Heat exchanger for a turbomachine and manufacturing thereof

Abstract

An annular heat exchanger for a turbomachine, is intended, for example, to be supported by an annular ferrule of a housing of the turbomachine, and includes an annular one-piece part having a first fluid circuit having at least one first conduit and at least one second conduit extending in an annular manner. The first conduit and the second conduit lead into a first cavity formed on a first circumferential end of said annular part, and the heat exchanger includes detachable sealing means which are applied to said first end and designed to allow a flow of fluid from the second conduit into the first cavity then into the first conduit.

Claims

1. An annular heat exchanger of a longitudinal axis for a turbomachine, comprising: a one-piece annular part comprising a first fluid circuit comprising a first conduit and a second conduit extending annularly, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit open into a first cavity formed at a circumferential first end of said annular part, wherein a plurality of removable sealing means is attached to said first end are configured to allow a flow of fluid from the second conduit, into the first cavity and then into the first conduit, wherein a second fluidic circuit comprising a third conduit and a fourth conduit is arranged on either side of the first conduit and the second conduit of the first fluid circuit in a circumferential direction extending annularly and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third conduit and the fourth conduit of the second fluidic circuit open into a second cavity formed at the first circumferential end of said annular part and arranged radially outside the first cavity in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the circumferential direction, the plurality of removable sealing means also being attached at said first end so as to allow a flow of fluid from the fourth conduit of the second fluidic circuit, into the second cavity and then into the third conduit of the second fluidic circuit.

2. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first cavity opens circumferentially at a level of the first circumferential end and wherein the sealing means comprise a first sealing member mounted on an outlet of said first cavity.

3. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the second cavity opens radially at the first circumferential end and wherein the sealing means comprise a second sealing member mounted at an outlet of said second cavity.

4. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the second sealing member has an L-shape, a first part of the second sealing member is applied as a seal on a face on which the first conduit, the third conduit, the second conduit, and the fourth conduit each open.

5. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 4, in which the second sealing member has a second part applied to the annular part so as to close off the second cavity.

6. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the second sealing member is removably attached to the annular part.

7. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein the second sealing member is fixed by screwing on the annular part.

8. The annular heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the third conduit and the fourth conduit of the second fluidic circuit are closed by third members.

9. A method for manufacturing an annular heat exchanger according to claim 1, the method comprising: extruding a preform of the annular part with a die shaped so that the preform comprises the first conduit and the second conduit of the first fluid circuit; making the first cavity at a level of the first circumferential end of the annular part; and applying the removable sealing means at said first end so as to allow the flow of fluid from the second conduit, into the first cavity and then into the first conduit.

10. An annular heat exchanger of a longitudinal axis for a turbomachine, comprising: a one-piece annular part comprising a first fluid circuit comprising a first conduit and a second conduit extending annularly, wherein the first conduit and the second conduit open into a first cavity formed at a circumferential first end of said annular part, wherein at least one removable seal attached to said first end is configured to allow a flow of fluid from the second conduit, into the first cavity and then into the first conduit, wherein a second fluidic circuit comprising a third conduit and a fourth conduit is arranged on either side of the first conduit and the second conduit of the first fluid circuit in a circumferential direction extending annularly and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third conduit and the fourth conduit of the second fluidic circuit open into a second cavity formed at the first circumferential end of said annular part and arranged radially outside the first cavity in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the circumferential direction, the at least one seal also being attached at said first end so as to allow a flow of fluid from the fourth conduit of the second fluidic circuit, into the second cavity and then into the third conduit of the second fluidic circuit.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will appear when reading the following description, which is given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view, in perspective, of a turbomachine according to the known technique;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of an annular heat exchanger mounted in the turbomachine of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the exchanger of FIG. 2 and the flow of oil therein;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a first end of a heat exchanger according to the disclosure;

(6) FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic perspective views of sealing members mounted on the end of the heat exchanger;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the first end of the exchanger with another sealing member mounted on the end;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view with exploding view of the first end of the exchanger; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the first end of the heat exchanger, the oil circulation being illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Reference is now made to FIGS. 4 to 6 which represent a heat exchanger 12a according to the disclosure. Similarly to what has been described with reference to FIG. 3, the exchanger 12a comprises an annular portion 18 also comprising a first fluidic circuit 37 of oil comprising a plurality of first conduits 38 and second conduits 40 substantially parallel to each other. to each other, the first conduits 38 comprising first and second portions 38b. The exchanger 12a also comprises a second fluidic thawing circuit 42 comprising a first conduit 44 and a second conduit 46 which are parallel, the first conduit 44 comprising a first portion (not visible) and a second portion 44b.

(11) The first conduits 38, 44 and second conduits 40, 42 of the first and second circuits 37, 42 are quite similar to what has been described previously with reference to FIG. 3 and differ from them only in their fluid connection to each other at the circumferential ends of the heat exchanger. Also, what will be described with reference to the first circumferential end 13 of the heat exchanger is also valid for the second opposite circumferential end. Thus, the description will be made and shown only in relation to the first circumferential end 13 of the exchanger 12a using the second portion 44b of the first conduit 44 of the first circuit 37 and the second conduit 40 of the first circuit 37 as well as using the second portion 44b of the first conduit 44 and the second conduit 46 of the second circuit 42.

(12) The disclosure therefore proposes to provide a fluid connection of the first conduits 38 and second conduits 40 of the first circuit 37 and the fluid connection of the first conduit 44 and the second conduit 46 of the second circuit 42 without having to use a member structurally independent connection of the annular part 18 of the heat exchanger.

(13) In order to achieve, the heat exchanger 12a, we first of all obtain a preform of the annular part 18 of the exchanger 12a which is made of a material which is a good conductor of heat such as ‘an aluminum alloy for example. For this, a die is used which allows the first conduits 38 and second conduits 40 of the first circuit 37 and the first conduit 44 and the second conduit 46 of the second circuit 42 to be obtained simultaneously. At the end of this step, the first conduits 38, 44 and second conduits 40, 46 of the first 37 and second 42 circuits extend from the first end 13 to the second end of the annular part 18 and open in circumferential direction at the ends. In a second subsequent step, a first cavity 48 and a second cavity 50 are produced at the first circumferential end 13. The first cavity 48 opens in the circumferential direction and the second portions 38b of the first conduits 38 and the second conduits 40 of the first circuit 37 open into the first cavity 48. The second cavity 50 opens in the radial direction, more particularly radially outwards. This second cavity 50 has an elongated shape along the longitudinal axis L. This second cavity 50 is connected at its two axial ends to two holes 52 opening for one in the second portion 44b of the first conduit 44 of the second circuit 42 and for the other in the second conduit 46 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

(14) In order to achieve allowing oil circulation in each of the first circuit 37 and the second circuit 42, sealing means are added. These sealing means comprise a first sealing member 54 (e.g., a first seal), a second sealing member 56 (e.g., a second seal) and third sealing members 58 (e.g., a third seal).

(15) The first sealing member 54, visible in FIG. 5B, has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction L and comprises an annular groove 60 in which is mounted a seal (not shown). This first sealing member 54 is mounted in the first cavity 48 and is dimensioned so that one face thereof comes opposite the outlets of the second portions 38b of the first conduits 38 and the outlets of the second conduits 40 of the first circuit 37 but without closing them off, this in order to allow an oil flow from the second conduits 40 to the second portions 38b of the second conduits 38. The seal prevents oil leaks.

(16) The third sealing members 58 are inserted, at the first end 13 of the annular part 18, in the outlet of the second portion 44b of the first conduit 44 of the second circuit 42 and in the outlet of the second conduit 46 of the second circuit 42. Each of the third members 58 comprises an annular groove 62 in which is mounted a seal (not shown) in a similar manner to what has been described with reference to the first member 54, the function being identical.

(17) The second member 56 makes it possible to close the outlet of the second cavity 50, more particularly to cover it radially. An annular groove 64 is formed around the periphery of the outlet of the second cavity 50. The annular groove 64 is intended to receive a seal (not shown). The second member 56 has an L-shape comprising a first substantially flat portion 56a intended to come to be applied in the circumferential direction on the first member 54 and the third members 58. It also comprises a second portion 56b having, on its radially internal face (in the direction of the axis 14), a first boss 66a and a second boss 66b arranged on either side of the second cavity 50 in the circumferential direction when the second member 56 is mounted on the annular part 18. The first boss 66a and the second boss 66b cooperate respectively with a first recess 68a and a second recess 68b formed on the radially external face of the annular part 18. The first recess 68a and the second recess 68b are formed in circumferential direction on either side of the second cavity 50. Thus, when the second part 56b of the second member 56 is mounted on the first end 13 of the annular part 18, the bosses 66a, 66b ensure a circumferential locking of the second member 56 on the annular part 18. Fixing screws pass through the second part and are screwed into the annular part 18, first screws 70a passing through the first boss 66a, second screws 70b passing through the second boss 66b and third screws 70c passing through an area of the second part 56b of the second member 56 separate from the first 66a and second 66b bosses.

(18) According to the embodiment described above, it is possible to dismantle the sealing means, allowing the exchanger to be inspected if necessary. Furthermore, other removable fixing means can be used so that the disclosure is not limited to the sole use of fixing screws. It is understood that the removable rigid attachment/connection means must allow rapid assembly and disassembly.

(19) If one wishes to use the same fluidic connection technique at the second end of the exchanger 12a as that exposed above at the first end, it is thus possible after the extrusion step to form a first cavity 48 and a second cavity 50 at the second end and to add sealing means such as those described above.

(20) Also, the second cavity(s) 50 could open out radially inward if the exchanger 12a is mounted on a radially internal annular shell of the turbomachine.

(21) The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.