DOUBLE-FLOW HEAT EXCHANGER
20230358487 · 2023-11-09
Inventors
Cpc classification
F28F3/048
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F28F2250/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05D2260/22141
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02C7/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F28F13/06
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F28D2021/0026
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F02K3/115
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02T50/60
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
Abstract
The invention relates to a heat exchanger comprising a support wall and a first plurality of fins that each stand proud from an outer surface of the support wall and are designed to have a first air flow pass over them. According to the invention, the heat exchanger comprises, downstream of the first plurality of fins, a second plurality of fins that each stand proud from the outer surface of the support wall, the first and second pluralities of fins being separated by distribution means which are configured in such a way that the first air flow flows outside the second plurality of fins and a second air flow flowing outside the first plurality of fins passes through the second plurality of fins.
Claims
1. A heat exchanger for a turbomachine comprising a support wall extending in a longitudinal direction and a first plurality of fins that each rise from an external surface of the support wall and intended to be swept by a first air flow, characterised in that the heat exchanger comprises, downstream of the first plurality of fins in the longitudinal direction a second plurality of fins that each rise from the external surface of the support wall, the first and the second plurality of fins being separated at least partly by distribution means, in the longitudinal direction, which are configured such that the first air flow circulates outside the second plurality of fins and a second air flow circulating outside the first plurality of fins passes through the second plurality of fins.
2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a first profiled wall which is disposed upstream of the first plurality of fins and which is configured so as to guide and slow down the first air flow entering the heat exchanger through the first plurality of fins, and a second profiled wall which is disposed downstream of the second plurality of fins and which is configured so as to accelerate the second air flow exiting the heat exchanger through the second plurality of fins.
3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a first profiled panel covering the fins of the first plurality of fins, the first profiled wall being connected, upstream, to the first profiled panel.
4. The heat exchanger according to claims 1, characterised in that the distribution means comprise a first ramp arranged downstream of the first plurality of fins and which rises from the external surface of the support wall, being inclined, so that the first air flow exiting from the first plurality of fins is directed towards an outside of the heat exchanger.
5. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that the distribution means comprise a deflector which comprises a first profiled wall portion connected to a first panel, downstream and which is defined in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of a first ramp, a plurality of stacks extending between the first profiled wall portion and the first ramp being evenly spaced apart from each other so as to form passages for the first air flow.
6. The heat exchanger according to claim 5, characterised in that each stack comprises a first opening which opens onto an external surface of the first profiled wall portion and a second opening which opens onto an internal surface of the first ramp and opposite the second plurality of fins so that the second air flow circulates in the stacks through the second plurality of fins.
7. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a second profiled panel covering the fins of the second plurality of fins, the second profiled wall being connected, downstream, to the second profiled panel.
8. The heat exchanger according to claim 7, further comprising a deflector, characterised in that the deflector comprises a second profiled wall portion which is connected to the second profiled panel, the second profiled wall portion comprising through orifices into which passages open.
9. The heat exchanger as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the first profiled wall portion comprises a first flange extending in a plane inclined to the first profiled wall portion and at least partly covering the first opening of each stack.
10. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, characterised in that the second wall portion comprises a second flange extending in a plane inclined to the second wall portion and which at least partly covers the orifices.
11. The heat exchanger according to claim 6, characterised in that the distribution means comprise a second ramp arranged upstream of the second plurality of fins and extending the second opening of the stacks.
12. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that the fins are continuous and rectilinear each along a longitudinal direction, or discontinuous and disposed in staggered rows, or are corrugated.
13. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterised in that it is produced by additive manufacturing.
14. A turbomachine module with a longitudinal axis, comprising a casing which is annular about the longitudinal axis and through which an air flow circulates, and a heat exchanger according to claim 1, which is arranged in the annular casing, the annular casing comprising an annular wall which guides the air flow at least partly and which has an opening or a recess in which the heat exchanger with the first profiled and second panels is installed, the first wall being connected upstream of a first panel to a segment of the annular wall and a second wall being connected downstream of the second panel to a segment of the annular wall, the first panel and the second panel being connected by a deflector.
15. The turbomachine comprising at least one heat exchanger according to claim 1 and/or a turbomachine module according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] The invention will be better understood, and other purposes, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will become clearer upon reading the following detailed explanatory description of embodiments of the invention given as purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
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[0055] This double-flow turbomachine 1 generally comprises a gas generator or gas turbine engine 2 with a fan 3 mounted upstream.
[0056] In the present invention, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are defined in relation to the circulation of the gases in the turbomachine and here along the longitudinal axis X and with reference to
[0057] The gas generator 2 comprises a gas compressor assembly (here comprising a low pressure compressor 4a and a high pressure compressor 4b), a combustion chamber 5 and a turbine assembly (here comprising a high pressure turbine 6a and a low pressure turbine 6b). Typically the turbomachine comprises a low pressure shaft 7 which connects the low pressure compressor and the low pressure turbine to form a low pressure body and a high pressure shaft 8 which connects the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine to form a high pressure body. The low pressure shaft 7, centred on the longitudinal axis, drives a fan shaft 9 in this example. A speed reducer 10 may be interposed, as here, between the fan shaft 9 and the low pressure shaft 7. Upstream and downstream rotation guide bearings 11 allow to guide the low-pressure shaft 7 in rotation relative to a stationary structure of the turbomachine.
[0058] The fan 3 is ducted in a fan casing 12 carried by a nacelle 13 and generates a primary air flow which circulates through the gas generator 2 in a primary duct 14 and a secondary air flow which circulates in a secondary duct 15 around the gas generator 2. The secondary air flow is ejected through a secondary nozzle 16 terminating the nacelle 13 while the primary air flow is ejected outside the turbomachine via an ejection nozzle 17 located downstream of the gas generator 2. In the following, the fan casing 12 and the nacelle 13 are considered as one single piece.
[0059] The guide bearings 11 and the speed reducer 10 in this example of configuration of the turbomachine must be lubricated and/or cooled to ensure the performance of the turbomachine. The power generated by these is dissipated in a fluid from a fluid supply source installed in the turbomachine, which allows to lubricate and/or cool various members and/or equipment of the turbomachine. Of course, other items of equipment of the turbomachine generates a lot of heat that must be extracted from its environment.
[0060] To this end, the turbomachine comprises a heat exchange system 20 which allows to cool the fluid intended to lubricate and/or cool these members and/or items of equipment. In the present example, the fluid is an oil and the cold source intended to cool the oil is the air flow circulating in the turbomachine, in particular the secondary air flow. The heat exchange system comprises a heat exchanger 21 which is carried by the fan casing of the turbomachine as shown schematically in
[0061] With reference to
[0062] The heat exchanger 21 also comprises a first plurality of fins 23 which each rise here from an external surface 24 of the support wall 22. The fins 23 extend in a radial direction R which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. We use the term “direction” to describe the heat exchanger 21 in particular. The radial direction is parallel to a radial axis that extends from the longitudinal axis of the turbomachine. The longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbomachine in the installation situation.
[0063] As can be seen in
[0064] As can also be seen in
[0065] In the partially cutaway view of
[0066] Two air flows, designated first air flow F1 and second air flow F2 (see
[0067] To this end, the first and the second plurality of fins 23, 25 are separated by distribution means 26 for the first and second air flows F1, F2 which are configured so that the first air flow F1 circulates outside the second plurality of fins 25 and the second air flow F2 circulating outside the first plurality of fins 23 passes through the second plurality of fins 25. It is understood that the distribution means are arranged at least partly between the first and second plurality of fins along the circulation direction of the first and second air flows in the fins (or along the longitudinal direction L). The first air flow F1 is intended to circulate only through the fins 23. Conversely, the second air flow F2 is intended to circulate only through (between) the fins 25. Such a configuration is compact and allows for axial as well as radial gain.
[0068] In particular, in
[0069] The first wall 27 is flat and is defined in a plane which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction L. More precisely, the first wall 27 comprises a first longitudinal end 27a, upstream, forming with the support wall 22 an air inlet which has a first predetermined height he along the radial direction. The first height he is less than the radial height hi of the fins. The height hi of the fins is between 5 mm and 30 mm. The first wall 27 comprises a second, downstream, longitudinal end 27b which is connected to the summit of the leading edge 23a of each fin 23. In other words, the first wall 27 is inclined by flaring downstream. In particular, the distribution means comprise an air inlet for the second air flow and an air outlet for the first air flow. The air inlet of the distribution means is different from the air inlet at the level of the first fins.
[0070] The heat exchanger 21 comprises a first profiled panel 28 covering the fins 23. In this way, the first panel allows the flow of the air flow inside the heat exchanger 21 to be controlled without the risk of bypassing the air flow through the heat exchanger. The fins 23 are thus arranged radially between the support wall 22 and the first profiled panel 28. In this example of embodiment, the first panel 28 is connected to the first wall 27 and extends (downstream) along the longitudinal direction L. The first panel 28 also has the same width (along the transverse direction) as that of the first wall 27. As shown in
[0071] The first wall 27 and the panel 28 are advantageously made in one-piece and for example by an additive manufacturing method (or 3D printing) such as a laser fusion method on powder bed.
[0072] Advantageously, but not restrictively, the fins 23 are attached, for example by brazing, to the panel 28 and/or to the support wall 22. They are therefore fitted. Alternatively, the fins 23 and the support wall 22 are formed in one-piece (i.e. from one material and monobloc) and advantageously by additive manufacturing. Similarly, the fins 23 and the panel 28 can be made in one single piece. The additive manufacturing is carried out, for example, in a direction from upstream to downstream of the heat exchanger. In this case, in order to facilitate the additive manufacturing and in particular without support, the leading edge 23a of the fins 23 has an angle of inclination with the radial direction.
[0073] Of course, the heat exchanger 21 as a whole can be manufactured by another manufacturing method such as forging.
[0074] In addition, disposing the panel 28 on the fins 23 allows to improve the mechanical strength of the heat exchanger 21 and thereby reduces the thicknesses of the fins 23. However, a thickness reduction of the fins 23 also allows to reduce the mass of the heat exchanger 21.
[0075] As can be seen in
[0076] The second wall 32 has substantially the same configuration as that of the first wall 27. However, it has a convergent profile. The width of the second wall 32 is the same as the width (I1) of the first wall 27 and also the width (I2) of the second panel 32 (and wider than the width over which the fins are disposed in the transverse direction T). The second wall 32 also comprises a first end 32a connected to the second longitudinal edge 31b of the second panel 31. The second panel 31 has an external peripheral surface 33 having a surface continuity with the external surface 34 of the second wall 32. The latter comprises a second, downstream end 32b, forming with the support wall 22 an air outlet which has a second predetermined height hs in the radial direction. The second height hs is less than the height hi of the fins. The first end 32a of the second wall 32 is connected to the summits of the trailing edges 25b of the fins 25. In other words, the second wall 32 is inclined by flaring upwards. The radial distance of the panels is equal to or greater than the first and second heights he, hs of the walls 27, 32. The air outlet downstream of the second plurality of fins for the second air flow is different from the air outlet of the distribution means.
[0077] In the present example of embodiment, the ratio between the first height he and the second height hs is between 0.5 and 1.
[0078] Alternatively, not shown, the first and the second walls 27, 32 each have a substantially corrugated or curved shape in a plane RL (formed by the perpendicular longitudinal L and radial R directions) perpendicular to the plane LT of the support wall 22.
[0079] In
[0080] Between the first wall portion 36 and the first ramp 37 a plurality of stacks 38 extend substantially radially. The stacks 38 are evenly spaced from each other so as to form passages 50 for the first air flow F1. In this way, the air flows circulate and are distributed separately in the distribution means. The first air flow circulates on the one hand between the first ramp 37 and the first wall portion 36 and on the other hand through the passages 50 (between each adjacent stack 38 along the transverse direction T). The arrangement of the stacks in the distribution means between the walls of them and the first and second plurality of fins form a compact means. Each stack 38 comprises an upstream side 38a and a downstream side 38b which are connected by two lateral sides 38c. The stacks 38 are each hollow. Each stack 38 comprises a first opening 40 which is defined in the first wall portion 36 of the deflector 35. The first opening 40 opens onto an external surface 41 of the first wall portion 36. The first opening 40 passes through the wall of the first wall portion on both sides. Each stack 38 also comprises a second opening 42 (shown dotted in
[0081] With reference to
[0082] As can be seen in
[0083] The first wall portion 36 of the deflector 35 comprises a first flange 51 which at least partially overlaps the first wall portion 36 with the first openings 40. The free end of the first flange 51 is radially spaced from the first wall portion 36. Similarly, the second wall portion 44 comprises a second flange 52 which partly overlaps the second wall portion 44 with the orifices 48. The first and second flanges extend in opposite directions. The first flange 51 allows the second air flow to be directed towards the stacks 38. The second flange 52 allows the first air flow to be directed at the outlet of the orifices 48. The free end 36b of the second flange is radially spaced from the second panel 31. As shown in
[0084] The distribution means 26 also comprise a second ramp 45 which extends from the internal surface 43 of the first ramp 37 to the roots of the fins 25. Advantageously, but not restrictively, the second ramp 45 extends downstream of the second openings 42 so as to guide the air flow towards the interior of the fins 25.
[0085] The panels 28, 31 and the deflector 35 can be made in one-piece (integral) so as to simplify the manufacture and the mounting of the heat exchanger. The additive manufacturing is a manufacturing method that allow to achieve this goal. It can be foreseen that the fins 23, 25 are also manufactured in one-piece with the panels and the deflector 35 and following the same manufacturing method.
[0086] Thus, the first air flow F1 entering the heat exchanger 21, sweeps across the external surface 24 of the support 22, passes through the first fins 23, passes through the passage or the passages 50 arranged between the stacks 38 (or between two sides) and discharges towards the outside of the heat exchanger through the orifice or the orifices 48. The first air flow, at the outlet of the orifice 48, sweeps across the external surface of the second panel. As for the second air flow F2 which circulates outside the heat exchanger 21, it enters the heat exchanger at the level of the first openings 40, penetrates inside the stacks 38 and then discharges into the second fins 25 through the second openings 42. The second air flow then leaves the heat exchanger through the outlet and sweeps across the external surface 24 of the support wall 22. Each of the first and second flows travels a short path through the heat exchanger, which reduces the drag. Indeed, their respective paths are substantially identical to those of a conventional exchanger with only one plurality of fins 23 or 25.
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