System for a surface cooler with OGV oriented fin angles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823067-B2
Application number	US-201615152202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 11, 2016
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a first conduit comprising a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first internal flow path extending therebetween, the first conduit configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from the first inlet to the first outlet; and
an external surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent regions, the plurality of circumferentially adjacent regions comprising a first region circumferentially adjacent to a second region, the first region comprising a first plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the first plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a first direction, the second region comprising a second plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the second plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a second direction, the second direction differing from the first direction,
wherein the heat exchanger assembly is configured for installation in a bypass airflow passage of a turbofan engine, the heat exchanger assembly configured to be positioned axially aft of a plurality of outlet guide vanes circumferentially spaced in the bypass airflow passage, and wherein the external surface is configured to receive a flow of a coolant comprising bypass aft in heat transfer communication with the external surface, and
wherein the first direction is selected based at least in part on an orientation of a first outlet guide vane from among the plurality of outlet guide vanes such that the first plurality of rows of fins are configured to direct a first portion of air in the bypass airflow passage to flow in a direction coinciding with the first outlet guide vane, and the second direction is selected based at least in part on an orientation of a second outlet guide vane from among the plurality of outlet guide vanes such that the second plurality of rows of fins are configured to direct a second portion of air in the bypass airflow passage to flow in a direction coinciding with the second outlet guide vane.

2. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first direction and the second direction differ from one another by an angle, the angle being from 0 to 60 degrees.

3. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first direction includes values in a range from 0 to 30 degrees relative to an axial direction of the heat exchanger assembly, and/or the second direction includes values in a range from −30 to 0 degrees relative to the axial direction of the heat exchanger assembly.

4. The heat exchanger assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of rows of fins are oriented in the axial direction and the second plurality of rows of fins are oriented in a direction that differs from the axial direction.

5. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a core engine comprising a heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a first conduit comprising a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first internal flow path extending therebetween, the first conduit configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from the first inlet to the first outlet;
an external surface comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent regions, the plurality of circumferentially adjacent regions comprising a first region circumferentially adjacent to a second region, the first region comprising a first plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the first plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a first direction, the second region comprising a second plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the second plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a second direction, the second direction differing from the first direction;
a bypass duct at least partially surrounding the core engine; and
a plurality of airfoil members extending between the bypass duct and the core engine,
wherein the heat exchanger assembly is configured for installation in the bypass duct, the heat exchanger assembly configured to be positioned axially aft of a plurality of outlet guide vanes circumferentially spaced in the bypass duct, and wherein the external surface is configured to receive a flow of a coolant comprising bypass air in heat transfer communication with the external surface, and
wherein the first direction is selected based at least in part on an orientation of a first outlet guide vane from among the plurality of outlet guide vanes such that the first plurality of rows of fins are configured to direct a first portion of air in the bypass duct to flow in a direction coinciding with the first outlet guide vane, and the second direction is selected based at least in part on an orientation of a second outlet guide vane from among the plurality of outlet guide vanes such that the second plurality of rows of fins are configured to direct a second portion of air in the bypass duct to flow in a direction coinciding with the second outlet guide vane.

6. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the first direction and the second direction differ from one another by an angle, the angle being from 0 to 60 degrees.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the first direction includes values in a range from 0 to 30 degrees relative to an axial direction of the gas turbine engine, and/or the second direction includes values in a range from −30 to 0 degrees relative to the axial direction of the gas turbine engine.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of rows of fins are oriented in the axial direction and the second plurality of rows of fins are oriented in a direction that differs from the axial direction.

9. A gas turbine engine assembly configured to drive a bladed rotatable member, the gas turbine engine assembly comprising:
a core engine comprising a high pressure compressor, a combustor, and a high pressure turbine in a serial flow arrangement, the core engine further comprising a heat exchanger assembly comprising:
a first conduit comprising a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first internal flow path extending therebetween, the first conduit configured to channel a flow of fluid to be cooled from the first inlet to the first outlet;
an external surface comprising a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions comprising a first region and a second region, the first region comprising a first plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the first plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a first direction, the second region comprising a second plurality of rows of fins extending away from the external surface, respective ones of the second plurality of rows of fins being circumferentially adjacent to one another and oriented in a second direction, the second direction differing from the first direction;

a bypass duct at least partially surrounding the core engine; and
a plurality of airfoil members extending between the bypass duct and the core engine,
wherein the heat exchanger assembly is configured for installation in the bypass duct, the heat exchanger assembly configured to be positioned axially aft of a plurality of outlet guide vanes circumferentially spaced in the bypass duct, and wherein the external surface is configured to receive a flow of a coolant in heat transfer communication with the external surface, and
wherein the first direction is selected based at least in part on an orientation of a first outlet guide vane from among th

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Sennoun Mohammed El Hacin
• Solomon William Joseph
• Miller Kyle Louis

Classifications

• F05D2260/213

  by the provision of a heat exchanger within the cooling circuit · CPC title

• F01D9/041

  using blades (F01D5/148 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2260/22141

  using fins or ribs · CPC title

• F28D1/0471

  the conduits having a non-circular cross-section (F28D1/0473, F28D1/0476, F28D1/0478 take precedence) · CPC title

• F28F1/022

  with multiple channels · CPC title