Fluid cooling structure for an electric machine of a gas turbine engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsChristian Xavier Stevenson, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Sean Christopher Binion, Patrick Michael Marrinan
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a housing circumferentially surrounding an electric machine. The electric machine is supported within the housing. The housing defines a cooling passage proximate to the electric machine. The cooling passage circumferentially surrounds the electric machine and is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction of the electric machine. The cooling passage provides a flow of fluid therethrough.
Claims20
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a housing circumferentially surrounding an electric machine, wherein the housing supports the electric machine therewithin, the housing defining a cooling passage proximate to the electric machine, wherein the cooling passage circumferentially surrounds the electric machine and is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction of the electric machine, the cooling passage providing a flow of fluid therethrough.
A method of fluid cooling for an electric machine of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- positioning the electric machine within a housing defining a cooling passage in which the cooling passage circumferentially surrounds the electric machine and is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction of the electric machine;
- flowing a first fluid through the cooling passage such that the fluid approximately circumferentially surrounds the electric machine along the lengthwise direction within the housing, wherein flowing the first fluid through the cooling passage transfers thermal energy from the electric machine to the first fluid;
- and
- flowing a second fluid through a primary flowpath defined through and in fluid communication with the housing and a core engine of the gas turbine engine, the primary flowpath at least partially circumferentially surrounding the electric machine outward along the radial direction of the cooling passage, wherein flowing the second fluid through the primary flowpath transfers thermal energy from the first fluid to the second fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.