Turbine Engine Fuel-Cooled Air Intercooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines using anhydrous ammonia as fuel face inefficiencies due to the need for complex and costly intercooling circuits that recycle ammonia for cooling, which may not provide sufficient heat for optimal combustion.
Innovation Solution
A turbine engine design incorporating an open loop cooling circuit with a fuel-cooled air intercooling system, where all ammonia fuel is directed to the combustor after transferring heat from compressed air and exhaust to the fuel, eliminating the need for ammonia recycling and additional cooling steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If ammonia is circulated through an intercooler circuit where it is expanded, picks up heat from compressed air, condenses, and is pumped back, then cooling of the inlet air is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and requires excess ammonia availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fuel supply system with the intercooling system by using the same ammonia pump and heat exchanger for both combustion fuel provision and inlet air cooling. This merging eliminates the need for separate ammonia circulation loops and reduces system complexity while achieving both fueling and intercooling functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The ammonia fuel serves dual purposes: it acts as both the combustion fuel and the cooling medium for the intercooler. The single ammonia pump delivers ammonia to both the combustor and the intercooler, making the ammonia supply system multi-functional and eliminating the need for separate cooling fluid systems.
2Temperature
If ammonia is recycled through the intercooling circuit, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but additional cooling steps are required and system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fuel delivery system with the intercooling circuit, using a single ammonia pump and heat exchanger configuration that serves both combustion and cooling purposes. This eliminates the need for separate ammonia recycling infrastructure and reduces manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The ammonia fuel serves its own cooling function without requiring external cooling systems or additional infrastructure. The same ammonia that would otherwise need to be separately cooled for recycling is directly used as the cooling medium, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall system cost.
3Quantity of substance
If ammonia is used to cool the inlet air, then the need for separate cooling fluids is reduced, but the heat picked up by ammonia may be insufficient for optimum combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the thermal energy recovered from the exhaust stream with the heat absorbed by ammonia during intercooling. This dual heat source ensures that ammonia receives sufficient thermal energy for optimal combustion while maintaining its effectiveness as a cooling medium during the intercooling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous heat transfer to the ammonia fuel through both the intercooling process and exhaust heat recovery, ensuring that the ammonia is consistently heated to optimal combustion temperatures throughout operation. This continuous heating action guarantees sufficient thermal energy for efficient combustion.
4Temperature
If conventional air or water heat exchangers are used for intercooling, then cooling is achieved, but engine efficiency is reduced due to energy removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of energy removal during intercooling into a beneficial effect by using that removed energy to heat the fuel. The heat exchanger that cools the compressed air simultaneously heats the ammonia fuel, transforming energy loss into useful thermal energy for combustion preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the intercooling function with fuel heating by using a single heat exchanger system where compressed air cools one stream while heating the ammonia fuel stream. This combination eliminates the need for separate cooling and heating systems, reducing overall energy loss while achieving both cooling and fuel preparation objectives.
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 design simplifies the system, reduces emissions, and ensures the ammonia fuel is adequately heated for optimal combustion without additional vaporization steps, enhancing efficiency and reducing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the inlet air to a fuel of the engine
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from exhaust of the engine to the fuel of the engine
Implementation Method 3
intercooling includes removing energy from the air between compression stages
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine is disclosed. The turbine engine may have a first compressor configured to pressurize inlet air, and a second compressor configured to further pressurize the inlet air. The turbine engine may also have a cooling circuit fluidly located to cool the inlet air after the inlet air is pressurized by the first compressor and before the inlet air is further pressurized by the second compressor. The cooling circuit may have a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the inlet air to a fuel of the engine, and a second heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from exhaust of the engine to the fuel of the engine.