Self-contained lubrication cooling system with heat exchanger integrated with sump
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDaniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Kyle Robert Snow, Christopher James Kroger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system for use with a gas turbine engine defining a core air flowpath includes a sump configured to collect lubrication fluid and a heat source coupled in fluid communication with the sump and configured to transfer heat to the lubrication fluid. The system also includes a heat sink positioned within the sump and coupled in fluid communication with the heat source. A lubrication fluid conduit of the system is configured to channel the lubrication fluid between the heat source and the heat sink, wherein the lubrication fluid conduit is positioned entirely within the sump.
Claims15
A self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system of a turbofan engine, the turbofan engine having a nacelle, a bypass airflow passage radially inward of the nacelle, an outer casing radially inward of the bypass airflow passage, the outer casing enclosing a core turbine engine, wherein the core turbine engine includes a core air flowpath radially inward of the outer casing and defined by a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and a nozzle section, the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system being positioned in the core turbine engine radially inward of the core air flowpath and comprising:
- a sump configured to collect lubrication oil, the sump defining a collection chamber wherein the lubrication oil is configured to flow and collect;
- a heat source coupled in fluid communication with the sump and configured to transfer heat to the lubrication oil, wherein the heat source includes at least one bearing;
- a heat exchanger positioned entirely within the sump and coupled in fluid communication with the heat source, wherein the heat exchanger receives a cooling airflow flowing radially inward of the core air flowpath such that the cooling airflow passes through the heat exchanger before exhausting into the core air flowpath;
- and
- a lubrication fluid conduit configured to channel the lubrication oil between the heat source and the heat exchanger, the lubrication fluid conduit positioned entirely within the sump;
- wherein the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system axially overlaps with the compressor section and is completely contained radially inward of the core air flowpath such that no lubrication oil enters the core air flowpath.
A self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system of a turbofan engine, the turbofan engine having a nacelle, a bypass airflow passage radially inward of the nacelle, an outer casing radially inward of the bypass airflow passage, a core air flowpath radially inward of the outer casing and defined by a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section and a nozzle section, the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system being positioned radially inward of the core air flowpath and comprising:
- a sump configured to collect lubrication oil, the sump defining a collection chamber wherein the lubrication oil is configured to flow and collect, wherein the sump comprises a fan sump positioned within a nose cone of the turbofan engine;
- a heat source coupled in fluid communication with the sump and configured to transfer heat to the lubrication oil, wherein the heat source includes at least one bearing;
- a heat exchanger comprising a sump wall that is an exterior wall of the nose cone exposed to an external airflow and coupled in fluid communication with the heat source;
- and
- a lubrication fluid conduit configured to channel the lubrication oil between the heat source and the heat exchanger, the lubrication fluid conduit positioned entirely within the sump;
- wherein the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system is completely contained radially inward of the core air flowpath such that no lubrication oil contained within the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system enters the core air flowpath.
A method of treating a lubrication oil flowing in a turbofan engine having a nacelle, a bypass airflow passage radially inward of the nacelle, an outer casing radially inward of the bypass airflow passage, the outer casing enclosing a core turbine engine, wherein the core turbine engine includes a core air flowpath radially inward of the outer casing and defined by a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section and a nozzle section, and a self-contained lubrication fluid recirculation system positioned in the core turbine engine radially inward of the core air flowpath, the method comprising:
- channeling lubrication oil from a heat source to a sump via a lubrication fluid conduit, wherein the heat source transfers heat to the lubrication oil;
- collecting the lubrication oil within a chamber defined by the sump;
- channeling the lubrication oil via the lubrication fluid conduit to a heat exchanger positioned entirely within and coupled in fluid communication with the sump,
- wherein the heat exchanger receives a cooling airflow flowing radially inward of the core air flowpath such that the cooling airflow passes through the heat exchanger before exhausting into the core air flowpath;
- and
- channeling the lubrication oil via the lubrication fluid conduit from the heat exchanger to the heat source,
- wherein the self-contained lubrication fluid circulation system axially overlaps with the compressor section and is completely contained radially inward of the core air flowpath such that the lubrication oil does not enter the core air flowpath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.