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US 11,028,773 B2Granted
Compressed gas integrated power and thermal management system
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsMichael Karam, Robert Duge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided that use compressed gas to power a turbine, which in turn powers a generator, where an expansion of the compressed gas provides cooling for an electrical load that is powered by the generator.
Claims17
A power and thermal management system of an aircraft, the power and thermal management system comprising:
- a tank of compressed gas;
- a heat exchanger configured to receive a portion of the compressed gas from the tank at a lower pressure than in the tank;
- a first expansion valve upstream of the heat exchanger;
- a first turbine configured to be driven by the compressed gas from the tank that passes through the heat exchanger;
- a second expansion valve downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the first turbine;
- a controller configured to adjust a flow of the compressed gas through the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve in order to control a cooling capacity of the heat exchanger;
- a first electric generator configured to be mechanically powered by the first turbine;
- a second electric generator;
- and
- a second turbine configured to mechanically power the second electric generator, wherein the second turbine is configured to be driven by the compressed gas exhausted from the first turbine,
- wherein the power and thermal management system for the aircraft is configured as a primary electric power source for a directed energy weapon external to the power and thermal management system, and
- wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the directed energy weapon from an expansion of the compressed gas released from the tank.
9 more elements
A power and thermal management system comprising:
- a tank of compressed gas;
- a heat exchanger configured to receive a portion of the compressed gas from the tank at a lower pressure than in the tank;
- a first expansion valve upstream of the heat exchange;
- a turbine configured to be driven by the compressed gas from the tank that passes through the heat exchanger;
- a second expansion valve downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the turbine;
- a controller configured to adjust a flow of the compressed gas through the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve in order to control a cooling capacity of the heat exchanger;
- and
- an electric generator configured to be mechanically powered by the turbine,
- wherein the system is configured as a primary electric power source for a load, and
- wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the load from an expansion of the compressed gas released from the tank.
7 more elements
A method of providing power and thermal management, the method comprising:
- releasing compressed gas from a tank into a heat exchanger;
- controlling, via a controller, a flow of the compressed gas through a first expansion valve upstream of the heat exchanger;
- transferring heat to the compressed gas in the heat exchanger from a load;
- controlling, via the controller, the flow of the compressed gas through a second expansion valve downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of a turbine;
- controlling, via the controller, a cooling capacity of the heat exchanger by adjusting the flow of the compressed gas through the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve;
- driving the turbine by the compressed gas that is heated in the heat exchanger;
- powering an electric generator mechanically by the turbine;
- and
- providing electric power generated by the electric generator to the load as a primary power source.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.