Aircraft powerplant exhaust section with flow diverter
An aircraft powerplant includes a core of a gas turbine engine and an exhaust section. The core includes a core flowpath, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. The core flowpath extends longitudinally through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. The exhaust section includes an exhaust flowpath and a flow diverter. The flow diverter includes a diverter panel configured to pivot between a first position and a second position. The flow diverter is configured to fluidly couple the diffuser section to the first nozzle section and fluidly decouple the diffuser section from the second nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the first position. The flow diverter is configured to fluidly couple the diffuser section to the second nozzle section and fluidly decouple the diffuser section from the first nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the second position.
1 . A powerplant for an aircraft, comprising:
a core of a gas turbine engine including a core flowpath, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section, the core flowpath extending longitudinally through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section; and
an exhaust section including an exhaust flowpath, a first diverter section, a second diverter section and a flow diverter;
the exhaust flowpath fluidly coupled to and downstream of the core flowpath, the exhaust flowpath including a diffuser section, a first nozzle section and a second nozzle section, wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the diffuser section increases in size as the diffuser section extends longitudinally away from the core flowpath, a cross-sectional flow area of the first nozzle section decreases in size as the first nozzle section extends longitudinally towards a first nozzle outlet from the exhaust section, and a cross-sectional flow area of the second nozzle section decreases in size as the second nozzle section extends longitudinally towards a second nozzle outlet from the exhaust section;
the flow diverter comprising a diverter panel configured to pivot about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position, the flow diverter configured to fluidly couple the diffuser section to the first nozzle section and fluidly decouple the diffuser section from the second nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the first position, and the flow diverter configured to fluidly couple the diffuser section to the second nozzle section and fluidly decouple the diffuser section from the first nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the second position;
the first diverter section extending longitudinally through the flow diverter from the diffuser section to the first nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the first position, a cross-sectional flow area of the first diverter section increasing in size as the first diverter section extends longitudinally along a first side of the diverter panel towards the first nozzle section; and
the second diverter section extending longitudinally through the flow diverter from the diffuser section to the second nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the second position, a cross-sectional flow area of the second diverter section continuously decreasing in size as the second diverter section extends longitudinally along a second side of the diverter panel to the second nozzle section.
2 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the gas turbine engine includes an exhaust cone that projects longitudinally into the diffuser section, and the diffuser section extends longitudinally along and circumscribes the exhaust cone.
3 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein
the first nozzle section is configured to direct combustion products, received from the diffuser section through the flow diverter, along a first longitudinal trajectory out of the powerplant through the first nozzle outlet;
the second nozzle section is configured to direct the combustion products, received from the diffuser section through the flow diverter, along a second longitudinal trajectory out of the powerplant through the second nozzle outlet; and
the second longitudinal trajectory is angularly offset form the first longitudinal trajectory by an acute offset angle.
4 . The powerplant of claim 3 , wherein the acute offset angle is equal to or less than forty-five degrees.
5 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein
the first nozzle section is configured to direct combustion products, received from the diffuser section through the flow diverter, along a first longitudinal trajectory out of the powerplant through the first nozzle outlet, and the first longitudinal trajectory is parallel to a horizon line or is angularly offset from the horizon line and points vertically downward relative to a direction of gravity; and
the second nozzle section is configured to direct the combustion products, received from the diffuser section through the flow diverter, along a second longitudinal trajectory out of the powerplant through the second nozzle outlet, and the second longitudinal trajectory is parallel to the horizon line or is angularly offset from the horizon line and points vertically downward relative to the direction of gravity.
6 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional flow area of the first nozzle section at the first nozzle outlet is within five percent of the cross-sectional flow area of the second nozzle section at the second nozzle outlet.
7 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein
the diverter panel is configured to block flow from the diffuser section into the second nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the first position; and
the diverter panel is configured to block flow from the diffuser section into the first nozzle section when the diverter panel is in the second position.
8 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the diverter panel is pivotally coupled to a stationary structure of the exhaust section at a downstream trailing edge of the diverter panel.
9 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein
the flow diverter includes a linear actuator arranged vertically above the diverter panel relative to a direction of gravity;
the linear actuator is configured to push against the diverter panel to pivot the diverter panel vertically downwards from the first position to the second position; and
the linear actuator is configured to pull against the diverter panel to pivot the diverter panel vertically upwards from the second position to the first position.
10 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the flow diverter further comprises at least one of
a first lock configured to lock the diverter panel in the first position; or
a second lock configured to lock the diverter panel in the second position.
11 . The powerplant of claim 10 , wherein the flow diverter further comprises at least one of
a first sensor configured to determine whether the first lock is at least one of locked or unlocked; or
a second sensor configured to determine whether the second lock is at least one of locked or unlocked.
12 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the flow diverter further comprises at least one of
a first sensor configured to determine whether the diverter panel is in the first position; or
a second sensor configured to determine whether the diverter panel is in the second position.
13 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the flow diverter further comprises a sidewall and at least one of
a first seal mounted to the sidewall, the first seal sealing a gap between the diverter panel and the sidewall when the diverter panel is in the first position; or
a second seal mounted to the sidewall, the second seal sealing a gap between the diverter panel and the sidewall when the diverter panel is in the second position.
14 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the diverter panel extends along a straight centerline of the diverter panel from a leading edge of the diverter panel to a trailing edge of the diverter panel.
15 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the diverter panel extends along a centerline of the diverter panel from a leading edge of the diverter panel to a trailing edge of the diverter panel, and at least a portion of the centerline is non-straight.
16 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust section further includes an exhaust treatment device disposed in and extending across the first nozzle section.
17 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust section further includes an ejector configured to vent air in a compartment surrounding the core of the gas turbine engine into the exhaust flowpath.
18 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional flow area of the second nozzle section continuously decreases in size as the second nozzle section extends longitudinally from the exhaust section to the second nozzle outlet.
19 . The powerplant of claim 1 , wherein a vertical height of the second nozzle section incrementally decreasing in size as the second nozzle section extends longitudinally towards the second nozzle outlet from the exhaust section.