Reversible Fan Wheel Cooling for Helicopter Turbomachine Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engine electronic components overheat when the helicopter is stationary due to lack of ventilation, causing potential damage, and existing cooling systems are ineffective when the turbine engine is switched off.
Innovation Solution
A reversible fan wheel system that generates airflow in both directions, allowing continued cooling of electronic components by reversing the electric motor's direction of rotation, powered by a dedicated battery when the turbine engine is off, reducing power consumption and heat buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the electric motor is started to provide ventilation for cooling electronic components during turbomachine shutdown, then the temperature of electronic components is reduced, but the turbomachine rotates which is undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the ventilation function from the drive shaft by introducing an independent ventilation shaft that is not coupled to the turbomachine. The electric motor can rotate the ventilation shaft independently to generate cooling airflow without transmitting torque to the drive shaft, thus preventing unwanted turbomachine rotation while maintaining cooling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a freewheel mechanism as an intermediary between the electric motor and the drive shaft. The freewheel allows the electric motor to rotate in reverse direction to drive the ventilation fan while preventing torque transmission to the drive shaft, thus enabling cooling without unwanted turbomachine rotation.
2Temperature
If a cooling system with fan wheel is used for electronic components, then cooling effectiveness is improved during operation, but the system becomes ineffective when the turbine engine is switched off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a reversible fan wheel that can rotate in both forward and reverse directions. During turbomachine operation, the fan wheel rotates in the forward direction driven by the electric motor. During shutdown, the fan wheel reverses direction to be driven by the electric motor in reverse, maintaining cooling capability across both operating states.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system is designed to perform cooling function in both operational modes (turbomachine running and shutdown). The reversible fan wheel and independent ventilation shaft enable the system to provide effective cooling whether the turbomachine is operating or shut down, making the cooling system universally effective across all states.
3Temperature
If the fan wheel rotation speed is increased to improve cooling, then cooling performance is enhanced, but electrical power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dedicated battery to power the electric motor during shutdown for reverse rotation of the fan wheel. This allows the fan to operate at optimal speed for cooling without being constrained by the need to minimize power consumption, as the battery provides sufficient energy for this temporary cooling operation.
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 electronic components during turbine engine shutdown, preventing overheating and reducing electrical consumption by using a reversible fan wheel and dedicated battery, maintaining component safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a reversible fan wheel adapted to generate an airflow in a first direction, called the forward direction, when rotating in that direction, and an airflow in the opposite direction, called the reverse direction, when rotating in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
a cooling system for the electronic components of the electric motor, comprising a heat sink for cooling the electronic components
Implementation Method 3
generate an airflow through the heat sink
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention concerns a helicopter turbomachine, comprising an electric starter motor (20) configured to rotate a drive shaft (12), a heat sink (26) for cooling the electric motor and a ventilation wheel (28) driven by the electric motor, characterised in that the ventilation wheel (28) is reversible, the turbomachine comprises an overrunning clutch (22) configured to transmit the torque from the electric motor (20) to the drive shaft (12), the electric motor (20) is configured such that, in the first direction of rotation, it rotates the drive shaft (12) and the ventilation wheel (28) so as to generate an air flow through the heat sink (26) in a direct direction, and, in the reverse direction of rotation, it rotates only the ventilation wheel (28) so as to generate an air flow through the heat sink (26) in a direction opposite the direct direction.