Outlet Guide Vane Heat Recovery for Gas Turbine Exhaust Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently managing high temperatures and recovering heat energy, which is not effectively harnessed in existing cooling and heat recovery systems.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an outlet guide vane assembly with radially extending cold and heated fluid passageways in the exhaust airflow path of a gas turbine engine, allowing a coolant fluid to absorb heat from the exhaust airflow and transfer it to other systems, such as the fuel delivery system, while also providing a means to cool an electrical machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling systems are used to remove thermal energy from gas turbine engine components, then temperature management is improved, but heat energy is wasted instead of being utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from exhaust airflow into a beneficial resource by directing it through heat exchangers that transfer thermal energy to coolant fluid. This recovered heat is then utilized for various purposes such as heating fuel, cooling electrical machines, or other thermal applications, thereby transforming energy loss into useful energy recovery and improving overall system efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If heat recovery systems are integrated into outlet guide vanes, then heat recovery efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat recovery function with the existing outlet guide vane structure by integrating heat exchangers directly into the vanes. This combination allows the outlet guide vanes to simultaneously perform their traditional flow guidance function and their new heat recovery function, thereby reducing the need for separate heat recovery components and simplifying overall system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet guide vanes are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as flow control elements and as heat recovery components. By incorporating heat exchangers within the vane structure, the same component performs multiple functions: guiding exhaust flow and recovering thermal energy, thus reducing device complexity through functional integration.
3Loss of energy
If multiple outlet guide vanes with fluid passageways are used, then heat recovery capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat recovery system into multiple discrete outlet guide vanes, each containing fluid passageways. This segmentation allows each vane to be manufactured independently using standard techniques, and the individual vanes are then assembled to form the complete outlet guide vane assembly. This modular approach simplifies manufacturing compared to creating a single complex integrated 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 heat recovery and utilization, improves cooling efficiency for electrical components, and increases the overall energy efficiency of the gas turbine engine by effectively capturing and redistributing heat energy.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid coolant receives heat from exhaust airflow from the core airflow path as the fluid coolant is directed through the heated fluid passageway
Implementation Method 2
One or more outlet guide vanes is turning thereby altering a flow direction of exhaust airflow from the exhaust airflow path
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a fan located at a forward portion of the gas turbine engine, a compressor section and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The compressor section and the turbine section together define a core airflow path. A rotary member is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and with at least a portion of the turbine section. An outlet guide vane assembly includes multiple outlet guide vanes located in an exhaust airflow path downstream of the turbine section. The multiple outlet guide vanes being spaced-apart circumferentially from each other over an angular range of about 360 degrees, and each multiple outlet guide vane defining a radial extent. At least one of the multiple outlet guide vanes includes a cold fluid passageway extending at least partially radially therethrough through which a fluid coolant flows and another of the multiple guide vanes includes a heated fluid passageway extending at least partially radially therethrough through which the fluid coolant flows and receives heat from exhaust airflow from the core airflow path.