Internal Flow-Guided Conduit Assembly for Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face issues with cooling systems, where inlet piping of heat exchangers can block and heat up the engine bay, causing pressure loss and inefficient heat rejection.
Innovation Solution
A conduit assembly with hollow passages and flow guides is introduced, allowing for the transfer of heat between two fluids, which can be used in the bypass duct of a gas turbine engine to enhance cooling efficiency and reduce the need for traditional heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional heat exchangers with inlet piping are used, then heat rejection function is provided, but the piping blocks and heats up the engine bay causing pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchanger functionality with the plumbing conduit itself, eliminating separate inlet piping. The conduit performs both fluid transport and heat exchange functions through integrated hollow passages, removing the blocking piping from the engine bay while maintaining heat rejection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful inlet piping is extracted and eliminated from the system. The heat exchange function is achieved directly within the conduit structure through internal hollow passages, removing the source of blocking and heating issues from the engine bay environment.
2Loss of energy
If traditional heat exchangers are used, then heat rejection is achieved, but the size and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger function is merged into the plumbing conduit structure. The conduit contains internal hollow passages that serve as heat exchange channels, combining fluid transport and heat rejection into a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall system size and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both a fluid transport pipeline and a heat exchanger. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated heat rejection components, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Temperature
If flow guides are added to the conduit, then heat transfer coefficient is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flow guides are strategically placed at specific locations within the conduit (such as at bends or in straight sections) where they provide maximum benefit for disrupting boundary layers and enhancing heat transfer. This localized approach achieves thermal performance improvements without requiring flow guides throughout the entire conduit length, thereby limiting manufacturing complexity increase.
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
The conduit assembly effectively transfers heat, reducing the size of heat exchangers required and improving cooling efficiency by guiding airflow and utilizing trip strips for enhanced heat transfer coefficients.
Implementation Method 1
the conduit assembly is configured to transfer heat from the first fluid to the second fluid
Implementation Method 2
The pipe may include a trip strip on a heat transfer surface
Data Source
AI summary
A conduit assembly may comprise: a pipe; a plurality of hollow passages disposed through the pipe; and a plurality of flow guides disposed in the pipe, each flow guide in the plurality of flow guides at least partially defining a respective hollow passage in the plurality of hollow passages. The conduit assembly may act as a heat exchanger.