Including Heat Exchange Means Patents (Class 60/266)
  • Patent number: 7997510
    Abstract: In some embodiments a propulsion system includes a thrust chamber having an inside wall, an expansion nozzle mounted to the thrust chamber and having an interior and having an exterior, a main propellant injector mounted to the thrust chamber to inject a fluid in the interior of the thrust chamber, the fluid comprising oxidizer, fuel and internal film coolant, the internal film coolant ranging from about 1% to about 5% of the fluid, limited coolant tubing circumscribing the exterior of the expansion nozzle to circulate an external coolant, and an injector mounted to the expansion nozzle to inject the external coolant in the interior of the expansion nozzle, the external convective coolant about 2.5% of the fluid. The system operates at lower temperatures while having conventional amounts of thrust, in which the thrust chamber can be made of thin walls of lower cost conventional metals with simple coolant tube construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Clayton Pavia, James Robert Grote
  • Patent number: 7997062
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fuel-oil heat exchange system in which the fuel is continuously heated by a primary hot oil flow in a primary fuel-oil heat exchanger and the fuel is selectively heated in a secondary fuel-oil heat exchanger by a secondary hot oil flow selectively passing through or bypassing a secondary fuel-oil heat exchanger, controlled by a thermal valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Ju Sun, Brian Lee, Adam Logan
  • Patent number: 7997060
    Abstract: An expander heat exchanger cycle system provides a fuel or oxidizer routed through a heat exchanger to cool and condense a coolant/turbine drive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Erickson, James R. Lobitz, William R. Bissell, David E. Hanks, Corey D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20110179766
    Abstract: An improved turbofan engine having an engine shaft and a centerbody inside of an exhaust nozzle, the turbofan engine having a fluid-filled conduit located about the centerbody and a heat recovery apparatus operatively connected to the fluid-filled conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: Fly Steam, LLC
    Inventor: Eduardo Fonseca
  • Patent number: 7984606
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine powerplant with an engine oil line and an engine fuel line incorporates a heat transfer control module that includes a reversible heat pump with a heat pump compressor for circulating working fluid in forward and reverse directions through a working fluid line of the heat pump. The heat control module also includes a first heat exchanger having a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and a heat pump expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine oil. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and the expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine fuel. The heat pump can be operated in forward or reverse directions depending on whether heat is to be transferred from the engine oil or the fuel to the heat pump working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Propulsion, Gas Turbine, and Energy Evaluations, LLC
    Inventor: J. Walter Smith
  • Patent number: 7963100
    Abstract: A cooling system for a high-speed vehicle may comprise a combustor wall at least partially enclosing a combustor and which is cooled using a coolant circulating in a Brayton cycle. The heated coolant may be expanded in a turbine, transfer heat to a fuel within a heat exchanger, and be compressed by a compressor before returning to the combustor wall. The combustor wall may be capable of withstanding high temperatures, higher than the temperature at which fuel coking may take place. Heat transfer takes place between the coolant and the combustor wall, and between the coolant and the fuel. A method of cooling an engine for a high-speed vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bakos, Vladimir V. Balepin, Anthony Castrogiovanni, Jason S. Tyll
  • Publication number: 20110133026
    Abstract: Heat exchange systems, devices and methods are provided. A particular heat exchange device includes a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The heat exchange device also includes at least one ceramic foam member inside the housing. The at least one ceramic foam member defines a plurality of pores. The heat exchange device also includes a plurality of extended plugs that extend from a first side of the housing through the at least one ceramic foam member to a second side of the housing. The first side of the housing is spaced apart from the at least one ceramic foam member by first ends of the plurality of extended plugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: William W. Behrens, Andrew R. Tucker
  • Patent number: 7954311
    Abstract: A method is described for managing vapors generated from an ammonia-containing reductant delivery system. The method may include generating ammonia vapors in a first storage device and storing said generated ammonia vapors in a second storage device. Further, the method may include purging the stored vapors from the second storage device to upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine during a first condition and downstream of the combustion chamber during a second condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Furqan Shaikh, Don Lawrence, Scott Cooper, Larry Castleberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7955568
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a chemical reaction-based thermal management system and method. The system comprises a heat source for heating a first flow element, a heat exchanger for transferring heat from the first flow element to a reaction mixture flow, and a heat sink comprising one or more endothermic chemical reactions to absorb heat from the heat exchanger. The system further comprises a reactor element for approaching chemical equilibrium of the reaction mixture flow, a product removal element for removing one or more products from the one or more endothermic chemical reactions, and a plurality of driver elements for moving the first flow element and for moving the reaction mixture flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Alan Z. Ullman, Clyde D. Newman
  • Patent number: 7941993
    Abstract: Cavities 4 are defined within an engine nacelle 1 with an inner surface 2 and an outer surface 3. Within these cavities 4, an evaporatable liquid 5 is arranged such that a proportion of the liquid 5 is in a gaseous phase in order to facilitate heat transfer between the inner surface 2 or the outer surface 3 and a hot surface. The liquid condenses upon the inner surface 2 or the outer surface 3 and collects into a pool for subsequent further evaporation by the hot surface of an insulated gate bi-polar transistor or convertor/generator components in order to facilitate further cooling of electric components housed or arranged in the nacelle 1 or nearby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Annegret W. Siebert
  • Patent number: 7926261
    Abstract: The invention is a turbofan provided with a pre-cooler. In order to evacuate the heated cool air stream, at least one discharge pipe is arranged in a chamber and connects the pre-cooler to at least one discharge orifice provided in the inner fairing, in output of an exhaust nozzle and at least more or less opposite the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: Alain Porte
  • Patent number: 7895823
    Abstract: A cylindrical rocket engine exhaust duct has a liner that fits inside an outer jacket. The outer periphery of the liner has circumferentially spaced ribs defining a sinuous path for a fluid to be heated. The liner has a least one, preferably several, transverse fins with internal serpentine passages for carrying the fluid to be heated through the fins. The fluid to be heated is directed around the periphery of the liner (between the liner and the jacket), and consecutively through the separate fins, along sinuous and serpentine paths for heating of the fluid by heat transfer from the exhaust gas of the rocket engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventor: Frank A. Sciorelli
  • Patent number: 7886520
    Abstract: Within a turbine engine a heat exchanger may be provided to cool compressor air flows to be utilized for cabin ventilation or other functions. A fluid flow acting as a coolant for the heat exchanger is generally drawn from the by-pass duct of the engine and a dedicated outlet duct is provided such that the exhausted fluid flow from the heat exchanger is delivered along the conduit duct to a low pressure region. In such circumstances, an appropriate pressure differential across the heat exchanger is maintained for operational efficiency when required, whilst the exhausted fluid flow is isolated and does not compromise the usual engine ventilation vent exit area sizing. Over-sized ventilation vents would create an aerodynamic step and therefore drag upon the thrust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Pawel R Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 7873443
    Abstract: A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery or a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ?Tmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can determine optimal global minimum energy utility values and define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Ahmed Saleh Aseeri
  • Patent number: 7866141
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dual-flow turbojet engine comprising an engine which is disposed in a nacelle and is provided with case which defines jointly with the said nacelle an annular passage through which a secondary flow supplied by a fan placed upstream of the engine can flow, a primary nozzle which is fixed to the case downstream of the engine, an internal wall for guiding the main hot flow supplied by the engine and an external wall contacting the secondary flow. Said invention is characterized in that sound attenuating means is provided for at least one part of the internal wall and the external wall is provided with means for cooling said internal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventors: Thierry Jacques Albert Le Docte, Laurent Marcel Vicogne
  • Patent number: 7861512
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus for cooling a fluid in a bypass gas turbine engine comprises a heat exchanger disposed within a bypass duct and accommodated by a sub-passage defined by a flow divider affixed to an annular wall of the bypass duct. The sub-passage defines an open upstream end and an open downstream end to direct a portion of the bypass air flow to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bryan Olver, Alessandro Ciampa, Roberto Marrano, Richard Trepanier, Sylvain Lamarre, Martin Bernard, Patrick Germain
  • Patent number: 7861510
    Abstract: A high temperature heat exchanger for use with a small gas turbine engine to produce a combined cycle power plant, where the heat exchanger includes ceramic heat exchange tubes of SiC that are tightly fitted to the heat exchanger so that no welds or brazing is used and prevent any thermal stresses between the tubes and the heat exchanger end plates or baffle plates. The heat exchanger includes an inner casing and an outer casing with the heat exchange tubes extending through the heat exchanger between the two casings, and the gas turbine engine operating in the space within the inner casing. The tubes are tightly fitted in holes within the end plates and baffle plates, and a molybdenum disulfide coating is used to form a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Wilson, Jr., John E. Ryznic
  • Patent number: 7861513
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a ventilation zone defined between a core engine casing and a core fairing and having a discharge nozzle, the engine further comprises a pre-cooler having a flow of coolant therethrough and which coolant being ducted into the ventilation zone wherein an additional ventilation zone outlet system is provided and comprises a variable area outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Richard G. Stretton
  • Publication number: 20100326043
    Abstract: An expander cycle rocket engine includes a primary nozzle with a heat exchanger formed therein to cool the nozzle and heat up a fluid used to drive a turbo-pump, and a secondary heat exchanger is located within the primary nozzle and includes passages to channel the fluid in order to add additional heat to the fluid used to drive the turbo-pump. The secondary heat exchanger can be a nozzle shaped heat exchanger located within the primary nozzle, and struts that secure the nozzle shaped heat exchanger within the primary nozzle and channel the fluid between nozzles. The concentric arrangement of first and second heat exchangers can transfer more heat from the combustion gases to the fluid that is used to drive the turbo-pump such that higher pressures can be obtained allowing for larger nozzles and much higher thrust than can be obtained with traditional nozzle engines, or provide significantly higher chamber pressures for engines in the prior art thrust class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip C. Pelfrey
  • Publication number: 20100326049
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided for an engine of a rotorcraft configured to generate a downwash into an atmosphere during operation. The system includes an inlet coupled to the engine and configured to receive a liquid from the engine; an outlet coupled to the engine and configured to return the liquid to the engine; and a body defining a conduit having a first end coupled to the inlet and a second end coupled to the outlet such that the liquid flows from the inlet to the outlet through the conduit and transfers heat to the atmosphere via the downwash from the rotorcraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Marc Schmittenberg, Steve Newell
  • Publication number: 20100300065
    Abstract: Closed-cycle rocket engine assemblies including a combustor assembly, a combustor jacket, a turbine, a first pump and a mixing chamber are disclosed. The combustor jacket facilitates the transfer of heat from the combustor assembly into a fluid and the turbine is driven by a heated fluid from the combustor jacket. The mixing chamber may include a first inlet to receive a fluid from the turbine, a second inlet to receive a fluid from a first reactant reservoir, and an outlet to deliver a fluid to the first pump. Additionally, the first pump may be coupled to and powered by the turbine and the first pump may be configured to deliver at least a portion of the fluid from the mixing chamber into the combustion chamber of the combustor assembly. Related methods of operating such rocket engine assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Vladimir V. Balepin
  • Publication number: 20100275577
    Abstract: Propellants flow through specialized mechanical hardware that is designed for effective and safe ignition and sustained combustion of the propellants. By integrating a micro-fluidic porous media element between a propellant feed source and the combustion chamber, an effective and reliable propellant injector head may be implemented that is capable of withstanding transient combustion and detonation waves that commonly occur during an ignition event. The micro-fluidic porous media element is of specified porosity or porosity gradient selected to be appropriate for a given propellant. Additionally the propellant injector head design integrates a spark ignition mechanism that withstands extremely hot running conditions without noticeable spark mechanism degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: FIRESTAR ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mungas, David J. Fisher, Christopher Mungas
  • Patent number: 7810312
    Abstract: In certain circumstances recovery of a fluid flow presented through a heat exchanger into another flow can create problems with respect to drag and loss of thrust. In gas turbine engines heat exchangers are utilized for providing cooling of other flows such as in relation to compressor air taken from the core of the engine and utilized for cabin ventilation and de-icing functions. By providing an outlet valve through an outlet duct in a wall of a housing the exhaust fluid flow from the heat exchanger can be returned to the by-pass flow with reduced drag effects whilst recovering thrust. The valve may take the form of a flap displaceable into the by-pass flow before an exit plan to create a reduction in static pressure drawing fluid flow through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Martyn Richards
  • Patent number: 7810311
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for use in operating equipment in which a working fluid is utilized in providing selected operations thereof, including for use in lubricating systems for aircraft turbofan engine equipment, the heat exchange system for providing air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid at selectively variable rates in the operating equipment developed airstreams. A heat exchanger core is provided in a controlled air flow duct system opening at its entrance to those airstreams and having its outlet end opening downstream in those airstreams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Jorn A. Glahn
  • Publication number: 20100242437
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermoelectric (TE) device, a gas flow conduit proximate to one side of the thermoelectric device, a plurality of flexible tubes proximate to a second side of the thermoelectric device, and a spring to control contact force between the flexible tubes and the thermoelectric device. The spring comprises a coil spring at least partially circumscribing the gas flow conduit. The thermoelectric device converts a temperature differential between the flexible tubes and the gas flow conduit into electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David C. Jarmon
  • Publication number: 20100236217
    Abstract: A heat transfer system is provided for a turbine engine of the type including an annular casing with an array of thermally conductive, generally radially-extending strut members disposed therein. The heat transfer system includes at least one arcuate heat pipe disposed in contact with an outer surface of the casing within fore-and-aft limits of the axial extent of the strut members. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to a heat source, such that heat from the heat source can be transferred through the heat pipe and the casing to the strut members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kattalaicheri Srinivasan Venkataramani, Thomas Ory Moniz, Justin P. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7770377
    Abstract: A bypass turbofan engine comprises a first propulsion system and a second propulsion system. The first propulsion system comprises a first fan rotor, a core engine, a first low pressure turbine and a first fan shaft drivingly connecting the first turbine and the first fan rotor. The second propulsion system comprises a second fan shaft drivingly connecting to a second fan rotor and the first propulsion system and arranged so that the first and second shafts are not coaxial with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Andrew M. Rolt
  • Patent number: 7765788
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for use in operating equipment in which a working fluid is utilized in providing selected operations thereof, including for use in lubricating systems for aircraft turbofan engine equipment, the heat exchange system for providing air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid at selectively variable rates in the operating equipment developed airstreams. A heat exchanger core is provided in a controlled air flow duct system opening at its entrance to those airstreams and having its outlet end opening downstream in those airstreams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20100180575
    Abstract: An engine wall structure includes an inner wall to which hot gas is admitted during engine operation, an outer wall, which is colder than the inner wall during engine operation, and at least two webs that connect the inner wall with the outer wall and delimit a cooling duct between the walls. The webs are mainly formed by a first material and the inner wall is mainly formed by a second material of other composition and other heat conductivity than the first material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventor: Arne Boman
  • Patent number: 7757477
    Abstract: A nozzle system includes a multitude of circumferentially distributed convergent flaps and seals that circumscribe an engine centerline. A cooling liner body cooperates with a cooling liner panel attached to respective convergent flaps and convergent seals to define an annular cooling airflow passageway which is movable therewith. Each cooling liner panels includes an arcuate cooling liner leading edge with a multiple of openings to distribute cooling airflow over both the inner “cold-side” and outer “hot-side” surfaces thereof. Through this backside cooling, thermal gradients are controlled at the attachment interface between the arcuate cooling liner leading edge and the main cooling liner body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Debora F. Kehret, Jorge I. Farah
  • Publication number: 20100162685
    Abstract: A method of constructing self-powered air-conditioner comprises a convergent divergent nozzle where powered fan pushes air into said nozzle. While the pushed air accelerates toward the nozzle throat it becomes colder as air internal energy transformed into kinetic energy. An axial turbine installed within the nozzle throat extracts energy from the air in the nozzle and drives an electrical generator that provides electricity to the fan electric motor. Alternatively the turbine and fan are installed on common shaft, which could be the electric generator shaft. The cold air within the nozzle throat cools the nozzle throat skin, which serves as air-conditioner core. The cold nozzle skin is wrapped with coiled pipes in which liquid flows, becomes colder and this cold liquid flows away to heat exchanger where air is flowing through it and becomes colder. This cold air is then flows into spaces needed to be air-conditioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Israel HIRSHBERG
  • Publication number: 20100146934
    Abstract: A hot gas chamber, such as a combustion chamber for a power unit for the discharge of a hot gas flow, particularly for a rocket propulsion unit, has a combustion chamber wall, which has an internal surface and cooling ducts adjoining the latter. The internal surface of the combustion chamber wall facing the combustion chamber is further developed at least in areas for avoiding a film condensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Astrium GmbH
    Inventor: Peter LUGER
  • Patent number: 7729809
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and program product to calculate global energy utility targets and to model and determine an optimal solution for a non-thermodynamically constrained process or cluster of processes subject to non-thermodynamic constraints under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approaches, are provided. An exemplary system can utilize thermodynamic constraints exhibited in stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini as optimization parameters, in addition to other process conditions degrees of freedom including the addition of new waste heat carrier streams to target for minimizing energy consumption of the non-thermodynamic constrained waste heat recovery problem and to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in desired minimum energy consumption subject to the non-thermodynamic constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin
  • Publication number: 20100131169
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention has the technical effect of controlling an air preheating system integrated with a gas turbine. The present invention may offer the benefit of extending a turndown range by beating the air (hereinafter “inlet-air”) entering the compressor of the gas turbine. The present invention may also offer the benefit of increasing an efficiency of the powerplant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Gregory L. DiAntonio, Erwing Calleros, Renhua Wang, Aydin M. Abdollahian, Troy A. Michaud
  • Patent number: 7716913
    Abstract: An engine (110, 210) for moving a conveyance (132) through a fluid includes first and second pressure creating means (13, 14) for pressurising an engine airflow, and intercooling means (116, 290, 292) for cooling the engine airflow between the first and second pressure creating means (13, 14). The intercooling means (116, 290, 292) includes a heat exchanger (116) which is arranged to be cooled by a flow of the fluid generated by the relative movement of the conveyance (132) through the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Andrew M Rolt
  • Publication number: 20100101209
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an application and process that incorporates an external heat source to increase the temperature of the airstream entering a compressor section of a combustion turbine. An embodiment of the present invention may perform an anti-icing operation that may not require an Inlet Bleed Heat system (IBH) to operate. An embodiment of the present invention may perform an anti-icing operation that may allow for the IGV angle to remain nearly constant. An embodiment of the present invention may increase the output and efficiency of a combustion turbine operating at partload by delaying IBH operation and delaying the closing IGVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Feher, Abbas Motakef
  • Patent number: 7698022
    Abstract: A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to calculate global energy utility targets and define optimal driving force distribution for a process or cluster of processes under all possible process changes and streams specific minimum temperature approach values, simultaneously, and without enumeration, are provided. The program product can utilize stream-specific minimum temperature approach values ?Tmini, where the superscript i represents the specific hot stream, as the optimization parameters instead of the single global ?Tmin currently used, in addition to identifying the optimal operating conditions. The program product can define optimal process conditions and an optimal driving force distribution in heat recovery systems, and can produce an optimal Pareto-curve that shows the rigorous trade off between energy cost and capital cost for any energy recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Noureldin, Ahmed Saleh Aseeri
  • Publication number: 20100043396
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) a fan having at least two stages of rotating fan blades surrounded by a fan casing, the fan operable to produce a flow of pressurized air at a fan exit; (b) at least one heat exchanger having a first flowpath in fluid communication with the fan at a location upstream of the fan exit; and (c) a fluid system coupled to a second flowpath of the at least one heat exchanger. The first and second flowpaths are thermally coupled to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: George Albert Coffinberry
  • Publication number: 20100037589
    Abstract: A component configured for being subjected to a high thermal load during operation includes a wall structure with cooling channels adapted for handling a coolant flow. At least one first cooling channel is adapted to convey the coolant from a first portion of the component to a second portion of the component. At least one second cooling channel in the second portion is closed so that the coolant is at least substantially-prevented from entering the closed second cooling channel from a cooling channel in the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Volvo Aero Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Häggander, Arne Boman
  • Publication number: 20100000200
    Abstract: An impingement cooling sleeve includes a sleeve body having an inner surface to face a transition duct and an outer surface facing opposite the inner surface. At least one cooling hole is formed within the sleeve body and is used to direct cooling air toward the transition duct. At least one conduit member is attached to the sleeve body and is associated with the at least one cooling hole. The conduit member has a first opening to define an air inlet and a second opening to define an air outlet. In one example, the first opening is spaced apart from the outer surface of the sleeve body by a distance. In one example, the first opening comprises an annular end face surface that defines a plane that is obliquely orientated relative to the outer surface of the sleeve body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventor: Craig F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7631481
    Abstract: A cooled exhaust duct for use in gas turbine engines is provided. The cooled exhaust duct includes an axial centerline, a circumference, an annulus, and a plurality of radially expandable bands. The annulus is disposed between a first wall and a second wall, and extends along the axial centerline. The first wall is disposed radially inside of the second wall. Each of the plurality of radially expandable bands extends circumferentially within the annulus. The bands are axially spaced apart from one another. Each band includes a first portion attached to the first wall, a second portion attached to the second wall and an intermediate portion connected to the first and second portions. The bands create circumferentially extending compartments that inhibit axial travel of the cooling air within the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Curtis C Cowan, Jorge I. Farah, Debora F. Kehret, Stanley Keysa, Jeffrey R. Lavin, Michael Murphy, Stephen A. Paul, Richard Scott
  • Publication number: 20090301057
    Abstract: The invention concerns a turbojet for aircraft including engine located in nacelle, and thermal exchanger intended to cool a fluid participating in the engine propulsive system, characterized in that said thermal exchanger is located on engine external wall, an interstitial space within which air can circulate being arranged between the engine external wall and a lower wall of said thermal exchanger. The invention also concerns an aircraft provided with at least one such turbojet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS FRANCE
    Inventors: Guillaume Bulin, Patrick Oberle
  • Patent number: 7603843
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for expelling a hot gas stream from a rocket engine includes a combustion chamber wall and a plurality of cooling channels arranged inside the combustion chamber wall and configured to receive a flow of a cooling medium. Each cooling channel defines a longitudinal axis, a depth direction, and a substantially rectangular cross section. At least one cooling channel includes a plurality of depressions configured to prevent a stratification of the cooling medium in the at least one cooling channel. The plurality of depressions are arrange transverse to a direction of the flow direction and transverse to the longitudinal axis in the depth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: EADS Space Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Anton Froehlich
  • Patent number: 7581385
    Abstract: A cooling liner having a liner hot sheet formed as a relatively thick iso-grid structure having iso-grid ribs, which extend from a surface between the ribs. A multitude of metering sheets are mounted directly to the liner hot sheet surface. Each metering sheet is mounted to the iso-grid to define a multitude of discrete chambers. A seal is located in a pattern along a subset of the iso-grid ribs to further segregate the surface covered by each metering sheet into a further number of discrete subchambers. Each metering sheet includes a multitude of metering sheet apertures and the surface between the iso-grid ribs of the liner hot sheet include a multitude of hot sheet apertures. By varying the ratio between the number of metering sheet apertures and the number of hot sheet apertures, the pressure in each chamber is defined to efficiently maintain the minimum desired pressure ratio across the hot sheet without undue wastage of cooling airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge I. Farah, Michael J. Murphy, John R. Buey
  • Publication number: 20090205314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combustion chamber wall in a combustion chamber, comprising a support structure with a number of heat shield which are attached to the support structure with the aid of a fastening means. Said fastening means encompasses a spring device which is fixedly connected to the support structure and is composed at least of a spring that is mounted in a jacket. The spring is secured against falling out on the side facing away from the combustion chamber by means of a first removable retainer. The interior of the spring device is provided with an axial hole for accommodating the fastening means. The spring is secured against falling out on the side facing the combustion chamber by means of a second removable retainer. The spring device can be dismounted on the side facing the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Milan Schmahl, Marc Tertilt
  • Publication number: 20090188234
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least two of a multiple of heat exchangers arranged in an at least partial-series relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Publication number: 20090188232
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one heat exchanger in communication with a bypass flow of a gas turbine engine. The placement of the heat exchanger(s) minimizes weight and aerodynamic losses and contributes to overall performance increase over traditional ducted heat exchanger placement schemes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Publication number: 20090151321
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system incorporates thermoelectric devices (TE Devices) for electrical power generation adjacent a flow path heat exchanger (HEX) adjacent to a vehicle flowpath structure such as a scramjet flow path to take advantage of the waste heat, high thermal gradients, and available, unused volume. A thermally conductive material communicates thermal energy from a vehicle external skin structure to the TE Device while a thermally conductive compliant material allows the TE Device to “float” with minimal mechanical stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: David C. Jarmon, Mark A. Sillence, Paul Attridge, Jean Yamanis
  • Publication number: 20090120099
    Abstract: An aero-engine nose cone anti-icing system (10) using a rotating heat pipe (12) is provided to replace the current method of blowing hot compressor bleed air over the nose cone surface. Heat is transferred from a hot source (36) within the engine (22) to the nose cone (18) through a rotating heat pipe (12) along the central shaft (16). A condenser (20) and evaporator (14) are provided which are adapted to the heat transfer requirements and space constraints in the engine (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph Horace Brand, Michael John Dowhan
  • Publication number: 20090072044
    Abstract: A nozzle system includes a multitude of circumferentially distributed convergent flaps and seals that circumscribe an engine centerline. A cooling liner body cooperates with a cooling liner panel attached to respective convergent flaps and convergent seals to define an annular cooling airflow passageway which is movable therewith. Each cooling liner panels includes an arcuate cooling liner leading edge with a multiple of openings to distribute cooling airflow over both the inner “cold-side” and outer “hot-side” surfaces thereof. Through this backside cooling, thermal gradients are controlled at the attachment interface between the arcuate cooling liner leading edge and the main cooling liner body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Debora F. Kehret, Jorge I. Farah