Outlet Guide Vane Heat Recovery for Gas Turbine Exhaust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines experience elevated temperatures during operation, necessitating effective cooling systems to manage thermal energy and improve efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a heat recovery system within gas turbine engines using outlet guide vanes with integrated fluid passageways to capture and transfer heat from exhaust airflow for use in pre-heating fuel or cooling electrical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling systems are used to remove thermal energy from gas turbine engine components, then temperature management is improved, but energy is lost without beneficial use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat from exhaust airflow into a beneficial resource by directing it through heat exchangers that transfer thermal energy to coolant fluid. This heated coolant then pre-heats fuel before combustion or cools electrical components, transforming previously wasted thermal energy into useful thermal energy for improving engine efficiency and performance.
2Loss of energy
If heat recovery systems are integrated into gas turbine engines, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat recovery function with existing engine components by integrating heat exchangers into the exhaust airflow path and outlet guide vane assembly. Rather than adding completely separate systems, the invention combines thermal energy recovery with the existing exhaust system and cooling circuits, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional heat recovery system where the same exhaust airflow path and heat exchangers serve multiple purposes: pre-heating fuel for improved combustion efficiency and cooling electrical components such as generators. This universal approach allows a single integrated system to perform multiple functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems and thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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
Enhances combustion efficiency by pre-heating fuel and effectively cools electrical components, thereby improving overall engine performance and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
another of the multiple guide vanes includes a heated fluid passageway extending at least partially radially therethrough through which the fluid coolant flows and receives heat from exhaust airflow from the core airflow path
Implementation Method 2
the fluid coolant receives heat from exhaust airflow from the core airflow path as the fluid coolant is directed through the heated fluid passageway
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a fan located at a forward portion of the gas turbine engine, a compressor section and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The compressor section and the turbine section together define a core airflow path. A rotary member is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and with at least a portion of the turbine section. An outlet guide vane assembly includes multiple outlet guide vanes located in an exhaust airflow path downstream of the turbine section. The multiple outlet guide vanes being spaced-apart circumferentially from each other over an angular range of about 360 degrees, and each multiple outlet guide vane defining a radial extent. At least one of the multiple outlet guide vanes includes a cold fluid passageway and another of the multiple guide vanes includes a heated fluid passageway.