Oscillating Heat Pipe for Gas Turbine Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat transfer devices in gas turbine engines are bulky, difficult to position, and incur additional drag penalties when using fan air as a heat sink, especially as the fan pressure ratio decreases.
Innovation Solution
The use of an oscillating heat pipe, a passive heat transfer device, to efficiently transfer heat from the engine core to the fan exit guide vane, reducing the need for bulky heat exchangers and minimizing weight and pressure drop penalties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a traditional heat exchanger is used to transfer heat from the engine core to the heat sink, then heat transfer function is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to position within the gas turbine engine
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating heat pipe utilizes phase transitions of the working fluid (evaporation at the hot end, condensation at the cold end) to transfer heat efficiently. This phase change mechanism enables high heat transfer capability in a compact structure, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer effectiveness and device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The heat pipe employs periodic oscillation of the working fluid between liquid and vapor phases, creating a cyclic heat transfer process. This periodic action allows continuous heat transfer with compact dimensions, addressing the contradiction between thermal performance and size
2Temperature
If fan air is used as the heat sink, then heat transfer is achieved, but an additional drag penalty is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary fluid system as an intermediary between the engine core and fan air. This intermediate fluid transfers heat from the core to the heat sink, reducing the direct interaction between fan air and the heat transfer process, thereby minimizing drag penalty while maintaining effective heat dissipation
3Use of energy by moving object
If the fan pressure ratio is reduced, then engine efficiency is improved, but the allowable pressure drop in the heat exchanger decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical heat exchanger system with an oscillating heat pipe system that relies on thermal-driven phase changes rather than mechanical pressure differentials. This substitution eliminates the constraint of allowable pressure drop, allowing the engine to operate at reduced fan pressure ratios for improved efficiency
4Temperature
If a traditional heat exchanger is used, then heat transfer function is provided, but weight penalty is incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating heat pipe uses phase transitions of a small amount of working fluid to achieve heat transfer, eliminating the need for large metal heat exchanger structures. This approach provides effective heat transfer with dramatically reduced weight
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential heat transfer function from the bulky heat exchanger structure and concentrates it in the oscillating heat pipe system, removing unnecessary structural weight while maintaining thermal performance
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
The oscillating heat pipe effectively transfers heat with high thermal conductivity and fast response, reducing weight and volume compared to traditional heat exchangers, and eliminating up to 0.5% of the combined weight and pressure drop penalties on engine fuel burn.
Implementation Method 1
Gas turbine engines with oscillating heat pipe for thermal management
Implementation Method 2
The oscillating heat pipe effectively transfers heat with high thermal conductivity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An oscillating heat pipe of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of channels that define a continuous loop through which a fluid flows, and an evaporator of a gas turbine engine. The fluid flows through the evaporator to accept heat from a first fluid. The first fluid is located near or in an engine core. The oscillating heat pipe also includes condenser of the gas turbine engine. The fluid flows through the condenser to reject heat to a second fluid, and the second fluid is located outwardly of the engine core.