Graphene ultra-conductive casing wrap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191498-A1
Application number	US-201514983790-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wrap configured to cover a surface of a casing surrounding a rotating member includes one or more graphene sheets and a matrix configured to stabilize the one or more graphene sheets. The matrix further configured to receive an adhesive or mechanical fastener and to bond to a surface of the casing using the adhesive or mechanical fastener. The wrap is further configured to facilitate heat transfer over the casing, to structurally reinforce the casing, and to enhance containment resilience.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wrap for a casing surrounding a rotating member, said wrap comprising:
one or more graphene sheets; and a matrix configured receive an adhesive or mechanical fastener, stabilize said one or more graphene sheets, and bond to a surface of the casing using said adhesive or mechanical fastener; and said wrap further configured to cover at least a portion of a surface of the casing, facilitate heat transfer over the casing, structurally reinforce the casing, and enhance containment resilience.

2 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said one or more graphene sheets comprise bonded carbon atoms in sheet form approximately one atom thick.

3 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said one or more graphene sheets comprise at least 10 graphene sheets.

4 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said one or more graphene sheets comprise from about 10 graphene sheets to about 100 graphene sheets.

5 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said wrap further comprises a gap between abutted sheets, said gap sized to accommodate a deformation of the casing.

6 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said wrap further comprises one or more additional graphene sheets configured to control heat transfer at a selected region of the casing, said one or more additional graphene sheets situated at the region, and the region selected based on a determination of a hot spot in the casing.

7 . The wrap of claim 1 , wherein said wrap further comprises one or more flexible graphene sheets situated over one or more protrusions projecting from the casing.

8 . A method of assembling a turbofan engine comprising a casing surrounding a rotating member, the method comprising:
providing one or more graphene sheets comprising graphene and a matrix configured to stabilize the graphene; and bonding the matrix of the one or more graphene sheets to a surface of the casing using an adhesive or using mechanical fasteners inserted through a plurality of connecting rings formed within the matrix and into the surface of the casing to form a wrap; the wrap comprising the one or more graphene sheets and the matrix; and the wrap configured to facilitate heat transfer over the casing, to structurally reinforce the casing, to enhance containment resilience, and to enhance containment resilience.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more graphene sheets comprise bonded carbon atoms in sheet form approximately one atom thick.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more graphene sheets comprises at least 10 graphene sheets.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more graphene sheets comprises from about 10 graphene sheets to about 100 graphene sheets.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming a gap between abutted sheets of the one or more graphene sheets, the gap sized to accommodate a deformation of the casing.

13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising bonding one or more additional graphene sheets configured to control heat transfer at a region of the casing, the region selected based on a determination of a hot spot in the casing.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising bonding one or more flexible graphene sheets over one or more protrusions projecting from the casing.

15 . A turbofan engine comprising:
a core engine comprising a rotating member surrounded by a casing; and a wrap covering at least a portion of a surface of the casing, said wrap comprising:
one or more graphene sheets; and
a matrix configured to stabilize said one or more graphene sheets, said matrix further configured to receive an adhesive and bond to the surface of the casing using said adhesive, wherein said wrap is further configured to facilitate heat transfer over the casing and to structurally reinforce the casing.

16 . The turbofan engine of claim 15 , wherein said one or more graphene sheets comprise bonded carbon atoms in sheet form approximately one atom thick.

17 . The turbofan engine of claim 15 , wherein said one or more graphene sheets comprise at least 10 graphene sheets.

18 . The turbofan engine of claim 15 , wherein said wrap further comprises a gap between abutted sheets, said gap sized to accommodate a deformation of the casing.

19 . The turbofan engine of claim 15 , wherein said wrap further comprises one or more additional graphene sheets configured to control heat transfer at a region of the casing, said one or more additional graphene sheets situated at the region, and the region selected based on a determination of a hot spot in the casing.

20 . The turbofan engine of claim 15 , wherein said wrap further comprises one or more flexible graphene sheets situated over one or more protrusions projecting from the casing.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Guijarro Valencia Antonio

Classifications

• F05D2220/36

  specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines · CPC title

• B32B37/14

  characterised by the properties of the layers · CPC title

• F01D25/145

  Thermally insulated casings · CPC title

• F05D2300/5024

  Heat conductivity · CPC title

• C01B2204/26

  Mechanical properties · CPC title