Systems and methods for passively providing one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356221-A1
Application number	US-201514733251-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Jun 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermal valve is disclosed. The thermal valve may provide one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of a gas turbine engine. The thermal valve may include a temperature sensitive element and a valve assembly in communication with the temperature sensitive element. The valve assembly may include at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one cooling fluid source, at least one outlet in fluid communication with the hot cavity, and at least one valve in communication with the temperature sensitive element. The at least one valve may be disposed between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet. The temperature sensitive element may be configured to move the at least one valve between a closed position and an open position.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1 . A thermal valve for providing one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of a gas turbine engine, the thermal valve comprising:
a temperature sensitive element; and a valve assembly in communication with the temperature sensitive element, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
at least one inlet in fluid communication with at least one cooling fluid source;
at least one outlet in fluid communication with the hot cavity; and
at least one valve in communication with the temperature sensitive element and disposed between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, wherein the temperature sensitive element is configured to move the at least one valve between a closed position and an open position.

2 . The thermal valve of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet comprises a first inlet and a second inlet.

3 . The thermal valve of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with a first cooling fluid source and the second inlet is in fluid communication with a second cooling fluid source.

4 . The thermal valve of claim 2 , wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are in fluid communication with a first cooling fluid source.

5 . The thermal valve of claim 2 , wherein the at least one outlet comprises a first outlet and a second outlet in fluid communication with the hot cavity.

6 . The thermal valve of claim 5 , wherein the at least one valve comprises a first valve disposed between the first inlet and the first outlet and a second valve disposed between the second inlet and the second outlet.

7 . The thermal valve of claim 1 , wherein two or more flows of cooling fluid mix in the valve assembly before being supplied to the hot cavity.

8 . The thermal valve of claim 1 , wherein two or more flows of cooling fluid are supplied to the hot cavity without mixing in the valve assembly.

9 . The thermal valve of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive element is disposed within a housing.

10 . A system, comprising:
a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; and a thermal valve for providing one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of the gas turbine engine, the thermal valve comprising:
a temperature sensitive element; and
a valve assembly in communication with the temperature sensitive element, wherein the valve assembly comprises:
a main body having a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
a first valve disposed within the main body between the first inlet and the first outlet and in communication with the temperature sensitive element, wherein the temperature sensitive element is configured to move the first valve between a closed position and an open position; and
a second valve disposed within the main body between the second inlet and the second outlet and in communication with the temperature sensitive element, wherein the temperature sensitive element is configured to move the second valve between a closed position and an open position.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensitive element is disposed within a housing.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are in fluid communication with the hot cavity.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are in fluid communication with a first cooling fluid source.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein a first flow of cooling fluid from the first cooling fluid source is supplied to the hot cavity when the first valve and the second valve are in the open position.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first inlet is in fluid communication with a first cooling fluid source and the second inlet is in fluid communication with a second cooling fluid source.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein a first flow of cooling fluid from the first cooling fluid source is supplied to the hot cavity when the first valve is in the open position and a second flow of cooling fluid from the second cooling fluid source is supplied to the hot cavity when the second valve is in the open position.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the first flow of cooling fluid and the second flow of cooling fluid mix in the valve assembly.

18 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a seal disposed between the first valve and the second valve.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the seal prevents a first flow of cooling fluid from mixing with a second flow of cooling fluid within the valve assembly.

20 . A method of providing one or more flows of cooling fluid to a hot cavity within a cooling circuit of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
providing a thermal sensitive element about the cooling circuit; opening at least one valve in communication with the thermal sensitive element based at least in part on a temperature of the thermal sensitive element; and supplying a flow of cooling fluid to the hot cavity.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Miranda Carlos Miguel
• Simpson Stanley Frank
• Davis Dale J

Classifications

• F16K31/002

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• F02C3/04

  having a turbine driving a compressor (power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16) · CPC title

• F02C7/12 Primary

  Cooling of plants (of component parts, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. F01D; cooling of engines in general F01P) · CPC title

• F16K11/02

  with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit · CPC title

• F05D2300/5021

  Expansivity · CPC title