Power Cable Cooling Conduit for Hot Gas Turbine Tail Cones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive cables in gas turbine engines experience high temperatures due to proximity to exhaust outlets, necessitating effective cooling solutions that do not compromise engine efficiency or require bleed air, especially during shutdown.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop cooling system using a conduit for conductive cables, powered by an oil pump and heat exchanger, which circulates engine oil to cool the cables, with active control by a processor for post-shutdown cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conductive cables are positioned near exhaust outlets to reduce overall system size, then compactness is improved, but temperature exposure increases causing cable degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling conduit acts as an intermediary element between the hot exhaust environment and the conductive cables. The conduit provides a protected pathway that isolates the cables from direct thermal exposure while maintaining the compact layout. This mediator structure allows the cables to remain in space-efficient positions without suffering from excessive heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management function is extracted from the overall system design by introducing a dedicated cooling conduit. This separate cooling pathway removes the thermal protection function from the structural layout, allowing the cables to be positioned optimally for compactness while the cooling system independently addresses the temperature issue through active or passive cooling mechanisms.
2Temperature
If bleed air is used for cooling conductive cables, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but engine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes the engine's own resources - specifically the engine air intake and existing cooling air flow - to provide cooling for the conductive cables. By tapping into the engine's natural air flow rather than requiring external bleed air, the system achieves self-sufficient cooling that does not compromise overall engine efficiency. The cooling conduit is designed to work within the engine's existing thermal management ecosystem.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using excessive bleed air that would significantly impact engine performance, the system employs a partial cooling approach through the dedicated conduit. The cooling action is applied locally and selectively to only the areas needing cooling, rather than using extensive bleed air extraction. This partial action provides sufficient cooling effectiveness while minimizing the energy penalty to the engine.
3Device complexity
If cooling is provided only during operation, then system simplicity is improved, but cable protection during shutdown is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling conduit is designed and positioned to provide cooling protection before shutdown occurs. During normal operation, the cooling system is already in place and actively protecting the cables. The conduit's geometry and positioning ensure that cooling air flow or cooling medium continues to reach the cables during shutdown, providing preliminary and continuous protection without requiring complex additional systems. The design anticipates the shutdown condition and maintains cooling capability through the existing structure.
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 cools conductive cables without relying on bleed air, maintaining engine efficiency and providing continuous cooling even after shutdown, thereby protecting the cables from excessive temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
An oil pump and heat exchanger may be provided. The oil pump may be configured to pump oil through the heat exchanger and through the conduit to cool the plurality of conductive cables.
Implementation Method 2
The conduit may be fluidly coupled to an external air source or may be fluidly coupled to a cooling fluid source. The conduit may be configured to receive a lubricant, such as engine oil or the like, or may be configured to receive a non-lubricant cooling fluid, such as water or the like.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A cooling system (300; 400) for a plurality of conductive cables (310) in a gas turbine engine (110) includes a cooling source and an electric motor (210) disposed in a tail cone (122). The cooling source may comprise an electric fan (360) or an oil pump (460). The cooling source may be configured for active cooling of the plurality of conductive cables (310). The electric fan (360) may be in fluid communication with ambient air during operation of the gas turbine engine (110).