Pliable Fin Surface Cooler for Gas Turbine Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-oil surface coolers in gas turbine engines are inefficient due to the use of rigid materials, which lead to pressure and friction losses as the cooling fluid flow angle changes with operating conditions, resulting in reduced fuel efficiency and increased size and weight for varying fan air flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A surface cooler with a conduit and array of thermally conductive, resilient, and pliable fin members that extend into the bypass airflow passage, allowing the fins to flex and adapt to changing flow conditions, reducing pressure and friction losses by aligning with the air flow direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rigid fins are used in the surface cooler, then structural strength is maintained, but pressure losses and friction losses increase due to inability to adapt to changing flow angles
Solution Approach 1:
The fin members are made flexible instead of rigid, allowing them to dynamically change their orientation in response to varying airflow conditions. This dynamic adaptability enables the fins to maintain optimal alignment with the flow direction across different operating conditions, reducing pressure losses and friction losses while preserving structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexibility of the fin members allows changes in their geometric orientation parameter in response to flow conditions. By allowing the fin angle and position to vary rather than remain fixed, the system adapts to changing flow angles and velocities, minimizing energy losses without sacrificing strength.
2Loss of energy
If the surface cooler is sized for ground/idle state with reduced fan air flow rate, then heat removal is sufficient at low flow rates, but friction losses increase at steady state cruising conditions with increased fan air flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible fin members dynamically adjust their configuration based on airflow rate. At low flow rates (ground/idle), they maintain a configuration that maximizes heat transfer surface area exposure. At high flow rates (cruising), they align more with the flow direction, reducing friction losses while still providing adequate heat removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation and exposure parameters of the fin members in response to varying airflow rates. This parameter adaptation allows the same heat exchanger to operate efficiently across the full range of fan air flow rates without being oversized for low-flow conditions or causing excessive friction at high-flow conditions.
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 adaptable fin design reduces drag and friction losses, enhancing fuel efficiency and heat transfer efficiency across varying flow rates, improving the performance of gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
Each fin member is fabricated from a thermally conductive, resilient, and pliable material
Implementation Method 2
Each fin member is fabricated from a thermally conductive, resilient, and pliable material
Data Source
AI summary
A surface cooler includes a conduit, a body having an external surface, and a plurality of fin members arranged in an array of fin members. The conduit defines an inlet, an outlet, and an internal flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet. The conduit is configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from the inlet to said outlet. The conduit extends through the body. Each fin member of the array of fin members extends from the external surface of the body. Each fin member is fabricated from a thermally conductive, resilient, and pliable material.