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US 9,803,546 B2Granted
Dual inlets for a turbofan precooler
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert Henry Willie, Paul R. Tretow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for supplying air to a precooler. Air flow is created through a fan duct in an engine system. A first portion of the air flow is directed into a first inlet of an inlet system to feed a first half of the precooler. A second portion of the air flow is directed through the fan duct into a second inlet of the inlet system to feed a second half of the precooler.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a member located radially between an engine core and a nacelle, the nacelle surrounding the engine core;
- an inlet system located on an outer surface of the member in a fan duct that guides a flow of air from a fan in an engine;
- the inlet system further comprising:
- a first inlet located on a sidewall of the member, such that the first inlet comprises a first leading edge and a first sweep,
- wherein the first leading edge comprises a number of portions, configured such that a first portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge, nearest to a center axis of the fan, lies further upstream in the flow of air from the fan than a second portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge, furthest from the center axis of the fan;
- a second inlet;
- a first duct configured to fluidly connect the first inlet to a precooler;
- and
- a second duct configured to fluidly connect the second inlet to the precooler.
6 more elements
A turbofan engine comprising:
- a member located radially between an engine core and a nacelle, the nacelle surrounding the engine core;
- wherein an inlet system is located on an outer surface of the member in a fan duct that guides a flow of air from a fan in the turbofan engine system;
- wherein the fan is configured to generate the flow of air by a first inlet located on a sidewall of the member, and a second inlet, such that the first inlet comprises a first leading edge and a first sweep,
- wherein the first leading edge comprises a number of portions, configured such that a first portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge, lies nearest a center axis of the fan and further upstream in the flow of air, than a second portion of the first leading edge, located further from the center axis of the fan;
- responsive to a low-flow state of the flow of air, from the fan, through the first inlet, a total pressure at the first portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge substantially equals a total pressure at each portion in the number of portions of the first leading edge;
- the inlet system further comprising:
- a precooler;
- a first duct configured to fluidly connect the first inlet to the precooler;
- and
- a second duct configured to fluidly connect the second inlet to the precooler;
- and
- wherein the second inlet comprises a second leading edge that comprises a second sweep.
9 more elements
A method for reducing spillage from an inlet system supplying air to a precooler, the method comprising:
- creating an air flow from a fan through a fan duct in an engine system, the engine system comprising the inlet system, a member located radially between an engine core and a nacelle, the nacelle surrounding the engine core;
- wherein the inlet system is located on an outer surface of the member in a fan duct that guides a flow of air from a fan in an engine;
- the method further comprising:
- directing a first portion of the air flow into a first inlet located on a sidewall of the member and feeding a first half of the precooler, the first inlet comprising a first leading edge and a first sweep,
- wherein the first leading edge comprises a number of portions, configured such that a first portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge, nearest to a center axis of the fan, lying further upstream in the air flow than a second portion of the number of portions of the first leading edge, furthest from the center axis of the fan;
- and
- directing a second portion of the air flow through the fan duct into a second inlet of the inlet system to feed a second half of the precooler, the second inlet comprising a second leading edge comprising a number of portions and a second sweep comprising:
- responsive to air flowing into the second inlet, a total pressure at each portion, in the number of portions of the second leading edge, remaining substantially equal to a total pressure at each other portion of the second leading edge;
- and
- a first portion of the number of portions of the second leading edge, nearest to a center axis of the fan, lying further upstream in the air flow than a second portion of the number of portions of the second leading edge, furthest from the center axis of the fan.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.