Gearbox-Integrated Heat Exchanger for Turbomachine Lubricant Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large heat exchangers used in turbomachines are difficult to install and costly, and existing solutions do not effectively integrate heat exchanger components within the turbomachine gearbox to efficiently manage thermal energy from lubricants.
Innovation Solution
A heat exchanger assembly is integrated within the gearbox, utilizing an air pump to compress air, which enhances thermal energy transfer from heated lubricants, allowing for a smaller and more cost-effective design by leveraging existing rotational components to reduce packaging space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If relatively large heat exchangers are used to move thermal energy away from the turbomachine, then thermal management effectiveness is improved, but installation difficulty and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchanger with the gearbox housing to form an integrated thermal management system. The heat exchanger is merged with the lubricant pump assembly, allowing thermal energy removal without requiring separate large external heat exchanger components. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving effective thermal management while reducing device complexity and installation difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The gearbox housing serves multiple functions: it houses the gears, supports the lubricant pump, and acts as part of the heat exchanger structure. The lubricant pump assembly simultaneously provides lubrication circulation and thermal energy transfer. This multi-functionality allows effective thermal management without requiring dedicated large heat exchanger components, thus reducing installation complexity while maintaining temperature control effectiveness.
2Productivity
If air is compressed to enhance thermal energy transfer, then heat exchanger efficiency is improved, but packaging space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air compressor function is merged with the existing lubricant pump assembly driven by the tower shaft. The same rotational mechanism that drives the lubricant pump also drives the air compression process. This integration allows enhanced thermal energy transfer efficiency without requiring separate air compressor components, thus avoiding additional packaging space requirements within the gearbox.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing rotational energy from the tower shaft to simultaneously drive both the lubricant pump and the air compression process. The mechanical energy already present in the system is utilized for dual purposes: circulating lubricant and compressing air for enhanced heat transfer. This self-service approach achieves improved thermal energy transfer efficiency without requiring external power sources or additional space-consuming components.
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 solution enables efficient thermal energy removal from lubricants within turbomachines, reducing the size and cost of heat exchangers while maintaining effective thermal management, facilitating better integration within the turbomachine architecture.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump to compress air, which enhances thermal energy transfer from heated lubricants
Implementation Method 2
A heat exchanger assembly is integrated within the gearbox, utilizing an air pump to compress air, which enhances thermal energy transfer from heated lubricants
Data Source
Figure 1~7
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A turbomachine cooling arrangement includes a pump (78) configured to pressurize a first turbomachine fluid that is then communicated through a heat exchanger assembly (66) to remove thermal energy from a second turbomachine fluid. A portion of the pump (78) is configured to be housed within a gearbox housing (80) of a turbomachine (52).