Multi-Efficiency Heat Exchanger Deicing for Cryo-Fuel Condensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat exchangers in gas turbine engines are prone to freezing during transients due to a time delay in reaching thermal equilibrium, leading to the risk of condenser icing and back-pressuring the core flow path.
Innovation Solution
A deicing and icing prevention system utilizing a cryo-fuel tank, multiple heat exchangers with varying efficiencies, and control valves to manage core flow through these exchangers, including a bypass path to divert flow to less-efficient exchangers or bypass them entirely, ensuring adequate heat exchange to prevent icing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a single high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to maximize heat recovery, then heat capture efficiency is improved, but the risk of condenser freezing during transients increases due to thermal equilibrium delay
Solution Approach 1:
The single heat exchanger is segmented into multiple heat exchangers with different heat transfer efficiencies. The high-efficiency heat exchanger captures maximum heat during steady-state operation, while the low-efficiency heat exchanger serves as a thermal buffer during transients, preventing the condenser from freezing by providing sufficient heat exchange even when the core flow temperature is low.
2Reliability
If multiple heat exchangers with different efficiencies are used to prevent freezing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different heat exchangers based on operating conditions. During steady-state operation, the high-efficiency heat exchanger is used to maximize heat recovery. During transient conditions when freezing risk is detected, the system switches to the low-efficiency heat exchanger to ensure sufficient heat exchange and prevent icing, thus adapting to changing conditions without requiring both to operate simultaneously.
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
Effectively prevents condenser icing by maintaining sufficient heat exchange during transients, thereby avoiding core flow path freezing and ensuring stable engine operation.
Implementation Method 1
The at least two heat exchangers are configured to reduce heat of a core flow through an engine
Implementation Method 2
The condenser is configured to exchange heat between the cryo-fuel and the core flow processed through the at least two heat exchangers
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a cryo-fuel tank (138), at least two heat exchangers (130a, 130b), at least one valve (128a), and a condenser (132). The cryo-fuel tank (138) is configured to store cryo-fuel. The at least two heat exchangers (130a, 130b) are configured to reduce heat of a core flow through an engine, where the at least two heat exchangers (130a, 130b) have different heat transfer efficiencies. The at least one valve (128a) is configured to control the core flow between each of the at least two heat exchangers (130a, 130b). The condenser (132) is configured to exchange heat between the cryo-fuel and the core flow processed through the at least two heat exchangers (130a, 130b).