Sectioned sCO2 Heat Exchanger for Gas Turbine Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face inefficiencies due to low-density air being compressed to high pressure ratios and heated to high temperatures, resulting in large and heavy components, and there is a need to improve reliability and reduce size and mass while operating in super-critical carbon dioxide (s-CO2) cycles.
Innovation Solution
A sectioned heat exchanger system with multiple circuits and sensors that can detect leaks and isolate affected sections, allowing for efficient power generation using a super-critical CO2 cycle, reducing pressure ratios and temperatures, and incorporating a recuperative heat exchanger for improved thermodynamic efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If air is compressed to very high pressure ratios and heated to very high temperatures to achieve needed power output, then power generation capability is improved, but engine size and mass increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the working fluid from air to supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), fundamentally altering the thermodynamic parameters. sCO2 operates at higher densities and allows for different pressure-temperature relationships, enabling compact engine design with reduced mass while maintaining high power output through superior thermodynamic efficiency in the supercritical region
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of carbon dioxide, specifically operating in the supercritical region where CO2 exhibits unique properties combining liquid-like density with gas-like compressibility. This phase state enables more efficient heat transfer and higher power density, reducing the overall engine size and mass compared to traditional air-based systems
2Loss of energy
If multiple compression and expansion stages are added to improve thermodynamic efficiency, then efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger into multiple independent sections, each capable of being isolated and maintained separately. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency through effective heat recovery while maintaining manageable complexity, as each section can be independently designed, maintained, and replaced without affecting the entire system
3Loss of energy
If traditional heat exchangers are used in sCO2 systems, then heat transfer is achieved, but reliability decreases due to inability to isolate leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple independent sections with separate fluid pathways. If a leak occurs in one section, the system can isolate that specific section while maintaining operation in other sections, significantly improving reliability. This segmentation also enhances heat transfer efficiency by allowing optimized design of each section's heat exchange surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and control mechanisms that monitor the thermal and fluid dynamics in each section of the heat exchanger. This feedback enables real-time detection of performance degradation or leaks, allowing the system to respond by isolating affected sections and maintaining optimal operation of healthy sections, thereby improving both reliability and heat transfer efficiency
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 sectioned heat exchanger system enhances the reliability and thermodynamic efficiency of gas turbine engines by isolating leaks and reducing the overall size and mass of the engine, achieving high power density and reduced pressure requirements, leading to a more compact and efficient power generation system.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger of the plurality of heat exchangers receives a first stream of the working fluid and transfers heat from the first stream of the working fluid to a second stream of the working fluid
Implementation Method 2
transfers heat from the first stream of the working fluid to a second stream of the working fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method for a gas turbine engine (10, 100, 200, 300) may include a sectioned heat exchanger (402). A heat exchanger (402) may include an inlet manifold (414) configured to receive a working fluid. A plurality of circuits (404a-c) including at least first and second circuits (404a, 404b, 404c) configured to transfer heat with respect to the working fluid. Each of the circuits (404a-c) may have a circuit inlet valve (418), a circuit heat exchange channel, and a circuit outlet valve (420). The heat exchanger (402) may further include an outlet manifold (416) configured to pass the working fluid to an outlet (410). The heat exchanger (402) may include a first sensor (422, 424) configured to measure of first parameter of the first circuit (404a) and a second sensor (422, 424) configured to measure a second parameter of at least one of the outlet (410) and the second circuit (404b, 404c). A controller (426) may be configured to selectively isolate at least one of the plurality of circuits (404a-c) based on a pressure difference between the first and second parameters.