Heat Engine Inlet Duct Double Wall Anti-Icing Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-icing systems for heat engines, particularly in turbo machines, inadequately heat the inlet duct, leading to potential damage from debris and distortion of airflow, which can diminish compressor performance and require additional weight for structural integrity and aerodynamic features.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system featuring a double wall structure with a plenum and separate fluid passages around a core flowpath, allowing for efficient heat transfer and anti-icing without distorting the inlet duct geometry, utilizing a first flow of fluid for the inner wall and a second flow of fluid for the outer wall, which are fluidly separated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known anti-icing systems provide heat to the inlet duct, then icing is mitigated, but the inlet duct geometry is distorted causing asymmetric airflow and diminished compressor performance
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet duct wall is segmented into an inner wall and an outer wall with a double-wall structure between them. This segmentation allows the system to provide heating through the wall structure itself rather than adding external heating elements that would distort the geometry. The inner and outer walls create separate flow paths that maintain the aerodynamic integrity of the inlet duct while enabling effective anti-icing.
Solution Approach 2:
The double-wall structure acts as an intermediary between the heating fluid and the inlet duct airflow. Instead of directly heating the airflow (which would cause distortion), the system heats the wall structure itself, which then transfers heat to the airflow in a controlled manner. This intermediary approach mitigates icing while preserving the geometric integrity of the inlet duct.
2Strength
If additional weight is added for structural integrity and aerodynamic features, then inlet duct strength is improved, but overall engine weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The double-wall structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural integrity to the inlet duct, enables anti-icing through integrated heating passages, and maintains aerodynamic performance by preserving the inlet geometry. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional separate components that would increase weight, as the same structure performs both structural and thermal management roles.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural support function and the anti-icing heating function are merged into a single integrated double-wall structure. Rather than having separate structural ribs or supports that would add weight, the heating passages are embedded within the wall structure itself, combining these functions into one lightweight integrated component.
3Reliability
If oxidizer is diverted for anti-icing, then icing is prevented, but engine efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own structure (the double-wall inlet duct) to provide anti-icing protection rather than relying on diverted oxidizer from the core engine flow. The heating passages within the wall structure can be supplied with heat from various sources, but the key is that the structure itself serves the anti-icing function, eliminating the need to sacrifice engine performance by diverting valuable oxidizer.
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 solution effectively mitigates icing, foreign object debris, and inlet distortion, improving engine performance by maintaining airflow symmetry and reducing the need for oxidizer diversion for anti-icing, thus enhancing efficiency and structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The double wall structure includes a plenum, a first opening providing fluid communication between the cavity and the plenum, and a second opening providing fluid communication between the plenum and the core flowpath
Implementation Method 2
The inner wall is configured to receive a first flow of fluid. The outer wall is configured to receive a second flow of fluid fluidly separated from the core flowpath
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal management system for a heat engine, the system including an forming at least in part a core flowpath and a cavity, wherein the core flowpath and the cavity are separated by a double wall structure formed by at least a portion of inner wall, and wherein the double wall structure includes a plenum. A first opening provides fluid communication between the cavity and the plenum, and a second opening provides fluid communication between the plenum and the core flowpath. The inner wall is configured to receive a first flow of fluid. An outer wall forms a passage extended at least partially around the core flowpath. The outer wall is configured to receive a second flow of fluid fluidly separated from the core flowpath.