Cryogenic bottoming cycle adaptable heat rejection loop split

Abstract

An aircraft propulsion system includes a core engine that includes a main compressor where an inlet airflow is compressed and communicated to a combustor to generate an exhaust gas flow that is expanded through a main turbine section to generate power that is used to drive the main compressor and a propulsive fan, a bottoming cycle where a working fluid is heated and expanded through a bottom turbine to generate shaft power, the bottoming cycle includes a primary compressor loop that includes a first bottoming compressor and a secondary compressor loop that includes a second bottoming compressor and the flow of working fluid flow is adjusted to flow through at least one of the primary compressor loop and the secondary compressor loop, an exhaust gas heat exchanger where heat from the exhaust gas flow heats the working fluid of the bottoming cycle, a cryogenic fuel system that includes a cryogenic fuel storage tank, a fuel flow path for routing the cryogenic fuel to the combustor of the core engine, and a fuel/working fluid heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid within the primary compressor loop. The secondary compressor loop bypasses the fuel/working fluid heat exchanger.