Spiraled Fuel Heat Exchange Passage for Electric Machine Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face challenges in efficiently cooling internal components due to the inefficiency of bleeding compressed air for cooling, which also complicates the inclusion of internal passages for routing bleed air, especially as engines become more compact.
Innovation Solution
A powerplant assembly featuring a heat exchange passage that spirals around critical components like the electric machine and bearings, utilizing a fuel source to fluidly couple with the heat exchange passage for cooling and lubrication, thereby integrating cooling and lubrication functions within the engine structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If bleed air is used for cooling internal components, then cooling effectiveness is achieved, but engine efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful hot fuel into a beneficial cooling medium by routing it through heat exchange passages that contact internal components like bearings and the electric machine, thereby utilizing waste heat capacity to cool critical components without sacrificing engine efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the combustion energy source and the cooling medium for internal components. The same fuel that provides power also absorbs heat from bearings and the electric machine through the heat exchange passages, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems
2Temperature
If internal passages for routing bleed air are included, then cooling capability is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system infrastructure serves dual purposes: the fuel lines and distribution network that already exist for power generation are also utilized as heat exchange passages for cooling, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cooling passages and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the existing fuel delivery system. The heat exchange passages are integrated into the fuel line infrastructure, combining the fuel distribution network and cooling network into a single unified system that reduces the number of separate components and passages needed
3Volume of moving object
If engine size is reduced for compactness, then space is saved, but routing internal passages becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By making the fuel lines serve dual purposes as cooling passages, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated cooling passages in compact engine layouts, thereby maintaining cooling capability without increasing complexity despite reduced engine volume
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel delivery system and cooling system are merged into a single integrated network, allowing compact engine design without requiring separate routing paths for fuel and cooling media, thus simplifying passage routing in space-constrained configurations
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 dissipates heat from high-heat generating components while maintaining engine efficiency by using a spiraling heat exchange passage that utilizes fuel for both cooling and lubrication, reducing the need for bleed air and simplifying internal passage design.
Implementation Method 1
The inner platform structure may be configured to transfer heat energy from the electric machine into a fluid flowing through the heat exchange passage
Implementation Method 2
The stationary structure may be configured to transfer heat energy from the electric machine into fuel flowing within the heat exchange passage that is received from the fuel source
Implementation Method 3
The fuel source is fluidly coupled to the heat exchange passage
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly is provided for a powerplant. This powerplant assembly includes an electric machine, a stationary structure and a fuel source. The electric machine includes an electric machine rotor. The electric machine rotor is configured to rotate about an axis. The stationary structure supports the electric machine and includes a heat exchange passage. The heat exchange passage spirals around the electric machine as the heat exchange passage extends within the stationary structure and axially along the electric machine. The fuel source is fluidly coupled to the heat exchange passage.