Multi-mode heat rejection system for a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11378009-B2
Application number	US-202016867155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 5, 2020
Priority date	May 15, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A turbine engine includes a duct defining an annular passage, at least two heat exchangers arranged within the annular passage and spaced circumferentially apart, a passage between the at least two heat exchangers, and a forward flow control device operable for controlling airflow through the passages.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A turbine engine comprising:
a duct defining an annular space;
at least two heat exchangers arranged within the annular space and spaced circumferentially apart;
a passage between the at least two heat exchangers;
a forward flow control device operable for controlling airflow through the passage; and
an aft flow control device disposed on either side of an outlet of the passage between the at least two heat exchangers for defining an outlet of the passage and of the at least two heat exchangers.

2. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the forward flow control device is movable from an open position allowing airflow through the passage and a closed position blocking airflow through the passage to force all airflow through the at least two heat exchangers.

3. The turbine engine as recited in claim 2 , wherein the forward flow control device is movable to a plurality of intermediate positions between the open position and the closed position to control airflow through the passage and the at least two heat exchangers.

4. The turbine engine as recited in claim 2 , wherein the flow control device comprises a fixed fairing and two vanes movable outward from the fixed fairing between the open position and the closed position.

5. The turbine engine as recited in claim 4 , wherein the fixed fairing is disposed forward of an inlet to the passage and the vanes extend aft of the fixed fairing.

6. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the aft flow control device comprises a first vane disposed on a first side of the outlet and a second aft vane disposed on a second side of the outlet, the first vane and the second vane moveable between a first position defining a diverging nozzle through the passage and a second position defining a diverging nozzle of airflow exiting the at least two heat exchangers.

7. The turbine engine as recited in claim 6 , wherein the aft flow control devices is moved to the first position when the forward flow control device is in an open position enabling airflow through the passage and the aft flow control device is moved to the second position when the forward flow control device is in a closed position.

8. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two heat exchangers comprise a plurality of heat exchangers extending about the entire annular space and a corresponding plurality of passages disposed between the plurality of heat exchangers.

9. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two heat exchangers comprise one of an air/oil heat exchanger, an air/fuel heat exchanger or an air/air heat exchanger.

10. The turbine engine as recited in claim 1 , wherein the annular space is defined between a radially inner surface and radially outer surface of the duct and each of the least two heat exchangers extend entirely between the radially inner surface and the radially outer surface.

11. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
a plurality of heat exchangers circumferentially spaced apart within an annular duct;
a plurality of passages disposed within circumferential spaces between the plurality of heat exchangers; and
a plurality of forward flow control devices for distributing airflow between the plurality of passages and the plurality of heat exchangers wherein each of the plurality of forward flow control devices comprise a fixed fairing and two vanes movable outward from the fixed fairing to a plurality of intermediate positions between an open position allowing airflow through the plurality of passages and a closed position blocking airflow through the plurality of passages to direct and proportionally control airflow through the plurality of heat exchangers and through the plurality of passages.

12. The thermal management system as recited in claim 11 , including
a plurality of aft flow control devices disposed at an outlet of each of the plurality of passages, wherein each of the plurality of aft flow control devices are movable to a first position defining a diverging nozzle through a corresponding one of the plurality of passages and a second position defining a diverging nozzle of airflow exiting a corresponding one of the plurality of heat exchangers.

13. A turbine engine comprising:
a duct defining an annular space;
at least two heat exchangers arranged within the annular space and spaced circumferentially apart;
a passage between the at least two heat exchangers;
a forward flow control device operable for controlling airflow through the passage wherein the forward flow control device is movable from an open position allowing airflow through the passage and a closed position blocking airflow through the passage to force all airflow through the at least two heat exchangers and wherein the flow control device comprises a fixed fairing and two vanes movable outward from the fixed fairing between the open position and the closed position.

14. The turbine engine as recited in claim 13 , wherein the fixed fairing is disposed forward of an inlet to the passage and the vanes extend aft of the fixed fairing.

15. The turbine engine as recited in claim 14 , including an aft flow control device disposed on either side of an outlet of the passage between the at least two heat exchangers for defining an outlet of the passage and of the at least two heat exchangers.

16. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
a plurality of heat exchangers circumferentially spaced apart within an annular duct;
a plurality of passages disposed within circumferential spaces between the plurality of heat exchangers;
a plurality of forward flow control devices for distributing airflow between the plurality of passages and the plurality of heat exchangers; and
a plurality of aft flow control devices disposed at an outlet of each of the plurality of passages, wherein each of the plurality of aft flow control devices are movable to a first position defining a diverging nozzle through a corresponding one of the plurality of passages and a second position defining a diverging nozzle of airflow exiting a corresponding one of the plurality of heat exchangers.

17. The thermal management system as recited in claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of forward flow control devices are movable from an open position allowing airflow through the passage and a closed position blocking airflow through the passage to direct airflow through the plurality of heat exchangers.

18. The thermal management system as recited in claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of forward flow control devices are movable to a plurality of intermediate positions between the open position and the closed position to proportionally control airflow through the plurality of passages and the plurality of heat exchangers.

19. The thermal management system as recited in claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of flow control devices comprise a fixed fairing and two vanes movable outward from the fixed fairing between the open position and the closed position.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Roberge Gary D

Classifications

• F02C9/20

  by throttling; by adjusting vanes · CPC title

• F02C9/16

  Control of working fluid flow (F02C9/48 takes precedence; control of air-intake flow F02C7/057) · CPC title

• F02K3/06

  with front fan · CPC title

• F02C7/18 Primary

  the medium being gaseous, e.g. air {(F02C7/125 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F02C7/14 Primary

  of fluids in the plant {, e.g. lubricant or fuel (F02C7/185 takes precedence)} · CPC title