Undercowl Cooling System for Gas Turbine Soakback Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face elevated temperatures in the undercowl space due to heat transfer from hot engine components, leading to potential electronic component failure and increased weight from radiation shields and long cables, which complicates maintenance and increases fuel consumption during thermal soakback periods.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with conduits and valves that channel compressor bleed air into and out of the undercowl space during different operational modes, reducing temperature before and after engine shutdown by providing an escape path for hot air and cooling the space before engine cessation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If radiation shields are added to protect electronic components from heat, then electronic component reliability is improved, but engine weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat source (hot engine components) from the electronic components by routing exhaust gases through a heat exchanger that is spatially separated from the electronics. This removes the thermal hazard without requiring physical shields between the heat source and sensitive components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat exchanger as an intermediary device that transfers heat from exhaust gases to cooling air. This mediator allows thermal energy to be moved from the hot zone to the cool zone without direct thermal contact, protecting electronics from heat exposure.
2Reliability
If radiation shields and long cables are added to protect electronics, then electronic component reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal protection function from complex radiation shields and cable assemblies, replacing them with a simple heat exchanger system that addresses the root cause (heat exposure) rather than treating the symptoms.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger system uses the engine's own exhaust gases as the heat source for cooling, allowing the system to serve itself without requiring external cooling sources or complex control systems.
3Reliability
If longer cables are used to connect remote electronics, then electronic component reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts electronics from remote locations where long cables would be required, placing them in the accessible engine core compartment where standard cable lengths suffice, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
4Reliability
If core compartment cooling system is oversized to handle soakback, then electronic component reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by cooling the engine core compartment during operation before shutdown occurs. This proactive cooling prevents the buildup of heat that would cause soakback, eliminating the need for oversized cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system operates periodically during engine operation to maintain appropriate temperatures, rather than requiring continuous high-capacity cooling that would be needed to handle peak soakback conditions.
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 solution effectively mitigates soakback by reducing undercowl space temperatures, decreases engine weight, and lowers fuel consumption by providing a lightweight cooling system that addresses temperature-related issues without oversizing the core compartment cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling system with conduits and valves that channel compressor bleed air into and out of the undercowl space during different operational modes
Implementation Method 2
effectively mitigates soakback by reducing undercowl space temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system includes a first conduit positioned within a cavity and extends from a radially inner casing aperture to a radially outer casing aperture. The cooling system also includes a second conduit coupled in flow communication with the first conduit and extending into the cavity. The cooling system further includes at least one valve positioned within the first conduit and the second conduit. The at least one valve and the first conduit are configured to channel a first fluid from the radially inner casing aperture to the radially outer casing aperture during a first mode of operation. The at least one valve, the second conduit, and the first conduit are configured to channel a second fluid from the radially outer casing aperture to the cavity during a second mode of operation.