ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A TURBOMACHINE, AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1, 15), comprising a turbomachine (2, 16) with a compressor (3) having an outlet (7), and with a bleed air line (9), through which a leakage flow can flow and which is connected via a controllable valve (8) to the outlet (7) of the compressor (3), for supplying the leakage flow to a unit, characterized in that the unit is designed as a fan (17), jet pump (10) or pump which can be driven by the leakage flow. The invention also relates to a method for operating the arrangement (1, 15).

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising a turbomachine with a compressor having an outlet, and with a bleed air line, through which a leakage flow can flow and which is connected via a controllable valve to the outlet of the compressor, for supplying the leakage flow to a unit, wherein the unit is designed as a fan, jet pump or pump which can be driven by the leakage flow.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the compressor is connected to the controllable valve via a plenum.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein neither a pre-cooler nor a compressor is arranged between the controllable valve and the unit.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the unit can be driven by energy contained in the leakage flow.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein it has at least one component which can be charged by the unit with an air stream for temperature control and/or ventilation, said at least one component being selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, a fuel cell arrangement, a reformer and a methanol reformer.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein it is designed as a static arrangement for supplying energy, or as an airborne vehicle, a land vehicle or a water vehicle.

7. An operating method for an arrangement comprising a turbomachine with a compressor having an outlet, a combustion chamber and a turbine, and with a bleed air line through which a leakage flow flows or can flow and which is connected via a controllable valve to the outlet of the compressor, wherein the leakage flow can be or is supplied by the bleed air line to a unit, wherein a fan, jet pump or pump which can be or is driven by the leakage flow is used as the unit.

8. The operating method according to claim 7, wherein the outlet of the compressor is connected to the controllable valve via a plenum, and the leakage flow is drawn from the plenum by means of the controllable valve.

9. The operating method according to claim 7, wherein the unit is driven by the energy contained in the leakage flow.

10. The operating method according to claim 7, wherein use is made of at least one component which is or can be charged by the unit with an air stream for temperature control and/or ventilation, said at least one component being selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell, a fuel cell arrangement, a reformer and a methanol reformer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] There follows a more detailed explanation of the invention, by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic illustrations, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention; and

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The arrangement 1 illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 comprises a turbomachine 2, in the form of a turbocompressor, with a compressor 3 that has an inlet 4 for an aspirated gas such as air. The inflowing gas is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 by an arrow 5. The compressor 3 has an outlet 7 connected to a plenum 6. The plenum 6 serves to distribute the mass flow generated by the compressor 3. To that end, there are multiple outlets 20 that are connected to other sub-assemblies (not shown). In order to operate the turbomachine 2 at a certain operating point within a fixed characteristic diagram, the plenum 6 has a controllable valve 8. The controllable valve 8 serves to set a certain pressure in the plenum 6, by the controllable valve 8 being partially or fully open. Connected to the controllable valve 8 is a bleed air line 9, via which the plenum 6 is connected to a unit that, in this exemplary embodiment, is designed as a jet pump 10. The jet pump 10 is thus driven by a leakage flow (leakage mass flow) which, in conventional arrangements, escapes unused. In contrast, the arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 1 makes it possible to use the energy, in particular the kinetic energy and the potential energy, contained in the leakage flow to drive the jet pump 10. When the jet pump 10 is driven, it generates a mass flow. It can for example be used as a vacuum pump. Alternatively, it can be used for controlled ventilation and/or temperature control of a sub-assembly. In this exemplary embodiment, the jet pump 10 is connected via a vacuum line 11 to a fuel cell arrangement 12. Thus, the vacuum generated by the jet pump 10 permits targeted ventilation of the fuel cell arrangement 12.

[0022] After flowing through the jet pump 10, the leakage flow arrives, via a line 13, at an outlet 14 of the arrangement 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the arrangement 1, which encompasses the turbomachine 2 and the fuel cell arrangement 12, is part of an aircraft.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows another exemplary embodiment of an arrangement 15, which largely corresponds with the arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the same reference signs are used for corresponding components. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the arrangement 15 comprises a turbomachine 16 with the compressor 3 that has the inlet 4 and the outlet 7. Adjoining this is the plenum 6 which has a small volume in relation to the mass flow of the turbomachine 16. The controllable valve 8 is connected to the plenum 6 and, via the bleed air line 9, to a unit designed as a fan 17. The fan 17 is driven by the leakage flow that is diverted from the compressor 3. The fan 17 is connected via a line 18 to a reformer 19 of a fuel cell arrangement (not shown). The reformer 19 is actively ventilated by the fan 17. It is also possible for a directed coolant flow to be generated. Furthermore, the reformer 19 can be subjected to a slight vacuum with respect to the surroundings.

[0024] The arrangements 1, 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 make it possible to use energy contained in the leakage flow of the compressor 3 in order to drive a unit, which can for example be designed as a jet pump 10 or as a fan 17. Thus, a substantial part of the energy contained in the leakage flow, which in the case of conventional applications is discharged to the environment either partially or completely unused, is converted into kinetic energy, and as a consequence the turbomachine 2, 16 can be operated more efficiently in terms of its energy consumption. It is therefore possible for the fan 17 and the jet pump 10 driven by the leakage flow to replace other drives, or for such other drives to be made smaller and more lightweight, thus resulting in advantages in terms of weight and/or cost.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0025] 1 Arrangement

[0026] 2 Turbomachine

[0027] 3 Compressor

[0028] 4 Inlet

[0029] 5 Arrow

[0030] 6 Plenum

[0031] 7 Outlet

[0032] 8 Controllable valve

[0033] 9 Bleed air line

[0034] 10 Jet pump

[0035] 11 Vacuum line

[0036] 12 Fuel cell arrangement

[0037] 13 Line

[0038] 14 Outlet

[0039] 15 Arrangement

[0040] 16 Turbomachine

[0041] 17 Fan

[0042] 18 Line

[0043] 19 Reformer

[0044] 20 Outlet