Three-Stream Gas Turbine Control for Thrust-Cooling Tradeoffs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines lack effective control systems for managing thermal and thrust contributions, leading to inefficiencies and operational constraints.
Innovation Solution
A three-stream gas turbine engine architecture with distinct airflow streams and adjustable components like fan blades, inlet guide vanes, and variable nozzles to optimize thrust and thermal management, allowing for coordinated control of thermal and thrust contributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a gas turbine engine is designed to produce high thrust, then the thrust contribution is improved, but the thermal management capability deteriorates due to insufficient airflow for cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the airflow into three distinct streams: a first bypass stream for thrust production, a second bypass stream for thermal management and cooling, and a core stream for additional thrust. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stream's function, enabling the engine to simultaneously achieve high thrust and effective thermal management without the trade-off that plagues conventional two-stream designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the engine operates in transient conditions with competing thrust and cooling demands, then operational flexibility is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to conflicting control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of variable geometry components including inlet guide vanes, variable stators in the booster and core, and variable nozzles in each stream. These dynamic adjustments allow the control system to rapidly respond to changing operational demands, maintaining optimal performance and reliability during transient conditions by continuously adapting the airflow distribution to match current thrust and cooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system utilizes feedback from sensors monitoring engine parameters such as temperatures, pressures, and flow rates to continuously adjust the variable geometry components. This closed-loop control ensures that competing demands for thrust and cooling are resolved in real-time, maintaining system reliability while providing operational flexibility during transient conditions.
3Device complexity
If conventional two-stream architecture is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control thrust and thermal contributions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the airflow into three independent streams with dedicated outlets and control mechanisms, the patent achieves independent control of thrust and thermal contributions. Each stream can be individually regulated through its own variable nozzle and inlet guide vane settings, providing superior adaptability compared to conventional two-stream designs while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-stream architecture creates a universal platform that can simultaneously fulfill multiple functions: the first bypass stream provides primary thrust, the second bypass stream handles thermal management and component cooling, and the core stream provides additional thrust and drives the generator. This multi-functionality is achieved while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system and schemes for controlling a three-stream gas turbine engine are disclosed. In one aspect, a three-stream engine is architecturally arranged so as to define a primary bypass flowpath, a secondary bypass flowpath, and a core flowpath that may each output propulsive thrust. The three-stream engine includes one or more effectors that can be controlled to adjust a thrust contribution provided by the secondary bypass flowpath to the net propulsive thrust as well as a thermal contribution provided by the secondary bypass flowpath to an associated thermal management system. Competing demands, limits, and priorities can be considered in controlling the effector. In some embodiments, a secondary effector can be ganged or controlled in conjunction with the effector to assist with adjustment of the contributions provided by the secondary bypass flowpath.