Fuel Air Heat Exchanger Flow Modulation for Gas Turbine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face inefficiencies due to high turbine inlet gas temperatures, requiring increased cooling of turbine components, which is challenging with existing heat exchangers that need high-pressure casings and heavy air ducts for pressurized air circulation.
Innovation Solution
A fuel-air heat exchanger design for gas turbines with fuel and air conduits in a heat exchange relationship, featuring a flow selection member that modulates air flow through a distribution conduit to components, reducing the need for high-pressure casings and minimizing weight by locating the heat exchanger in the high-pressure plenum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat exchanger is provided with high pressure casing and heavy air ducts to contain and circulate pressurized air, then the cooling capability of turbine components is improved, but the weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat exchanger from the conventional location requiring heavy casings and ducts, and relocates it to utilize the existing high pressure plenum space within the combustor. This eliminates the need for separate high pressure containment structures and heavy air ducts, significantly reducing weight while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The high pressure plenum, which already serves as a containment structure for compressed air in the combustor, is made multi-functional by incorporating the heat exchanger within it. This allows the same structure to serve both as a pressure containment vessel and as a cooling system housing, eliminating redundant components and reducing overall system weight.
2Temperature
If a heat exchanger is provided with high pressure casing and heavy air ducts to contain and circulate pressurized air, then the cooling capability of turbine components is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat exchanger from the conventional location requiring heavy casings and ducts, and relocates it to utilize the existing high pressure plenum space within the combustor. This eliminates the need for separate high pressure containment structures and heavy air ducts, significantly reducing weight while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The high pressure plenum, which already serves as a containment structure for compressed air in the combustor, is made multi-functional by incorporating the heat exchanger within it. This allows the same structure to serve both as a pressure containment vessel and as a cooling system housing, eliminating redundant components and reducing overall system weight.
3Use of energy by moving object
If fuel is put into heat exchange relationship with pressurized air from the combustor, then the fuel is heated before combustion improving efficiency, but fire hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a flow selection member (valve) as an intermediary control device that regulates the mixing of fuel and pressurized air in the heat exchanger. By controlling the air-fuel ratio and flow rates, the system achieves efficient heat transfer while maintaining safe operating conditions that prevent fire hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters (air flow rate, fuel flow rate, air-fuel mixing ratio) through the flow selection member to optimize heat exchange efficiency while maintaining safe temperature and concentration levels that prevent fire hazards during fuel heating.
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 design enhances cooling efficiency while reducing the weight and potential fire hazards of the heat exchanger, allowing for effective temperature regulation of engine components without the need for heavy, high-pressure air ducts.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fuel conduit and at least one air conduit extending in heat exchange relationship with one another
Implementation Method 2
a flow selection member selectively movable between first and second configurations, the flow selection member in the first configuration closing the fluid communication between the secondary inlet and the distribution conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel air heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine having fuel and air conduits in heat exchange relationship with one another, and a distribution conduit in heat exchange relationship with a component to be cooled. The distribution conduit is in fluid communication with the outlet of each air conduit. The heat exchanger also includes a secondary air inlet in fluid communication with the distribution conduit and a flow selection member selectively movable between first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the flow selection member closes the fluid communication between the secondary inlet and the distribution conduit. In the second configuration, the flow selection member opens the fluid communication between the secondary air inlet and the distribution conduit.