Return fluid air cooler system for turbine cooling with optional power extraction
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsCarlos Enrique Diaz, Jorge Alejandro Carretero Benignos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an aircraft including a gas turbine engine, a system for cooling the gas turbine engine includes a tank provided in a wing of the aircraft, the tank being configured to store a cooling fluid supply; and a heat exchanger provided in the gas turbine engine configured to exchange heat from the compressor discharge air to the cooling fluid.
Claims16
In an aircraft including a gas turbine engine having a compressor and a turbine, a system for cooling compressor discharge air provided to the turbine to cool the turbine, the system comprising:
- a tank provided in a wing of the aircraft, the tank being configured to store a cooling fluid supply;
- a heat exchanger provided in the gas turbine engine configured to exchange heat from the compressor discharge air to the cooling fluid;
- an anti-icing system provided in the wing of the aircraft, wherein the cooling fluid heated by the heat exchanger is provided to the anti-icing system;
- a second turbine;
- and
- a generator connected to the second turbine configured to generate electrical power, wherein at least a portion of the cooling fluid heated by the heat exchanger is provided to rotate the second turbine.
A system according to claim wherein the cooling fluid is fuel.
A method of cooling compressor discharge air provided to a turbine of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft to cool the turbine, the method comprising:
- providing cooling fluid from a tank provided in a wing of the aircraft;
- exchanging heat from the compressor discharge air to the cooling fluid with a heat exchanger provided in the gas turbine engine;
- providing the cooling fluid heated by the heat exchanger to an anti-icing system provided in the wing and/or a tail of the aircraft;
- and
- providing at least a portion of the cooling fluid heated by the heat exchanger to a second turbine to rotate an electrical generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.