SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THERMAL ISSUES IN GAS TURBINE ENGINES
First Claim
1. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a working fluid contained in the working fluid circuit;
a heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit and in thermal communication with at least one gas turbine engine, the at least one gas turbine engine acting as a heat source connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit;
an expander in the working fluid circuit and located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy;
a recuperative heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit; and
a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a system that enables one to address various thermal management issues in advanced gas turbine engines. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method to extract heat from an air stream, utilize a significant fraction for on-board power generation, and reject a small quantity of heat to the fuel stream safely at, for example, a lower temperature with no potential air/fuel contact is disclosed.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
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a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a working fluid contained in the working fluid circuit; a heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit and in thermal communication with at least one gas turbine engine, the at least one gas turbine engine acting as a heat source connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit; an expander in the working fluid circuit and located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a recuperative heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit; and a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
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a working fluid circuit having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a working fluid contained in the working fluid circuit; a heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit and in thermal communication with at least one gas turbine engine, the at least one gas turbine engine acting as a heat source connected to the working fluid circuit, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the heat source to the working fluid in the working fluid circuit; an expander in the working fluid circuit and located between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to convert a pressure drop in the working fluid to mechanical energy; a low pressure heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the low pressure side and a fuel supply for the at least one gas turbine engine; a pump in the working fluid circuit and connected to the low pressure side and to the high pressure side of the working fluid circuit and operative to move the working fluid through the working fluid circuit; and a high pressure heat exchanger in the working fluid circuit operative to transfer thermal energy between the high pressure side and a lubricating system for the at least one gas turbine engine. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification