Remote Fan Engine Assembly Plenum Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In aircraft with limited space, positioning a blower to generate proper airflow for liquid-cooled internal combustion engines is challenging due to spatial constraints, making effective cooling difficult.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft engine assembly with a turbo-compounded internal combustion engine, a coolant cooler, a plenum, and a fan positioned perpendicular to the engine shaft, where the fan drives airflow from the environment into the plenum via the coolant cooler and back out, utilizing the engine's exhaust duct and downwash to enhance airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a blower is positioned near the engine to generate proper airflow for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but spatial constraints in aircraft make positioning difficult and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the fan in the downstream end of the plenum at a location radially offset from the engine shaft rotation axis, utilizing the third dimension (radial offset) to resolve the positioning challenge. This allows the fan to be located away from the engine while still effectively driving airflow through the coolant cooler, transforming a 2D positioning problem into a 3D spatial solution that accommodates aircraft space constraints
2Productivity
If a large fan is used to drive sufficient airflow through the coolant cooler, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the fan size increases device complexity and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the engine's exhaust duct and downwash to enhance airflow through the coolant cooler, making the exhaust system serve a dual function: power generation and cooling assistance. This multi-functionality reduces the burden on the fan, allowing a smaller fan to achieve the required cooling efficiency by leveraging the existing exhaust airflow
3Volume of moving object
If the fan is positioned close to the engine for compact layout, then space usage is optimized, but the ability to generate proper airflow through the cooler is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the plenum as an intermediary component between the fan and the coolant cooler. The plenum receives airflow from the fan and directs it through the coolant cooler, mediating the interaction between the remotely positioned fan and the cooler. This allows the fan to be positioned away from the engine while still effectively cooling the engine through the plenum's airflow management
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 configuration efficiently cools the engine by utilizing the engine's exhaust and downwash to drive airflow through the coolant cooler, reducing the need for a large fan and optimizing space usage, thereby improving cooling efficiency and reducing drag.
Implementation Method 1
a fan disposed adjacent the air outlet and operable to drive an airflow from the environment into the plenum via the coolant cooler
Implementation Method 2
a coolant cooler fluidly connected to a coolant circuitry of the internal combustion engine, the cooler having a cooler inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the engine assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft engine assembly having a turbo-compounded internal combustion engine having an engine shaft. A coolant cooler is fluidly connected to a coolant circuitry of the internal combustion engine and to the environment. A plenum is connected with the environment via the coolant cooler and via an air outlet. A fan is disposed adjacent the air outlet and is operable to drive an airflow from the environment into the plenum via the coolant cooler. The fan is spaced apart from the internal combustion engine in a direction perpendicular to the engine shaft. A method of defining a cooling air circulation is also discussed.