HEAT PIPE-BASED COOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TURBINE ENGINE

• US 20080053099A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Stephenson, Justin P., Moniz, Thomas Ory, Venkataramani, Kattalaicheri Srinivasan, Bailey, William Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/14 of fluids in the plant , e.g. lubricant or fuel F02C7/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/207 using a phase changing mass, e.g. heat absorbing by melting or boiling
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/208 using heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A cooling apparatus is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an cowling with an outer surface defined by a skin exposed to an external air flow. The cooling apparatus includes at least one heat pipe disposed in the cowling. The heat pipe has a first end thermally coupled with the outer surface of the casing and a second end thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe to the external air flow.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus for a turbine engine including a cowling with an outer surface defined by a skin exposed to an external air flow, the cooling apparatus comprising:

at least one heat pipe having a first end thermally coupled with the outer surface of the cowling and a second end thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe to the external air flow.

2. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 further including a tray with an inner panel and a peripheral wall defining an opening, the opening disposed in thermal communication with the outer surface, wherein a first end of each of the at least one heat pipe is contained in the tray.

3. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein a second end of the at least one heat pipe is disposed inside a hollow interior of a heat exchanger adapted to receive a flow of heated fluid therethrough.

4. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein a plurality of heat pipes are disposed in a spaced-apart array within the tray.

5. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the end of the at least one heat pipe within the tray has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.

6. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 further including a thermally conductive filler material disposed within the tray and around the at least one heat pipe.

7. The cooling apparatus of claim 6 wherein an outer face of the filler material is shaped to define a portion of the outer surface of the cowling.

8. The cooling apparatus of claim 2 wherein the skin of the cowling extends over the opening of the tray.

9. The cooling apparatus of claim 8 wherein the at least one heat pipe is disposed against an interior surface of the skin.

10. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein each heat pipe includes an elongated outer wall with closed ends defining a cavity that contains a working fluid.

11. The cooling apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat source is lubricating oil from the turbine engine, and the cooling apparatus facilitates maintaining the lubricating oil at an acceptable working temperature.

12. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a cowling including an outer surface defined by a skin exposed to an external air flow; and

at least one heat pipe disposed in the cowling, the heat pipe having a first end thermally coupled with the outer surface and a second end thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the at least one heat pipe to the external air flow.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 further including a tray with an inner panel and a peripheral wall defining an opening, the opening disposed in communication with the outer surface, wherein a first end of each of the at least one heat pipe is contained in the tray.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 wherein a second end of the at least one heat pipe is disposed inside a hollow interior of a heat exchanger which is carried by a casing disposed inside the cowling, the heat exchanger adapted to receive a flow of heated fluid therethrough.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 wherein a plurality of heat pipes are disposed in a spaced-apart array within the tray.

16. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 wherein the end of the at least one heat pipe within the tray has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.

17. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 further including a thermally conductive filter material disposed within the tray and around the at least one heat pipe.

18. The gas turbine engine of claim 17 wherein an outer face of the filler material is shaped to define a portion of the outer surface of the cowling.

19. The gas turbine engine of claim 13 wherein the skin of the cowling extends over the opening of the tray.

20. The gas turbine engine of claim 19 wherein the at least one heat pipe is disposed against an interior surface of the skin.

21. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 wherein each heat pipe includes an elongated outer wall with closed ends defining a cavity that contains a working fluid.

22. The gas turbine engine of claim 12 wherein the heat source is lubricating oil from the turbine engine, and the cooling apparatus facilitates maintaining the lubricating oil at an acceptable working temperature.

23. A method for cooling a fluid in a turbine engine having an cowling including an outer surface defined by a skin exposed to an external air flow, the method comprising:

providing at least one heat pipe;

coupling a first end of the at least one heat pipe with the outer surface;

coupling a second end of the at least one heat pipe to a source of heated fluid within the engine; and

receiving heat from the fluid in the at least one heat pipe and transferring the heat through the outer surface to the external air flow.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the heated fluid is lubrication oil from the turbine engine, and sufficient heat is removed from the cooling oil to maintain the lubricating oil at an acceptable working temperature.