Variable geometry heat exchanger apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903274-B2
Application number	US-201414535614-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A heat exchanger apparatus including a surface cooler and a passive automatic retraction and extension system coupled to the surface cooler. The surface cooler having disposed therein one or more fluid flow channels configured for the passage therethrough of a heat transfer fluid to be cooled. The heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer relation on an interior side of said one or more fluid flow channels. The surface cooler including a plurality of fins projecting from an outer surface thereof. The passive automatic retraction and extension system including a thermal actuation component responsive to a change in temperature of at least one of the heat transfer fluid and a cooling fluid flow so as to actuate a change in a geometry of the surface cooler. Further disclosed is an engine including the heat exchanger apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
a surface cooler having disposed therein one or more fluid flow channels configured for a passage therethrough of a heat transfer fluid to be cooled, the heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer relation on an interior side of said one or more fluid flow channels, the surface cooler including a plurality of fins projecting from an outer surface thereof;
wherein the surface cooler is disposed in a housing; and
a passive automatic retraction and extension system coupled to the surface cooler, the passive automatic retraction and extension system comprising:
a thermal actuation component comprised of a shape memory alloy, wherein the shape memory alloy senses a temperature of at least one of the heat transfer fluid and a cooling fluid flow and actuates a change in a geometry of the surface cooler in response to a first sensed change in the temperature of the at least one of the heat transfer fluid and the cooling fluid flow; and
a plate including a plurality of openings formed therein, the plate configured to overlay the surface cooler, the plate further configured to provide for a passive, automatic extension of the plurality of fins through the plurality of openings in response to a thermal condition in order to maximize heat transfer capability, and the plate further configured to provide a passive, automatic retraction of the plurality of fins through the plurality of openings in response to a second change in the thermal condition in order to decrease aerodynamic drag of the plurality of fins.

2. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuation component is a shape memory alloy wire.

3. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuation component provides the passive, automatic retraction of the plurality of fins away from the cooling fluid flow during a first state of operation and the passive, automatic extension of the plurality of fins into the cooling fluid flow during a second state of operation.

4. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first state of operation is a cruise condition and wherein the second state of operation is at least one of a ground idle condition and a climb condition.

5. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuation component is coupled to the plate at a first end and to the housing at an opposed second end, the thermal actuation component configured to move the plate relative to the surface cooler to provide for the plurality of fins to be positioned within the cooling fluid flow or retracted from the cooling fluid flow.

6. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the thermal actuation component is coupled to the housing at a first end and an opposed second end, the thermal actuation component configured to move the surface cooler relative to the plate.

7. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the surface cooler is rotatably mounted to the housing at an end portion and the thermal actuation component is coupled to the surface cooler at a first end and to the housing at an opposed second end, the thermal actuation component configured to rotatably move the surface cooler relative to the plate.

8. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is configured for use in an aerospace application.

9. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger apparatus is configured for use in an oil cooling system of an aircraft engine.

10. A heat exchanger apparatus for use in an oil cooling system of an aircraft engine comprising:
a surface cooler;
wherein the surface cooler is disposed in a housing;
the surface cooler comprising:
a manifold portion including a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, an upstream wall and an opposite downstream wall;
one or more flow through channels in fluid communication with the manifold portion and extending through the manifold portion, the one or more flow through channels having contained therein a heat transfer fluid; and
a plurality of cooling fins formed unitarily with the manifold portion, projecting from an outer surface thereof and positioned perpendicular to the one or more flow through channels; and
a passive automatic retraction and extension system coupled to the surface cooler, the passive automatic retraction and extension system comprising a thermal actuation component comprised of a shape memory alloy and a plate including a plurality of openings formed therein and overlying the surface cooler, wherein the shape memory alloy senses a temperature of at least one of the heat transfer fluid and a cooling fluid flow and actuates a change in a geometry of the surface cooler in response to a sensed change in the temperature of the at least one of the heat transfer fluid and the cooling fluid flow, so that the shape memory alloy provides a passive, automatic retraction of the plurality of fins through the plurality of openings in the plate and out of the cooling fluid flow during a first state of operation and provides a passive, automatic extension of the plurality of fins through the plurality of openings in the plate and into the cooling fluid flow during a second state of operation.

11. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the heat exchanger apparatus has a first circumferential profile and a first axial profile that conforms to a second circumferential profile and a second axial profile of a fan duct at a location within the fan duct where the heat exchanger apparatus is mounted.

12. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first state of operation is a cruise condition and the second state of operation is at least one of a ground idle condition and a climb condition.

13. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the thermal actuation component is a shape memory alloy wire.

14. The heat exchanger apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the thermal actuation component is configured to move the plate relative to the surface cooler or the surface cooler relative to the plate to provide for the plurality of fins to be positioned within the cooling fluid flow or retracted from the cooling fluid flow.

15. An engine comprising:
a fan assembly;
a core engine downstream of the fan assembly;
a fan casing circumscribing the fan assembly;
a booster casing circumscribing the core engine such that a bypass duct is defined between the fan casing and the booster casing; and
an arcuate heat exchanger apparatus coupled to one of the fan casing and the booster casing, the arcuate heat exchanger comprising:
a surface cooler having disposed therein one or more fluid flow channels configured for a passage therethrough of a heat transfer fluid to be cooled, the heat transfer fluid in a heat transfer relation on an inner side of said one or more fluid flow channels, the surface cooler including a plurality of fins projecting from an outer surface thereof;

wherein the surface cooler is disposed within a housing; and
a passive automatic retraction and extension system coupled to the surface cooler, the passive automatic retraction and extension system comprising:
a thermal actuation component comprised of a shape memory alloy and a plate including a plurality of openings formed therein and overlying the surface cooler, wherein the shape memory alloy senses a temperature of at least one of the heat transfer fluid and a cooling fluid flow and actuates a change in a geometry of the surface cooler in response to a first, sensed change in temperature of the at least one of the heat transfer fluid and the cooling

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Diaz Carlos Enrique
• Gerstler William Dwight
• Storage Michael Ralph
• Kenworthy Michael Thomas

Classifications

• B64D33/12

  of retractable type · CPC title

• F02C7/18

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

• F28D7/08

  the conduits being otherwise bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag (F28D7/10 takes precedence){(F28D7/0016 and F28D7/0033 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F28F1/12

  the means being only outside the tubular element · CPC title

• F05D2300/505

  Shape memory behaviour · CPC title