HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TURBINE ENGINE USING HEAT PIPES
First Claim
1. A heat transfer system for a turbine engine including an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein, the heat transfer system comprising:
- at least one primary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a sealed first cavity containing a first fluid, the primary heat pipe disposed at least partially inside a selected one of the strut members; and
at least one secondary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a second cavity that is sealed independently of the first cavity and that contains a second fluid the secondary heat pipe disposed outside the annular casing and thermally coupled to the at least one primary heat pipe and to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipe and to the selected strut member without any of the first fluid being transferred from the primary heat pipe and without any of the second fluid being transferred from the secondary heat pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein. The heat transfer system includes at least one primary heat pipe disposed at least partially inside a selected one of the strut members; at least one secondary heat pipe disposed outside the fan casing and thermally coupled to the at least one primary heat pipe and to a heat source. Heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipe and to the selected strut member.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A heat transfer system for a turbine engine including an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein, the heat transfer system comprising:
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at least one primary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a sealed first cavity containing a first fluid, the primary heat pipe disposed at least partially inside a selected one of the strut members; and at least one secondary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining a second cavity that is sealed independently of the first cavity and that contains a second fluid the secondary heat pipe disposed outside the annular casing and thermally coupled to the at least one primary heat pipe and to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipe and to the selected strut member without any of the first fluid being transferred from the primary heat pipe and without any of the second fluid being transferred from the secondary heat pipe. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. (canceled)
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16. A gas turbine engine including:
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an annular fan casing; an array of generally radially-extending guide vanes disposed therein, each guide vane having an airfoil cross-section defined by first and second sides extending between spaced-apart leading and trailing edges; a plurality of primary heat pipes, each primary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining an independently sealed cavity containing a first fluid, each primary heat pipe being disposed at least partially inside one of the guide vanes, so as to define a first array of primary heat pipes; and a secondary heat pipe having an elongated outer wall and closed ends defining an independently sealed cavity containing a second fluid, the secondary heat pipe being disposed outside the fan casing and thermally coupled to the first array of primary heat pipes and to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the secondary heat pipe to the primary heat pipes and to the guide vanes without any of the first fluid being transferred from any one primary heat pipe and without any of the second fluid being transferred from the secondary heat pipe. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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17. (canceled)
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30. A method for transferring heat in a turbine engine having an annular casing with an array of generally radially-extending guide vanes disposed therein, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of primary heat pipes, each primary heat pipe being disposed at least partially inside one of the guide vanes; providing a secondary heat pipe disposed outside the fan casing and thermally coupled to the first array of primary heat pipes and to a heat source; receiving heat from the heat source in the secondary heat pipes and transferring the heat to the primary heat pipes; and receiving heat from the secondary heat pipes in the primary heat pipes and transferring the heat to the guide vanes. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification