Rolls-royce Corporation

Other

David A Jones

Natalie C Wong

Thomas S Binnington

Daniel Blacker

Paul R Davies

Richard G Mochrie

Alexander T Joyce

Stephen John Bradbrook

Benjamin J Sellers

Andrew J Newman

Jonathan A Cherry

Gordon Illing

Thomas S Binnington Thomas S Binnington

A thermal management system for an aircraft includes a first thermal bus including one or more first heat sources, a heat sink, a vapour compression system, and one or more second heat sources. The vapour compression system includes a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, a first side of a recuperator, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a second side of the recuperator, and the compressor. A first heat flow (Q) of waste heat energy generated by the first heat sources is transferred via the first heat transfer fluid to the heat sink. A second heat flow (Q) of waste heat energy generated by the second heat source(s) being transferred via the evaporator to a refrigerant. A third heat flow (Q) of heat energy in the refrigerant is transferred via the condenser to the first heat transfer fluid. The controller is configured to ensure that:1.1*<3.0*.

Thermal management system for an aircraft

A thermal management system for an aircraft includes a first gas turbine engine, one or more first electric machines, first thermal bus and heat exchanger. The first thermal bus includes a first heat transfer fluid in a closed loop flow sequence, between the first gas turbine engine, or each first electric machine, and the first heat exchanger. Waste heat energy transfers to the first heat transfer fluid. The first heat exchanger configures to transfer waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid to a dissipation medium. During steady-state operation of the first gas turbine engine, the first heat transfer fluid entering the first heat exchanger has a temperature of T(° C.), and a temperature of an inlet air flow entering the first gas turbine engine has a temperature T(° C.) and a ratio B is in a range of between 5.0-18.0.

A turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly comprises a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter (D), and the heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat exchanger elements. The heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct, with the heat exchanger module having an axial length along a central axis between an upstream-most face of the heat exchanger elements and a downstream-most face of the heat exchanger elements. The axial length is in the range of 0.1*D to 5.0*D.

Turbofan gas turbine engine

A thermal management system for an aircraft comprises a first gas turbine engine, one or more first electric machines rotatably coupled to the first gas turbine engine, a first thermal bus, and a first heat exchanger module. The first thermal bus comprises a first heat transfer fluid, with the first heat transfer fluid being in fluid communication, in a closed loop flow sequence, between the first gas turbine engine, the or each first electric machine, and the first heat exchanger. Waste heat energy generated by at least one of the first gas turbine engine, and the or each first electric machine, is transferred to the first heat transfer fluid. The first heat exchanger module comprises a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path is configured to direct a flow of the first heat transfer fluid either to a first heat dissipation portion in which a first proportion Qof the waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid is transferred to a first dissipation medium, or additionally to a second heat dissipation portion in which a second proportion Qof the waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid is transferred to a second dissipation medium, in dependence on a temperature of the first heat transfer fluid entering the first heat exchanger module, a temperature of the first heat dissipation medium, and a temperature of the second heat dissipation medium. The second flow path is configured to direct the flow of the first heat transfer fluid to a second heat dissipation portion in which a second proportion Qof the waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid is transferred to a second dissipation medium, or additionally to the first heat dissipation portion in which a first proportion Qof the waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid is transferred to a first dissipation medium, in dependence on a temperature of the first heat transfer fluid entering the first heat exchanger module, a temperature of the first heat dissipation medium, and a temperature of the second heat dissipation medium.

An aircraft gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger module, and a core engine including an intermediate-pressure compressor, a high-pressure compressor, a high pressure turbine, and a low-pressure turbine. The high-pressure compressor is connected to the high-pressure turbine by a first shaft, and the intermediate-pressure compressor is connected to the low-pressure turbine by a second shaft. The heat exchanger module includes a central hub and heat transfer elements extending radially from the central hub and spaced in a circumferential array, for transferring heat energy from a fluid within the heat transfer elements to an inlet airflow passing over the heat transfer elements prior to entry of the airflow into an inlet to the core engine. The gas turbine engine further includes a first electric machine connected to the first shaft and positioned downstream of the heat exchanger module, and a second electric machines connected to the second shaft.

Gas turbine engine

An aircraft comprises a machine body. The machine body encloses a turbofan gas turbine engine and a plurality of ancillary systems. The turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, a turbine module, a combustor module, and an exhaust module. The machine body comprises either one or two fluid inlet apertures. The or each fluid inlet aperture is configured to allow a fluid flow to enter the machine body and to pass through the heat exchanger module. The heat exchanger module is configured to transfer a waste heat load from the gas turbine engine and the ancillary systems to the fluid flow prior to an entry of the fluid flow into the fan module, and thence into the compressor module, the turbine module, the combustor module, and the exhaust module.

Aircraft

A thermal management system for an aircraft comprises a first gas turbine engine, a first thermal bus, a first heat exchanger, and a chiller. The first thermal bus comprises a first heat transfer fluid, with the first heat transfer fluid being in fluid communication, in a closed loop flow sequence, between the first gas turbine engine, the first heat exchanger, and the chiller. Waste heat energy generated by the first gas turbine engine, is transferred to the first heat transfer fluid. The chiller is configured to lower a temperature of the first heat transfer fluid prior to the first heat transfer fluid being circulated through the gas turbine engine. The first heat exchanger is configured to transfer the waste heat energy from the first heat transfer fluid to a dissipation medium.

A thermal management system for an aircraft includes a first gas turbine engine, first thermal bus, first heat exchanger, one or more first ancillary systems, vapour compression system, one or more second ancillary systems and second heat exchanger. A waste heat energy generated by a first gas turbine engine, and a first ancillary system, transfers to the first heat transfer fluid. A waste heat energy generated by a second ancillary system transfers to a second heat transfer fluid, and the second heat exchanger transfers the waste heat energy from the second heat transfer fluid to the first heat transfer fluid. The waste heat energy generated by a second ancillary system transfers to the first heat transfer fluid, and the first heat exchanger transfers the waste heat energy to a dissipation medium. The waste heat energy transferred to the second heat transfer fluid ranges from 20 kW to 300 kW.

A fuel management system includes: a fuel tank; a fuel supply line that supply fuel from the fuel tank to a combustor of the gas turbine engine; a reheat fuel supply line that supply fuel from fuel tank to a reheat of the gas turbine engine, the reheat fuel supply line extending from a reheat branching point on the fuel supply line to the reheat; a fuel supply pump disposed along fuel supply line upstream of the reheat branching point; a reheat pump disposed along reheat fuel supply line, the reheat pump that pressurise fuel to a reheat delivery pressure for delivery to the reheat; and a reheat recirculation line that recirculate fuel from the reheat fuel supply line to a location upstream of fuel supply pump, the reheat recirculation line extending from a reheat recirculation branching point on the reheat fuel supply line downstream of the reheat pump.

Fuel management system

An aircraft includes a machine body that encloses a turbofan gas turbine engine and a plurality of ancillary systems. The turbofan gas turbine engine includes, in axial flow sequence, a first heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, a combustor module, a turbine module, and an exhaust module. The aircraft includes a second heat exchanger module. The machine body comprises a single fluid inlet aperture, with the fluid inlet aperture being configured to allow a fluid cooling flow to enter the machine body and to pass through the first heat exchanger module. When a temperature of the fluid cooling flow is less than a temperature of a fluid to be cooled, the fluid to be cooled is directed to the first heat exchanger module, and when a temperature of the fluid cooling flow is greater than a temperature of the fluid to be cooled, the fluid to be cooled is directed to the second heat exchanger module and cooled using a fuel supply for the gas turbine engine.

Aircraft having a single fluid inlet aperture

A turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly comprises a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter (D). The heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat transfer elements. The heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct. The inlet duct has a fluid path length along a central axis of the inlet duct between a downstream-most face of the heat transfer elements and an upstream-most face of the fan assembly. The fluid path length is less than 10.0*D.

A turbofan gas turbine engine includes, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly includes a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter, and the heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct. The heat exchanger module includes a plurality of heat transfer elements for transfer of heat from a first fluid contained within the heat transfer elements to an airflow passing over a surface of the heat transfer elements prior to entry of the airflow into an inlet to the fan assembly. At full-power condition, the engine produces a maximum thrust T (N), the heat exchanger module transfers a maximum heat rejection H (W) from the first fluid to the airflow, and a Heat Exchanger Performance parameter P(W/N) defined as P=H/T is 0.4 to 6.0.

A turbofan gas turbine engine includes, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly includes fan blades defining a corresponding fan area (A). The heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct, and includes radially-extending vanes arranged in a circumferential array with at least one vane including a heat transfer element for heat transfer from a first fluid contained within each element to an airflow passing over a surface of each heat transfer element before entering the fan assembly inlet. Each heat transfer element extends axially along the corresponding vane, with a swept heat transfer element area (A) being the wetted surface area of all heat transfer elements in contact with the airflow. A Fan to Element Area parameter Fof A/Alies in the range of 47 to 132.

Turbofan engine with heat exchanger module having optimized fan to element area parameter

A turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, an inlet duct, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly comprises a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter D, and the heat exchanger module comprises a plurality of heat transfer elements for transfer of heat from a first fluid contained within the heat transfer elements to an airflow passing over a surface of the heat transfer elements prior to entry of the airflow into the fan assembly. In use, the first fluid has a maximum temperature of 80&#xb0; C., and the heat exchanger module transfers at least 300 kW of heat energy from the first fluid to the airflow.

An aircraft comprises a machine body. The machine body encloses a turbofan gas turbine engine and a plurality of ancillary systems. The turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, a combustor module, a turbine module, and an exhaust module. The machine body comprises a single fluid inlet aperture, with the fluid inlet aperture being configured to allow a fluid cooling flow to enter the machine body and to pass through the heat exchanger module. The heat exchanger module is configured to transfer a waste heat load from the gas turbine engine and the ancillary systems to the fluid cooling flow prior to an entry of the entire fluid cooling flow into the fan module.

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Bristol, United Kingdom

David A Jones