Fan Exit Guide Vane Cooling Using Fan Air and Compressor Bleed
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of air-cool heat exchangers in conventional gas turbine engines is challenging due to limited space and increased nacelle drag, necessitating a more efficient thermal management system.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing fan exit guide vanes as heat exchangers within gas turbine engines, incorporating channels for hot fluid circulation and utilizing both rotor fan air and compressor bleed air for cooling, with adjustable modes of operation to optimize cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air-cool heat exchangers are integrated into the engine core or fan area, then thermal management capability is improved, but available installation space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fan exit guide vane is designed to perform dual functions: guiding fan air flow and serving as a heat exchanger for thermal management. By integrating the cooling function into an existing structural component, the patent eliminates the need for separate heat exchanger installations, thereby resolving the space constraint while maintaining thermal management capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the heat exchanger function with the fan exit guide vane structure. The guide vane incorporates internal channels that allow hot fluid to flow through, while the external surface is exposed to cooling air from the rotor fan. This combination integrates two previously separate functions into a single component, solving the installation space problem
2Reliability
If surface air coolers are used for thermal management, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but nacelle drag losses and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with the existing fan exit guide vane structure rather than adding separate surface air coolers. This integration eliminates additional external cooling components that would increase nacelle drag, while still achieving effective cooling through the guide vane's internal channels and external air flow exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The fan exit guide vane serves multiple functions: guiding air flow, structural support, and heat exchange. By making the guide vane itself the heat exchanger, the patent avoids adding separate cooling components that would contribute to increased weight and drag, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and harmful drag effects
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
Reduces the size and weight of heat exchangers, decreases drag, improves engine performance, and provides thrust benefits by leveraging existing engine components for thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
the hot fluid passing through the at least one channel within the at least one fan exit guide vane is cooled by air from the rotor fan passing over the at least one fan exit guide vane
Implementation Method 2
the bleed air passing through the at least one second channel within the at least one fan exit guide vane cools the hot fluid passing through the at least one channel of the at least one fan exit guide vane
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A system includes a fan exit guide vane (106) located aft of a rotor fan (104). The fan exit guide vane (106) defines a first channel (202) for a fluid from a thermal management system (207) and a second channel (212) therein for receiving bleed air from a low-pressure compressor (112). An inlet (204) connects to a first end of the first channel (202) to receive the fluid. An outlet (206) connected to a second end of the first channel (202) provides a cooled fluid. In a first mode, the fluid passing through the first channel (202) is cooled by air (208) from the rotor fan (104) passing over exit guide vane (106) and is further cooled by the bleed air passing through the second channel (212). In a second mode, the hot fluid passing through the first channel (202) is cooled only by air (208) from the rotor fan (104) passing over the exit guide vane (106) to provide the cooled fluid and bleed air is not provided.