Turbomachine Nose Cone Thermal Management via Shaft-Driven Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbomachines face challenges in thermal management, particularly in efficiently managing heat loads at idle and near-idle conditions, where traditional fuel/oil coolers struggle with reduced heat rejection due to lower fuel flow rates, and there is a need for effective ice prevention and seal buffering without relying on bleed air from other engine sections.
Innovation Solution
A turbomachine assembly featuring a nose cone with an impeller-driven air pump, utilizing a geared architecture to rotate the impeller at different speeds, and an integrated heat exchanger to manage thermal energy, which communicates air to inhibit ice formation and buffer seals, while also providing thermal energy to the nose cone and fan section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional fuel/oil coolers are used for thermal management, then heat rejection is achieved during normal operation, but heat rejection efficiency deteriorates at idle and near-idle conditions due to lower fuel flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the turbomachine's own shaft power to drive the pump, creating a self-service thermal management system that operates independently of fuel flow rate. The pump circulates air through the heat exchanger using mechanical power from the shaft, ensuring consistent heat rejection capability across all operating conditions including idle and near-idle states.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional fuel/oil cooler thermal management system with a mechanically-driven air circulation system. Instead of relying on fuel flow for heat rejection, the system uses a shaft-driven pump to force air through the heat exchanger, substituting mechanical power for thermal energy transfer that was previously dependent on fuel flow rate.
2Reliability
If bleed air from other engine sections is used for ice prevention and seal buffering, then these protective functions are achieved, but system complexity and air consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump-driven air circulation system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides thermal management through the heat exchanger, prevents ice formation on the nose cone, and buffers seals. This single system replaces multiple separate systems that would otherwise be needed, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining all required protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the turbomachine's own shaft power to generate the air flow needed for ice prevention and seal buffering, rather than extracting bleed air from other sections. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional air extraction systems and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliable protective functions.
3Temperature
If a dedicated shaft-driven geared architecture is used to rotate the impeller, then thermal management performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dedicated shaft-driven geared architecture serves multiple purposes: it provides the mechanical power transmission needed to drive the impeller at appropriate speeds, and it integrates with the existing turbomachine shaft system. By utilizing the existing shaft infrastructure and adding only the necessary gearing, the system achieves improved thermal management performance without proportionally increasing 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
This solution enhances thermal management by increasing heat rejection efficiency at low engine conditions, preventing ice formation, and improving seal buffering without additional bleed air, thus enhancing engine performance and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
an integrated heat exchanger to manage thermal energy, which communicates air to inhibit ice formation and buffer seals, while also providing thermal energy to the nose cone and fan section
Data Source
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AI summary
An example turbomachine assembly includes, among other things, a nose cone of a turbomachine, and a pump that is selectively driven by a motor or a shaft to communicate air to an interior of the nose cone. The pump shaft is driven by a dedicated geared architecture.