COMBINED ACOUSTIC ABSORBER AND HEAT EXCHANGING OUTLET GUIDE VANES

• US 20090317238A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wetzel, Todd Garrett, Luedke, Jonathan Glenn, Wood, Trevor Howard, Tucker, Thomas Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,333,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/119
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/162 Bearing supports
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/145 Means for influencing boundary layers or secondary circulations for compressors F04D29/68
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/147 Construction, i.e. structural features, e.g. of weight-saving hollow blades F01D5/148, F01D5/16 and F01D5/20 take precedence; blade shape F01D5/141; blades with cooling or heating channels or cavities F01D5/18; heating, heat-insulating or cooling means on blades F01D5/18
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/16 for counteracting blade vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/041 using blades F01D5/148 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/065 Fluid supply or removal conduits traversing the working fluid flow, e.g. for lubrication-, cooling-, or sealing fluids see also F01D25/16, F01D25/24 and F01D25/26
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/14 of fluids in the plant , e.g. lubricant or fuel F02C7/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/18 the medium being gaseous, e.g. air F02C7/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/22141 using fins or ribs
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/96 Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/17 to control boundary layer
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/612 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4932 Turbomachine making

Abstract

An outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachines is provided. The outlet guide vane assembly comprises one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of an engine and a surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both of the one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

Claims

1. An outlet guide vane assembly, comprising:

one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of an engine; and

a surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both of the one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

2. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 1, further comprising disposing the surface cooler layer between the one or more outlet guide vanes.

3. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface cooler layer protrudes into airflow.

4. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes comprise a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof.

5. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes further comprise a plurality of tubes configured to carry fluid to be cooled.

6. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a plurality of fins.

7. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof.

8. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 6, wherein the plurality of fins further comprises at least one solid blade disposed in the metal foam and configured to augment heat transfer through the length of the fins.

9. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 8, wherein the solid blade comprises a metal, thermal pyrolytic graphite, or a combination thereof.

10. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 8, wherein the solid blade is aligned in a direction parallel to airflow.

11. The outlet guide vane of claim 8, wherein the solid blade is aligned at an angle to the airflow.

12. The outlet guide vane of claim 11, wherein the solid blade is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the airflow.

13. An outlet guide vane assembly, comprising:

one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of an engine; and

a surface cooler layer disposed between a second surface of a first outlet guide vane and a first surface of a second outlet guide vane, and wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

14. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 13, wherein the surface cooler layer is disposed on the inner wall, the outer wall or both the inner wall and the outer wall and between the one or more outlet guide vanes.

15. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 13, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a plurality of fins.

16. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of fins comprise a tandem or a multi-element outlet guide vanes.

17. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of fins comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof.

18. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of fins further comprises at least one solid blade disposed in the metal foam and configured to augment heat transfer through the length of the fins.

19. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 18, wherein the solid blade comprises a metal, thermal pyrolytic graphite, or a combination thereof.

20. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 18, wherein the solid blade is aligned in a direction parallel to airflow.

21. The outlet guide vane of claim 18, wherein the solid blade is aligned at an angle to the airflow.

22. An outlet guide vane assembly, comprising:

one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of an engine; and

a surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both of the one or more outlet guide vanes, and comprising a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption, and wherein the plurality of fins comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof.

23. The outlet guide vane assembly of claim 22, wherein the plurality of fins further comprises at least one solid blade disposed in the metal foam, and configured to augment heat transfer through a length of the fins.

24. A method of forming an outlet guide vane assembly, comprising:

disposing a surface cooler layer on at least a portion of a first surface, a second surface, or both, of one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes comprise a metal foam, a carbon foam or a combination thereof, and wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising disposing a plurality of tubes in the one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the plurality of tubes is configured to carry fluid to be cooled.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising machining the first surface, the second surface, or both, of the one or more outlet guide vanes to form a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins is configured to augment heat transfer and acoustic absorption.

27. An engine, comprising:

a core engine; and

an outlet guide vane assembly, comprising;

one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of the engine; and

a surface cooler layer disposed between the second surface of a first outlet guide vane and the first surface of a second outlet guide vane and wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam, or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

28. The engine of claim 27, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a plurality of fins.

29. The engine of claim 27, further comprising disposing the surface cooler layer on the inner wall, the outer wall or both the inner wall and the outer wall of the engine.

30. The engine of claim 27, wherein the plurality of fins comprise a tandem or a multi-element outlet guide vanes.

31. An engine, comprising:

a core engine; and

an outlet guide vane assembly, comprising;

one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of the engine; and

a surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both, of the one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes comprise a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, and wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam, or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

32. The engine of claim 31, wherein the surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a plurality of fins.