Fan Exit Guide Vane Heat Exchanger for Low-Drag Turbine Cooling
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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 within the engine cores or fan area, leading to increased ducting requirements and higher nacelle drag losses, especially in geared turbo fan architectures.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing fan exit guide vanes as heat exchangers within gas turbine engines, incorporating channels for hot fluid circulation and cooling with ambient fan air and optional bleed air from the compressor for enhanced cooling, allowing for multiple operational modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air-cool heat exchangers are integrated into conventional gas turbine engines using external ducting, then cooling function is achieved, but device complexity and nacelle drag losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat exchanger function with the fan exit guide vane structure, merging two separate components (heat exchanger and guide vane) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for external ducting and separate heat exchanger installations, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan exit guide vane is given multiple functions: it continues to guide the fan airflow as its primary function, and simultaneously serves as the heat exchanger structure for cooling thermal management fluids. This multi-functionality approach reduces the number of separate components needed in the engine system.
2Temperature
If air-cool heat exchangers are integrated into conventional gas turbine engines, then cooling function is achieved, but nacelle drag losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the heat exchanger with the guide vane structure, the patent eliminates external ducting and separate heat exchanger components that would create additional drag. The integrated structure follows the existing airflow paths, minimizing disruption to the aerodynamic flow and reducing nacelle drag losses.
3Temperature
If multiple air-cool heat exchangers are installed in conventional turbo fan engines, then thermal management capability is improved, but physical installation space is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fan exit guide vane serves dual purposes: guiding fan airflow and functioning as a heat exchanger. This multi-functionality allows the engine to achieve thermal management capability without requiring additional installation space for separate heat exchanger components.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger channels are nested within the guide vane structure itself, with cooling passages integrated into the vane's internal geometry. This nesting approach allows the heat exchanger functionality to be contained within the existing guide vane volume, eliminating the need for additional external space.
4Temperature
If surface air coolers are used instead of block heat exchangers, then cooling function is achieved, but weight and nacelle drag losses significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat exchanger function with the guide vane structure, using the vane itself as the heat exchange surface. This integrated approach avoids the need for separate surface air cooler components, thereby reducing the overall weight while maintaining effective cooling function.
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 eliminating external scoops and heat exchanger-related components.
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 213 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
AI summary
A system includes a fan exit guide vane located aft of a rotor fan. The fan exit guide vane defines a first channel for a fluid from a thermal management system and a second channel therein for receiving bleed air from a low-pressure compressor. An inlet connects to a first end of the first channel to receive the fluid. An outlet connected to a second end of the first channel provides a cooled fluid. In a first mode, the fluid passing through the first channel is cooled by air from the rotor fan passing over exit guide vane and is further cooled by the bleed air passing through the second channel. In a second mode, the hot fluid passing through the first channel is cooled only by air from the rotor fan passing over the exit guide vane to provide the cooled fluid and bleed air is not provided.