Aircraft wing heat exchanger apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDavid L. Daggett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat exchanger system and method for heating selected areas of the wings of an aircraft. The heat exchanger apparatus involves the use of a heat exchanger and thermal contact with the fluid of a gear box associated with a geared fan powerplant used on an aircraft. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with at least one, and more preferably a plurality, of conduits which circulate fluid heated by the fluid of the gearbox throughout the selected areas of the wings of the aircraft. This serves to selectively heat various areas of the wings to help prevent icing of the leading edge of each of the wings, as well as to increase the region of laminar flow over the wings, and thus decrease those areas where turbulent flow occurs.
Claims15
An apparatus for heating an outer surface of a mobile platform, comprising:
- a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat generating component of said mobile platform;
- a thermally conductive member disposed within a portion of said mobile platform in thermal contact with said surface of said mobile platform, said member forming a portion of a circuit by which a fluid from said heat exchanger can be used to heat a selected area of said mobile platform;
- a fluid disposed within said heat exchanger;
- and
- a pump for pumping said fluid into contact with said thermally conductive member, to thereby heat a selected area of said mobile platform.
An apparatus for heating an outer surface of an aircraft to help prevent icing thereof, comprising:
- a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat generating subcomponent of said aircraft;
- a thermally conductive conduit disposed within a portion of said aircraft in thermal contact with said outer skin of said aircraft, said conduit forming a circuit by which a fluid may flow from said heat exchanger, through said conduit and back to said heat exchanger;
- a fluid disposed within said heat exchanger and said conduit;
- a pump for pumping said fluid through from said heat exchanger into said conduit;
- and
- wherein said fluid operates to heat said outer skin to prevent ice buildup thereon.
An apparatus for heating a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft to help prevent icing thereof, comprising:
- a heat exchanger in thermal communication with a heat generating subcomponent of an engine of said aircraft;
- a thermally conductive conduit disposed within a portion of said wing adjacent said leading edge in thermal contact with said outer skin of said wing, said conduit forming a circuit by which a fluid may flow from said heat exchanger, through said conduit and back to said heat exchanger;
- a fluid disposed within said heat exchanger and said conduit;
- a pump for pumping said fluid through from said heat exchanger into said conduit and back to said heat exchanger;
- and
- wherein said fluid operates to heat said outer skin of said leading edge of said wing to prevent ice buildup thereon.
A method for preventing icing of a wing of an aircraft, comprising:
- disposing a heat exchanger in thermal contact with a heat generating subcomponent of said aircraft;
- disposing at least one thermally conductive conduit within said wing so as to be in thermal contact with an outer skin of said wing adjacent a leading edge of said wing, and placing said conduit in fluid communication with said heat exchanger;
- circulating a fluid through said conduit and said heat exchanger such that said fluid is heated by heat generated by said subcomponent of said aircraft;
- and
- using said heat generated by said subcomponent of said aircraft to heat said leading edge of said wing.
A method for enhancing laminar flow of air over a wing of an aircraft, comprising:
- disposing a heat exchanger in thermal contact with a heat generating subcomponent of said aircraft;
- disposing at least one thermally conductive conduit within said wing so as to be in thermal contact with an outer skin of said wing adjacent a leading edge of said wing, and placing said conduit in fluid communication with said heat exchanger;
- circulating a fluid through said conduit and said heat exchanger such that said fluid is heated by heat generated by said subcomponent of said aircraft;
- and
- using said heated fluid flowing within said conduit to heat said outer skin of said wing, thereby increasing a region of laminar flow of air over said wing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.