Surface Cooler Fins Oriented to Outlet Guide Vanes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engines with air-oil surface coolers experience friction losses and reduced fuel efficiency due to fins protruding into the bypass airflow passageway, which cause air flow obstruction and pressure losses.
Innovation Solution
The heat exchanger assembly features a set of fins on its external surface oriented in different directions, aligning with outlet guide vanes to direct air flow efficiently through the fan bypass duct, minimizing pressure loss and drag by matching the air flow direction with the vanes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fins protrude into the bypass airflow passageway to cool oil, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but friction losses and pressure losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the fin orientation angles in different circumferential regions of the heat exchanger. Each region's fins are oriented at specific angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°) to match the local airflow direction from outlet guide vanes, optimizing heat exchange efficiency in each zone while minimizing overall friction losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation angle parameter of fins across different regions to optimize performance. By adjusting the fin angle parameter to align with local airflow directions, the system achieves better heat transfer while reducing aerodynamic drag and pressure losses compared to uniform fin orientation.
2Area of stationary object
If fins protrude into the bypass airflow passageway to increase heat exchange surface area, then heat exchange efficiency is improved, but air flow obstruction and pressure losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat exchanger surface into multiple circumferential regions, each with fins oriented at different angles optimized for local airflow conditions. This local optimization allows maximum surface area utilization while minimizing pressure losses in each region by aligning fins with predominant flow directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single uniform fin orientation to a multi-dimensional fin configuration where orientation angles vary circumferentially. This dimensional change in fin arrangement allows the system to accommodate three-dimensional airflow patterns, reducing pressure losses while maintaining extensive heat exchange surface area.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform fin orientation is used across the heat exchanger, then manufacturing is simplified, but fuel efficiency is reduced due to misalignment with outlet guide vane airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by specifying different fin orientation angles for different circumferential regions. This approach balances manufacturing complexity with performance, as each region can be manufactured with uniform fin orientation while the overall heat exchanger achieves optimized alignment with outlet guide vane airflow patterns, improving fuel 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
This configuration reduces pressure loss and drag within the fan bypass duct, thereby increasing the fuel efficiency of the gas turbine engine by optimizing air flow alignment with the outlet guide vanes.
Implementation Method 1
Air-oil surface coolers include fins protruding into the bypass airflow passageway that exchange heat with the relatively cold fan air
Implementation Method 2
use fan air to cool the oil flowing through the air-oil heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The heat exchanger assembly includes a first conduit, an external surface, and a set of fins. The first conduit includes a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first internal flow path extending between the first inlet and first outlet. The first conduit is configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from the first inlet to the first outlet. The external surface which includes a plurality of regions. Each region of the plurality of regions includes a respective set of fins extending from the external surface. Each set of fins of a respective region of the plurality of regions are oriented in a different direction than sets of fins of other regions of the plurality of regions.