Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid – Combustion products generator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-13
2002-07-23
Casaregola, Louis J. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
Combustion products generator
C060S736000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06422020
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to heat exchangers placed within gas turbine engines. More particularly, the present invention relates to a heat exchanger having an internal passageway and being disposed within the fluid flow path prior to the combustor. Although the present invention was developed for use in a gas turbine engine, certain applications may be outside of this field.
In gas turbine engines, cooling air is generally bled off at various stages within the compressor and used for cooling elsewhere in the engine. As pressures and temperatures increase within gas turbine compressors, the temperature of the cooling air increases to a point where its usefulness as a cooling agent becomes minimal. Heat exchangers located outside the flow path of the gas turbine engine require complex piping and, therefore, introduce additional weight as well as pressure loses inefficiencies. Some studies placing heat exchangers within gas turbine engines have been undertaken and show promising results.
In
FIG. 1
there is illustrated a prior art configuration of an internal heat exchanger. The cooling fluid enters heat exchanger
10
through inlet manifold
12
, flows through thin-walled tubing
13
, and exits heat exchanger
10
through outlet manifold
14
. Airflow
16
passes over cooling tubes
13
and the cooling fluid within tubes
13
absorbs heat from airflow
16
. The design of such prior art heat exchangers is costly due to the intensive assembly that requires multiple braze joints
18
to attach cooling tubes
13
to manifolds
12
and
14
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein provides cooling means for reducing the cooling air bled off from the compressor of a gas turbine engine.
One form of the present invention contemplates a heat exchanger having an internal passageway and being disposed within the fluid flow path prior to the combustor so that the cooling air from the compressor is cooled as it flows over the outer surface of the heat exchanger.
In another embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger is of an integral cast configuration and has a serpentine internal passageway. Eliminating the need for multiple-braze joint reduces the cost of such a cast heat exchanger.
The cooling medium flowing within the internal passageway of the heat exchanger can be fuel which cools the compressed air that is generally bled off from the compressor. The vaporized fuel is then supplied to the combustor of the gas turbine engine.
Furthermore, a series of heat exchanger segments can be arranged axially, thereby eliminating the need for separate individual heat exchangers of varying lengths.
One object of the present invention is to provide a unique heat exchanger.
Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2717581 (1955-09-01), Edwards
patent: 2907170 (1959-10-01), Zadnik
patent: 3134536 (1964-05-01), Adams
patent: 3733816 (1973-05-01), Nash et al.
patent: 3734639 (1973-05-01), Short
patent: 3800868 (1974-04-01), Berkowitz et al.
patent: 3874168 (1975-04-01), Toure
patent: 4012912 (1977-03-01), Eskeli
patent: 5123242 (1992-06-01), Miller
patent: 5203163 (1993-04-01), Parsons
patent: 5697208 (1997-12-01), Glezer et al.
patent: 5722241 (1998-03-01), Huber
patent: 547641 (1993-06-01), None
Allison Advanced Development Company
Casaregola Louis J.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
LandOfFree
Cast heat exchanger system for gas turbine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cast heat exchanger system for gas turbine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cast heat exchanger system for gas turbine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2868896