Turbomachine Probe Ejector Cooling Discharge Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine probes operating in high-temperature environments require effective cooling methods that minimize environmental impact without the need for separate piping or heat exchangers to manage high-temperature cooling flows.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an ejector system coupled to the probes, which constricts the heated cooling flow and draws ambient coolant to mix with it, reducing the temperature and velocity of the discharge flow to a safe level for direct atmospheric release, eliminating the need for separate piping and heat exchangers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling methods with separate piping and heat exchangers are used, then probe cooling effectiveness is improved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector merges the cooling flow discharge function with the ambient air intake function into a single device. The ejector housing combines the diffuser, mixing chamber, and ambient air inlet into one integrated component, eliminating the need for separate piping and heat exchanger infrastructure while maintaining effective cooling through the mixing of cooled air with ambient air
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector utilizes the kinetic energy of the cooling flow itself to draw in ambient air for cooling purposes. The converging-diverging geometry of the ejector converts the high-velocity cooling flow into a low-pressure region that automatically entrains ambient air, eliminating the need for external power sources or complex control systems
2Device complexity
If cooling flow is discharged directly without treatment, then infrastructure requirements are reduced, but environmental compliance is compromised due to high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector introduces ambient air as an intermediary substance that mixes with the hot cooling flow in the mixing chamber. This ambient air acts as a thermal buffer, absorbing heat from the cooling flow and reducing the discharge temperature to environmentally acceptable levels while maintaining the cooling effectiveness of the original flow
Solution Approach 2:
The ejector changes the temperature parameter of the discharge flow by mixing it with cooler ambient air. The diffuser section reduces the velocity and increases the pressure of the mixing flow, while the mixing chamber combines it with ambient air at a different temperature, resulting in a discharge flow with optimized temperature parameters for environmental compliance
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 effectively cools the probes while ensuring the discharge flow meets regulatory temperature thresholds, allowing for direct atmospheric release without additional infrastructure, thus reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling inflow absorbs heat from the probe
Implementation Method 2
The nozzle is configured to constrict the outflow from the outlet and to deliver the outflow to the interior
Implementation Method 3
The ejector also includes a mixing portion configured to mix the outflow and the coolant to provide a discharge flow
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a probe disposed through one or more walls of a turbomachine. The probe includes a sensing component configured to sense a parameter of the turbomachine. The probe also includes a body coupled to the sensing component, an inlet configured to receive a cooling inflow, a shell that defines a cooling passage, and an outlet. The sensing component is disposed on a warm side of the one or more walls. The inlet and the outlet are disposed on a cool side of the one or more walls. The cooling passage directs the cooling inflow toward the sensing component and toward the outlet. The outlet is configured to receive an outflow from the cooling passage, wherein the outflow includes at least a portion of the cooling inflow.