Thermoelectric generator in turbine engine nozzles
First Claim
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1. A core nozzle for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a core nozzle wall defining a core, configured to receive a core stream of the gas turbine engine;
a cowling assembly coupled to the core nozzle wall, defining a fan flow region configured to receive a fan stream of the gas turbine engine;
a thermoelectric generator assembly positioned in a plenum;
a first inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the core stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly;
a second inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the fan stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly; and
an outlet of the plenum configured to combine and discharge the portion of the fan stream and the portion of the core stream into the fan stream.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine assembly comprises an engine assembly disposed about a longitudinal axis, a core nozzle positioned adjacent the engine assembly to direct a core flow generated by the engine assembly, a fan nozzle surrounding at least a portion of the core nozzle to direct a fan flow, wherein the core nozzle defines a plenum to receive a portion of the core stream flow from the core nozzle and a thermoelectric generator assembly positioned in the plenum. Other embodiments may be described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A core nozzle for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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a core nozzle wall defining a core, configured to receive a core stream of the gas turbine engine; a cowling assembly coupled to the core nozzle wall, defining a fan flow region configured to receive a fan stream of the gas turbine engine; a thermoelectric generator assembly positioned in a plenum; a first inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the core stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly; a second inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the fan stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly; and an outlet of the plenum configured to combine and discharge the portion of the fan stream and the portion of the core stream into the fan stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A gas turbine engine assembly, comprising:
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an engine assembly; a core nozzle positioned adjacent the engine assembly to direct a core stream generated by the engine assembly; a fan nozzle surrounding at least a portion of the core nozzle to direct a fan stream; a thermoelectric generator assembly positioned in a plenum; a first inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the core stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly; a second inlet of the plenum configured to transfer a portion of the fan stream to the thermoelectric generator assembly; and an outlet of the plenum configured to combine and discharge the portion of the fan stream and the portion of the core stream into the fan stream. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to generate electricity in a gas turbine engine, comprising:
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generating a core stream in the gas turbine engine; generating a fan stream in the gas turbine engine; transferring, via a first inlet of a plenum, a portion of the core stream from a core nozzle positioned downstream of the gas turbine engine; passing the portion of the core stream over a first surface of a thermoelectric generator assembly; transferring, via a second inlet of the plenum, a portion of the fan stream into the plenum; passing the portion of the fan stream over a second surface of the thermoelectric generator assembly; and combining and discharging, via an outlet of the plenum, the portion of the fan stream and the portion of the core stream into the fan stream. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification