Rotor Hub Cooling Duct and Heat Pipe Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary wing aircraft components mounted on the rotor hub, such as rotor blade actuators and vibration reduction systems, face cooling challenges due to fairings that reduce airflow and increase drag, leading to inadequate heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system comprising a fairing with an internal component system including heat generating components and a heat pipe network, where a radiator is thermally connected to the heat pipe, and cooling ducts are arranged between the components, utilizing scuppers and cooling saddles to enhance heat transfer without increasing drag by using a closed loop cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fairing is used to reduce drag and enclose components, then drag reduction and component protection are improved, but airflow across components is reduced leading to inadequate cooling
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling duct is introduced as an intermediary structure between the fairing and the components. The duct includes a cooling passage that directs airflow to components needing cooling, while the cooling saddle couples the duct to the component, creating a thermal and fluid connection that enables heat dissipation without compromising the fairing's drag-reducing enclosure
Solution Approach 2:
The fairing is segmented to include an opening or aperture that allows controlled airflow access to the cooling duct. This segmentation enables the fairing to simultaneously provide drag reduction through enclosure and cooling through selective openings, resolving the contradiction between protection and heat dissipation
2Temperature
If openings are created in the fairing to improve cooling, then heat dissipation is improved, but drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating large openings throughout the fairing, the invention introduces localized cooling passages within the cooling duct that is positioned adjacent to specific heat-generating components. The cooling saddle provides targeted thermal contact only where needed, allowing cooling at specific locations without compromising the overall aerodynamic integrity of the fairing
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling duct acts as an intermediary that channels airflow precisely to components requiring cooling. Rather than creating direct openings from the fairing exterior to components, the duct serves as an intermediate pathway that delivers cooling air efficiently while maintaining the fairing's enclosed structure and minimizing drag
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 system effectively reduces localized temperatures of heat generating components without creating openings that increase drag, providing efficient heat dissipation through a closed loop mechanism that does not require external power or electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling system comprises a fairing with an internal component system including heat generating components and a heat pipe network
Implementation Method 2
a radiator is thermally connected to the heat pipe
Implementation Method 3
providing efficient heat dissipation through a closed loop mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A rotor system including a rotor hub, a plurality of rotor blades supported by the rotor hub, and a fairing mounted to the rotor hub. The fairing includes an external surface exposed to an external airflow and an internal surface defining an interior portion. A component system is mounted to the rotor hub in the interior portion. The component system includes a first heat generating component and a second heat generating component spaced from the first heat generating component. A cooling duct is arranged between the first heat generating component and the second heat generating component.