Active thermal management of fuel systems and fuel nozzles for more electric engines
A gas turbine engine includes an engine core with a compressor section, a combustion section downstream of the compressor section relative to a core flow path, and a turbine section downstream of the combustion section relative to the core flow path. A core casing extends around the compressor section, the combustion section, and the turbine section. A second casing extends around the core casing and a core compartment is between the core casing and the second casing. An electric compressor is in the core compartment. A first port is formed in the second casing and fluidically is connected to the electric compressor. A second port is formed in the core casing in the combustion section and is fluidically connected to the electric compressor.
1 . A gas turbine engine comprising:
an engine core comprising:
a compressor section;
a combustion section downstream of the compressor section relative to a core flow path; and
a turbine section downstream of the combustion section relative to the core flow path;
a core casing extending around the compressor section, the combustion section, and the turbine section;
a second casing extending around the core casing;
a core compartment between the core casing and the second casing;
an electric compressor in the core compartment;
a first valve in the core compartment and fluidically connected to an inlet of the electric compressor;
a first port formed in the second casing and fluidically connected to the first valve;
a bleed line fluidically connecting the first valve to the core flow path proximate the compressor section;
a second port formed in the core casing in the combustion section and fluidically connected to a combustion chamber of the combustion section;
a second valve in the core compartment and fluidically connected to an outlet of the electric compressor;
a turbine cooling line fluidically connecting the second valve to at least one turbine cooling passage in the turbine section; and
a ventilation line fluidically connecting the second valve to the second port.
2 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein:
the first valve is open to the bleed line and closed to the first port in a first mode of the gas turbine engine,
wherein the second valve is open to the turbine cooling line and closed to the ventilation line in the first mode of the gas turbine engine,
wherein the first valve is open to the first port and closed to the bleed line in a second mode of the gas turbine engine, and
wherein the second valve is open to the ventilation line and closed to the turbine cooling line in the second mode of the gas turbine engine.
3 . The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein the electric compressor comprises an electric motor in the core compartment and configured to drive the electric compressor.
4 . The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are integrated into a single component comprising a single valve actuator that actuates the second valve simultaneously with the first valve.
5 . The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , further comprising:
a mixing annulus in the core compartment and extending circumferentially about a center axis of the gas turbine engine, wherein the mixing annulus fluidically connects the first port to the first valve, and wherein the mixing annulus fluidically connects the first valve to the core compartment.
6 . The gas turbine engine of claim 2 , wherein the core compartment fluidically connects the first valve to the first port.
7 . The gas turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the first valve is an electrically actuated valve, and the second valve is an electrically actuated valve.
8 . The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , further comprising:
an electronic controller in communication with the electric compressor, the first valve, and the second valve.
9 . A gas turbine engine comprising:
an engine core comprising:
a core flow path extending through the engine core;
a compressor section forming an inlet of the core flow path;
a combustion section downstream of the compressor section relative to the core flow path; and
a turbine section downstream of the combustion section relative to the core flow path;
a core casing extending around the combustion section;
a nacelle casing extending around the core casing;
a core compartment between the core casing and the nacelle casing;
an electric compressor in the core compartment;
a first valve fluidically connected to an inlet of the electric compressor;
a second valve fluidically connected to an outlet of the electric compressor;
a first port extending through the nacelle casing and fluidically connected to the first valve;
a bleed line fluidically connecting the first valve to the core flow path proximate the compressor section;
a second port extending through the core casing in the combustion section;
a ventilation line fluidically connecting the second valve to the second port; and
a turbine cooling line fluidically connecting the second valve to at least one turbine cooling passage in the turbine section.
10 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , further comprising:
a bypass flow path radially outward of the nacelle casing, wherein the first port fluidically connects to the bypass flow path.
11 . The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein:
the first valve is open to the bleed line and closed to the first port in a first mode of the gas turbine engine,
the second valve is open to the turbine cooling line and closed to the ventilation line in the first mode of the gas turbine engine,
the first valve is open to the first port and closed to the bleed line in a second mode of the gas turbine engine, and
the second valve is open to the ventilation line and closed to the turbine cooling line in the second mode of the gas turbine engine.
12 . The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the first valve is an electrically actuated valve, and the second valve is an electrically actuated valve.
13 . The gas turbine engine of claim 12 , further comprising:
an electronic controller in communication with the electric compressor, the first valve, and the second valve, and
wherein the electronic controller is configured to switch the first valve and the second valve from the first mode to the second mode.
14 . The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the first valve and the second valve are integrated into a single component comprising a single valve actuator in communication with the electronic controller and configured to actuate the second valve simultaneously with the first valve.
15 . The gas turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the electric compressor comprises an electric motor in the core compartment and configured to drive the electric compressor, wherein the electric motor is in communication with the electronic controller.
16 . The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising a supply line fluidically connecting the first port to the first valve.
17 . The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising:
a mixing annulus in the core compartment, wherein the mixing annulus fluidically connects the first port to the first valve, and wherein the mixing annulus fluidically connects the first valve to the core compartment.
18 . The gas turbine engine of claim 17 , further comprising:
a plurality of first ports extending through the nacelle casing, wherein the plurality of first ports comprises the first port, and wherein each first port of the plurality of first ports fluidically connects the core compartment with a bypass flow path radially outward of the nacelle casing.
19 . The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the core compartment fluidically connects the first valve to the first port.