Engine-Integrated Heat Exchanger Sealing for Easier Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines lack efficient integration of heat exchangers that effectively cool various fluids, such as fuel and lubricating oil, while maintaining engine and fuselage integration and minimizing interference with airflow.
Innovation Solution
An engine-integrated heat exchanger system with a manifold and seal configuration that allows airflow through the inlet manifold and engine bay seal, providing compliance and isolation from external loads, enabling pre-installation on the engine before integration, and allowing easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat exchanger is mounted between an engine and the fuselage structure, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is merged with the engine assembly as a pre-integrated unit, combining the heat exchanger, inlet manifold, and sealing components into a single assembly that is installed as one package, thereby reducing overall system complexity and installation difficulty
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is pre-installed on the engine before engine integration into the fuselage, allowing the heat exchanger and engine to be assembled together in advance and then installed as a complete unit, simplifying the final installation process
2Temperature
If the heat exchanger is integrated with the engine and fuselage structure, then cooling performance is improved, but ease of maintenance and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct modules: the heat exchanger pre-assembled with the engine unit, and the fuselage structure with engine bay. This segmentation allows the engine with heat exchanger to be removed as one module while leaving the fuselage structure intact, facilitating maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is pre-installed on the engine before engine integration, creating a reversible pre-assembly relationship that enables easy removal of the entire engine-heat exchanger assembly without permanent attachment to the fuselage structure
3Reliability
If the inlet manifold contacts the engine bay seal, then airflow sealing is improved, but stress on the heat exchanger from external loads increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the heat exchanger and assigned to the engine bay seal, which is a separate component between the engine assembly and fuselage structure. This extraction isolates the heat exchanger from external loads while maintaining sealing through the dedicated engine bay seal
Solution Approach 2:
The engine bay seal acts as an intermediary component between the inlet manifold and the fuselage structure, providing the sealing function while preventing direct transmission of external loads to the heat exchanger, thereby protecting it from stress
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
Enhances heat exchanger life and cooling efficiency by isolating it from external loads, facilitating easy installation and removal, and optimizing airflow pathways.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchanger for air cooling a fluid
Implementation Method 2
an air flowpath passes through the inlet manifold to the heat exchanger and exits the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A craft has: a body including an engine bay; and an engine having an installed condition at least partially in the engine bay. The engine has a heat exchanger having an inlet manifold; and in the installed condition an air flowpath passes through the inlet manifold to the heat exchanger and exits the heat exchanger to the engine bay.