Heat Exchanger for Embedded Engine Applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017198974-A1
Application number	US-201614990884-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 8, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An annular heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine is provided. The annular heat exchanger can include a first annular ring comprising a first main tube defined by a plurality of transduct segments; a second annular ring comprising a second main tube defined by a plurality of transduct segments and a curvilinear plate defining at least one channel therein that is in fluid communication with a transduct segment of the first main tube and a transduct segment of the second main tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An annular heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a first annular ring comprising a first main tube defined by a plurality of transduct segments; a second annular ring comprising a second main tube defined by a plurality of transduct segments, wherein each transduct segment of the first main tube and the second main tube comprises:
a main tube extending from a first end to a second end and defining a hollow passageway therethrough, and wherein the main tube defines an aperture, and further wherein at least a portion of adjacent transduct assemblies are fluidly connected along the main tube;
a lower platform attached to an outer surface of the main tube on first side of the aperture; and
an upper platform attached to the outer surface of the main tube on second side of the aperture that is opposite of the first side, wherein the upper platform is integral with the lower platform to define a supply channel therebetween, the supply channel being in fluid communication with the hollow passageway of the main tube through the aperture defined by the main tube, and wherein the lower platform and the upper platform define an interface defining a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the hollow passageway defined by the main tube; and
a curvilinear plate defining at least one channel therein, wherein the at least one channel of the curvilinear plate is in fluid communication with a transduct segment of the first main tube and a transduct segment of the second main tube.

2 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear plate defines a chord length measured as a shortest distance from a first end to a second end, and wherein the curvilinear plate defines an arc length measured across its outer surface from the first end to the second end, and further wherein the arc length is about 105% to about 150% of the chord length.

3 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the curvilinear plate defines a curve that is oriented radially inward.

4 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the curvilinear plate defines a curve that is oriented radially outward.

5 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear plate comprises:
an inner plate defining a plurality of first grooves; and an outer plate defines a plurality of second grooves, wherein the outer plate is attached to the inner plate with the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves substantially aligned to define a plurality of channels therebetween, and wherein each channel extends from a first opening on a first portion of a first end of the curvilinear plate and is in fluid communication with the transduct segment of the first main tube through a curve defined in each channel, and to a second opening on a second portion of the first end and is in fluid communication with the transduct segment of the second main tube.

6 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein a slot is defined in the curvilinear plate in the first end between the first portion and the second portion.

7 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 5 , further comprising:
an integral wall positioned between the inner plate and the outer plate such that each channel defines a first passageway and a second passageway therein.

8 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the curvilinear plate comprises at least one tab extending from a second end of the curvilinear plate that is opposite from the first end.

9 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 8 , further comprising:
a support structure coupled to the at least one tab of the curvilinear plate.

10 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the support structure is slideably attached to the at least one tab of the curvilinear plate so as to allow for movement in an axial direction.

11 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the support structure comprises:
a first annular ring; a second annular ring parallel to the first annular ring; and a plurality of crossbars connecting the first annular ring to the second annular ring.

12 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the first main tube of the first annular ring is partitioned into multiple segments, and wherein the second main tube of the second annular ring is partitioned into multiple segments.

13 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 12 , further comprising:
an inlet defined in each segment of the first main tube of the first annular ring; and an outlet defined in each segment of the second main tube of the second annular ring.

14 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the lower platform defines a plurality of lower grooves at the interface, and wherein an inner surface of the upper platform defines a plurality of upper grooves at the interface that are aligned with the plurality upper grooves to define the plurality of channels, and further wherein the each channel defined at the interface by the lower platform and the upper platform is aligned with a channel of the curvilinear plate so as to be in fluid communication therewith.

15 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 14 , wherein a slot is defined within the interface between the lower platform and the upper platform and extends through the plurality of channels, and wherein a first end of the curvilinear plate is positioned within the slot.

16 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 15 , wherein the curvilinear plate is attached to the interface within the slot via a braze.

17 . An annular heat exchanger for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a first annular ring defining a first hollow passageway therethrough; a second annular ring defining a second hollow passageway therethrough; a plurality of curvilinear plates defining at least one channel therein, wherein the at least one channel of the curvilinear plate is in fluid communication with a the first hollow passageway of the first main tube and the second hollow passageway of the second main tube, wherein the plurality of curvilinear plates are radially layered extending away from the first annular ring and the second annular ring.

18 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 17 , wherein the first annular ring is substantially parallel to the second annular ring.

19 . The annular heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of gaps are defined between adjacently layered curvilinear plates for receiving a flow of a cooling fluid is therethrough in an axial direction of the gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Cerny Matthew Robert
• Menard Jeffrey Raymond
• Kupiszewski Thomas
• Pegram Johnathen

Classifications

• F28D1/047

  the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag · CPC title

• F02C7/185

  Cooling means for reducing the temperature of the cooling air or gas · CPC title

• F28D1/024 Primary

  with an air driving element · CPC title

• F28F9/26 Primary

  Arrangements for connecting different sections of heat-exchange elements, e.g. of radiators (connecting different sections in water heaters F24H9/14 {, connecting headers with inlet or outlet fittings F28F9/0246}) · CPC title

• F28F9/0221

  Header boxes or end plates formed by stacked elements · CPC title