules
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator and condenser modules are integrated into the engine housing, merging the recovery system with the existing engine structure. This reduces the need for separate external components and minimizes overall system complexity while achieving water vapor and heat energy recovery from combustion products
Solution Approach 2:
The core flowpath is designed to serve multiple functions: it passes through the compressor, combustor, and turbine sections for power generation, and also flows through the evaporator and condenser modules for heat recovery and water vapor condensation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated flowpaths and components
2Loss of energy
If a refrigerant flow circuit is used for heat exchange in the evaporator and condenser, then heat energy recovery efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A refrigerant flow circuit is introduced as an intermediary medium to facilitate heat exchange between the combustion products and the working fluid in the evaporator and condenser modules. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the combustion gases, enabling efficient heat energy recovery while maintaining a manageable system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes fluid dynamics principles by circulating refrigerant through the evaporator and condenser modules. The refrigerant flow absorbs and releases heat through phase changes and temperature differential, enabling efficient thermal energy transfer without requiring complex mechanical moving parts
3Loss of substance
If the core flowpath extends through multiple sections including evaporator and condenser modules, then water vapor recovery is improved, but the length of the flowpath increases
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator and condenser modules are nested within the engine housing and integrated into the existing core flowpath structure. The flowpath passes through these modules in sequence, allowing water vapor condensation and heat exchange to occur within the confined space of the engine assembly rather than requiring external extended piping
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
Efficient recovery and reuse of water vapor and heat energy from turbine engine combustion products, enhancing engine performance and reducing emissions.
Implementation Method 1
the condenser module is configured to condense water vapor flowing through the core flowpath into water
Implementation Method 2
the evaporator module is configured to evaporate at least some of the water into steam
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a refrigerant flow circuit for heat exchange
Data Source
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AI summary
A turbine engine (20) with an axis (22) includes a fan section (28), a turbine engine core (34), a bypass flowpath (46; 56), an engine housing (36), an evaporator (112), a condenser (113) and a core flowpath (62). The turbine engine core (34) is configured to power the fan section (28). The turbine engine core (34) includes a core compressor section (30), a core combustor section (31) and a core turbine section (32). The bypass flowpath (46; 56) is fluidly coupled with and downstream of the fan section (28). The engine housing (36) includes a cavity (152) radially outboard of and axially overlapping the fan section (28) and/or the bypass flowpath (46; 56). The evaporator module (112) is within the cavity (152). The condenser module (113) is within the cavity (152). The core flowpath (62) extends sequentially through the core compressor section (30), the core combustor section (31), the core turbine section (32), the evaporator module (112) and the condenser module (113).