Thermal management system
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorLarry Allen Junod
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment a gas turbine engine is disclosed having a heat exchanger at least partially disposed in a bypass duct. In one form the gas turbine engine is a high bypass ratio engine. The heat exchanger may be coupled with a directed energy weapon to provide coolant flow and regulate the temperature of the directed energy weapon. Other devices may also be coupled with the heat exchanger, either as an alternative to in addition to the directed energy weapon.
Claims20
An apparatus for a heat exchange system, comprising:
- a gas turbine engine including a bladed rotor to receive air from an inlet, the bladed rotor being in fluid communication with a duct to supply a compressed air flow downstream of the inlet;
- an ejector operable to provide an ambient air flow to the duct, a first ejector stream of the ejector including the compressed air flow, and a second ejector stream of the ejector including the ambient air flow;
- a mixer to mix the ambient air flow and the compressed air flow together to provide a mixed air flow downstream of the inlet;
- and
- a heat exchanger located in the duct to transfer heat between the heat exchanger and the mixed air flow, the heat exchanger located downstream of the mixer.
An apparatus for a heat exchange system, comprising:
- a directed energy weapon including at least one heat producing component;
- a gas turbine engine having a duct operable to convey air;
- and
- a heat exchanger located in the duct and thermodynamically coupled with the gas turbine engine and the directed energy weapon to exchange heat with a flow stream of the gas turbine engine.
A method of operating a gas turbine engine with a heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- rotating a bladed rotor;
- flowing a bypass flow stream downstream of the bladed rotor;
- pumping cooling air by an ejector action using the bypass flow stream;
- mixing the cooling air and the bypass flow stream to create a mixed stream;
- and
- exchanging heat between a heat exchanger and the mixed stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.