Fuel-cooled heat exchanger with thermoelectric device compression
An apparatus includes an inlet conduit assembly surrounding a gas flow path and a combustor arranged downstream of the inlet conduit assembly. The inlet conduit assembly includes a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy, a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device, and a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an inlet conduit assembly surrounding a gas flow path, the inlet conduit assembly comprising:
a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy;
a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device; and
a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit, wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a load on the TE device of approximately 140 to 350 kPa (20 to 50 psi); and
a pressure plate arranged between the resilient member and the TE device, wherein the resilient member is in direct contact with the pressure plate; and
a combustor arranged downstream of the inlet conduit assembly.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inlet conduit assembly further comprises:
a tube configured to be cooled by a fuel, wherein the TE device is arranged between the gas flow conduit and the fuel-cooled tube.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fuel-cooled tube is arranged between the TE device and the resilient member.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a backing plate;
two or more supports extending between the backing plate and the gas flow conduit; and
a fastener configured to compress the resilient member against the pressure plate;
wherein the resilient member is arranged between the backing plate and the pressure plate.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the TE device comprises a plurality of TE devices and the resilient member comprises one or more resilient members.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises a ceramic matrix composite.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises one of a generally rectangular or annular shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gas flow path.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the gas flow conduit comprises an uninterrupted first side configured to face the gas flow path.
9. A vehicle comprising:
a fuselage; and
a ramjet connected to the fuselage and comprising a fuel-cooled heat exchanger surrounding a gas flow path of the ramjet, wherein the fuel-cooled heat exchanger comprises:
a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy;
a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device; and
a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit, wherein the resilient member is configured to apply a load on
the TE device of approximately 140 to 350 kPa (20 to 50 psi); and
a pressure plate arranged between the resilient member and the TE device, wherein the resilient member is in direct contact with the pressure plate.
10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the heat exchanger further comprises:
a tube configured to be cooled by a fuel, wherein the TE device is arranged between the gas flow conduit and the fuel-cooled tube.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the fuel-cooled tube is arranged between the TE device and the resilient member.
12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises a ceramic matrix composite.
13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises one of a generally rectangular or annular shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the gas flow path.
14. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the gas flow conduit comprises an uninterrupted first side configured to face the gas flow path.
15. An apparatus comprising:
an inlet conduit assembly surrounding a gas flow path, the inlet conduit assembly comprising:
a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy;
a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device; and
a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit,
wherein at least a portion of the gas flow conduit has a generally C-shape comprising uninterrupted first, second and third sides, and an interrupted fourth side, the first side comprising a first face adjacent the gas flow path and a second face in contact with the TE device; and
wherein the first, second, third and fourth sides of the gas flow conduit enclose a space within which the TE device and the resilient member are arranged; and
a combustor arranged downstream of the inlet conduit assembly.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the inlet conduit assembly further comprises a support member configured to engage the interrupted fourth side of the gas flow conduit and compress the resilient member to apply a load on the TE device.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the interrupted fourth side comprises:
a first portion extending generally perpendicular to the second side;
a second portion extending generally perpendicular to the third side toward the first portion; and
a gap between the first and second portions defining the interruption in the fourth side;
wherein the resilient member comprises one or more resilient members arranged in compression between the first and second portions of the fourth side and the TE device.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the inlet conduit assembly further comprises a member interposed between the one or more resilient members and the TE device.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the member comprises one or more of a support plate, a support beam, and a tube configured to be cooled by a fuel.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the TE device comprises a plurality of TE devices and the resilient member comprises one or more resilient members.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises:
a plurality of adjacent C-shaped portions each of which is configured to contain at least one of the TE devices and at least one of the resilient members.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the inlet conduit assembly further comprises a member interposed between the at least one TE device and the at least one resilient member.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the member comprises one or more of a support plate, a support beam, and a tube configured to be cooled by a fuel.
24. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the gas flow conduit comprises:
a single C-shaped portion configured to contain the plurality of TE devices and the one or more resilient members.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the inlet conduit assembly further comprises a member interposed between the TE devices and the one or more resilient members.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the member comprises one or more of a support plate, a support beam, and a tube configured to be cooled by a fuel.
27. An apparatus comprising:
an inlet conduit assembly surrounding a gas flow path, the inlet conduit assembly comprising:
a thermoelectric (TE) device configured to convert heat into electrical energy, wherein the TE device comprises a plurality of TE devices;
a gas flow conduit arranged between the gas flow path and the TE device; and
a resilient member configured to bias the TE device into contact with the gas flow conduit, wherein the resilient member comprises one or more resilient members;
a backing plate;
more than two supports extending between the backing plate and the gas flow conduit;
a pressure plate arranged between the resilient member and the TE device; and
a fastener configured to compress the resilient member against the pressure plate;
wherein the resilient member is arranged between the backing plate and the pressure plate, and
wherein at least one TE device and at least one resilient member is arranged between every pair of two supports; and
a combustor arranged downstream of the inlet conduit assembly.