Aircraft engine electrically powered boundary layer bleed system

• US 5,114,103 A
• Filed: 08/27/1990
• Issued: 05/19/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Coffinberry, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mattix, Carla
• Application Number:
  US07/572,825
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 244/209, 244/53 A, 244/118.5, 244/130, 244/134 R, 244/134 D, 244/204, 98/1.5, 62/323.3, 62/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 244/209
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 21/06 for sucking BLI propulsion B64C21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/04 by actively generating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2230/06 by explicitly adjusting fluid flow, e.g. by using valves, variable aperture or slot areas, variable pump action or variable fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/08 the air being heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2013/0622 used in combination with boundary layer control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2033/0226 comprising boundary layer control means
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/14 of fluids in the plant , e.g. lubricant or fuel F02C7/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/10 Drag reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 62/05 Aircraft cooling

Abstract

An aircraft gas turbine engine is provided with an electrically powered boundary layer air bleed apparatus for bleeding boundary layer air off the nacelle and the wing or another part of the aircraft outer skin in order to reduce boundary layer or surface drag and using the boundary layer air as a source of compressed air and cooling air for the aircraft'"'"'s environmental control system (ECS).

Claims

1. An apparatus for bleeding boundary layer air from a portion of the outer surfaces of a gas turbine engine powered aircraft, wherein said apparatus comprises:

an electrically powered bleed air compressor means in fluid supply communication with the aircraft'"'"'s outer surface and effective for bleeding boundary layer air from the aircraft'"'"'s outer surface and powered by an aircraft gas turbine engine powered electrical generator,

said bleed air compressor means comprising an electrically powered nacelle compressor means in fluid supply communication with a portion of the aircraft'"'"'s outer surface on an engine nacelle and effective for bleeding boundary layer air from the nacelle'"'"'s outer surface, and

said bleed air compressor means further comprising an electrically powered environmental control system air supply compressor in fluid supply communication with a portion of the aircraft wing'"'"'s outer surface and effective for bleeding boundary layer air from said portion of the wing'"'"'s outer surface and for supplying aircraft cabin air.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bleed air compressor means further comprises an electrically powered environmental control system heat exchanger compressor in fluid supply communication with said portion of the aircraft wing'"'"'s outer surface and effective for bleeding boundary layer air from the wing'"'"'s outer surface and for supplying environmental control system heat exchanger cooling air.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a constant speed drive drivingly connected to said aircraft gas turbine engine powered electrical generator and drivenly connected in a reversible manner to a starting air turbine having a variable area inlet.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a bleed air duct means in fluid supply communication with said starting air turbine wherein said bleed air duct means is used to supply compressed air for anti-icing and for cabin air.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said starting air turbine variable area inlet is controlled by an inlet control means.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said inlet control means is an electronic control means.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising an environmental control system mixer in fluid communication with both an exhaust outlet of said environmental control system air supply compressor and an engine bleed duct wherein said mixer is effective for receiving and mixing boundary layer bleed air from said environmental control system air supply compressor with compressed air from said engine bleed duct.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a constant speed drive drivingly connected to said aircraft gas turbine engine powered electrical generator and drivenly connected in a reversible manner to a starting air turbine having a variable area inlet, and

wherein said engine bleed duct is in fluid supply communication with said starting air turbine wherein said engine bleed duct is effective for supplying compressed air for anti-icing and for cabin air.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said starting air turbine variable area inlet is controlled by an electronic control means.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising an electrically powered environmental control system air conditioning compressor powered by said generator.