Aircraft powerplant with multi-circuit heat exchanger
An assembly is provided for an aircraft powerplant. This assembly includes a first powerplant component, a second powerplant component, a third powerplant component and a fluid system. The fluid system includes a first fluid circuit, a second fluid circuit, a third fluid circuit and a heat exchanger. The first fluid circuit extends through the heat exchanger and is configured to service the first powerplant component. The second fluid circuit extends through the heat exchanger and is configured to service the second powerplant component. The third fluid circuit extends through the heat exchanger and is configured to service the third powerplant component. The heat exchanger is configured as or otherwise includes a radiator.
1 . An assembly for an aircraft powerplant, comprising:
a first powerplant component;
a second powerplant component;
a third powerplant component;
a fluid system including a first fluid circuit, a second fluid circuit, a third fluid circuit and a heat exchanger, the first fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the first powerplant component, the second fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the second powerplant component, the third fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the third powerplant component, and the heat exchanger comprising a radiator;
wherein the heat exchanger is configured to at least one of
exchange heat energy between a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit with a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit;
exchange heat energy between the first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit with a third fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit; or
exchange heat energy between the second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit with the third fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit;
a first electric machine and a first electric machine controller configured to control operation of the first electric machine, the first powerplant component comprising one of the first electric machine or the first electric machine controller; and
a second electric machine and a second electric machine controller configured to control operation of the second electric machine, the second powerplant component comprising one of the second electric machine or the second electric machine controller.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid circuit is fluidly independent of the second fluid circuit and the third fluid circuit.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second fluid circuit is fluidly independent of the third fluid circuit.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
the first fluid circuit comprises a first flow regulator configured to regulate a flow of the first fluid in the heat exchanger;
the second fluid circuit comprises a second flow regulator configured to regulate a flow of the second fluid in the heat exchanger; or
the third fluid circuit comprises a third flow regulator configured to regulate a flow of the third fluid in the heat exchanger.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of
the first flow regulator is disposed in the heat exchanger where the first fluid circuit comprises the first flow regulator;
the second flow regulator is disposed in the heat exchanger where the second fluid circuit comprises the second flow regulator; or
the third flow regulator is disposed in the heat exchanger where the third fluid circuit comprises the third flow regulator.
6 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of
the first flow regulator is configured to meter the flow of the first fluid in the heat exchanger where the first fluid circuit comprises the first flow regulator;
the second flow regulator is configured to meter the flow of the second fluid in the heat exchanger where the second fluid circuit comprises the second flow regulator; or
the third flow regulator is configured to meter the flow of the third fluid in the heat exchanger where the third fluid circuit comprises the third flow regulator.
7 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein at least one of
the first flow regulator is configured to selectively direct the flow of the first fluid into at least one of a first circuit first path or a first circuit second path in the heat exchanger where the first fluid circuit comprises the first flow regulator;
the second flow regulator is configured to selectively direct the flow of the second fluid into at least one of a second circuit first path or a second circuit second path in the heat exchanger where the second fluid circuit comprises the second flow regulator; or
the third flow regulator is configured to selectively direct the flow of the third fluid into at least one of a third circuit first path or a third circuit second path in the heat exchanger where the third fluid circuit comprises the third flow regulator.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an air passage, and the heat exchanger is configured to at least one of
exchange heat energy between air flowing through the air passage with the first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit within the heat exchanger;
exchange heat energy between the air flowing through the air passage with the second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit within the heat exchanger; or
exchange heat energy between the air flowing through the air passage with the third fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit within the heat exchanger.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
the first fluid circuit is configured to at least one of cool or lubricate the first powerplant component with the first fluid;
the second fluid circuit is configured to at least one of cool or lubricate the second powerplant component with the second fluid; or
the third fluid circuit is configured to at least one of cool or lubricate the third powerplant component with the third fluid.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an engine core comprising a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section; and
a flowpath configured to bypass the engine core;
the heat exchanger arranged along a peripheral boundary of the flowpath.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an engine core comprising a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section;
a flowpath configured to bypass the engine core; and
an air circuit configured to bleed air from the flowpath and direct the air through and/or along the heat exchanger.
12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the heat exchanger comprises a plurality of heat exchange elements;
the first fluid circuit comprises a first circuit channel extending in a first of the plurality of heat exchange elements;
the second fluid circuit comprises a second circuit channel extending in the first of the plurality of heat exchange elements;
the third fluid circuit comprises a third circuit channel extending in the first of the plurality of heat exchange elements; and
the first circuit channel is fluidly independent of the second circuit channel and the third circuit channel within the first of the plurality of heat exchange elements, and the second circuit channel is fluidly independent of the third circuit channel within the first of the plurality of heat exchange elements.
13 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
the first powerplant component comprises the first electric machine, and the first fluid circuit is further configured to service the first electric machine controller; or
the second powerplant component comprises the second electric machine, and the second fluid circuit is further configured to service the second electric machine controller.
14 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a turbine engine;
the third powerplant component configured as a part of and disposed within an interior of the turbine engine.
15 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of
the first electric machine is configurable as at least one of a first electric motor or a first electric generator; or
the second electric machine is configurable as at least one of a second electric motor or a second electric generator.
16 . An assembly for an aircraft powerplant, comprising:
a first powerplant component;
a second powerplant component;
a third powerplant component; and
a fluid system including a first fluid circuit, a second fluid circuit, a third fluid circuit and a heat exchanger, the first fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the first powerplant component, the second fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the second powerplant component, the third fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the third powerplant component, and the heat exchanger comprising a radiator;
a first electric machine and a first electric machine controller configured to control operation of the first electric machine, the first powerplant component comprising one of the first electric machine or the first electric machine controller;
a second electric machine and a second electric machine controller configured to control operation of the second electric machine, the second powerplant component comprising one of the second electric machine or the second electric machine controller;
a compressor section;
a combustor section;
a turbine section;
a flowpath extending through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section;
a first rotating structure comprising a first bladed rotor disposed in the compressor section or the turbine section, the first rotating structure operatively coupled to the first electric machine; and
a second rotating structure rotationally independent of the first rotating structure, the second rotating structure comprising a second bladed rotor disposed in the compressor section or the turbine section, and the second rotating structure operatively coupled to the second electric machine.
17 . An assembly for an aircraft powerplant, comprising:
a first electric machine and a first controller configured to control operation of the first electric machine;
a second electric machine and a second controller configured to control operation of the second electric machine;
a powerplant component; and
a fluid system including a first fluid circuit, a second fluid circuit, a third fluid circuit and a heat exchanger, the first fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service at least one of the first electric machine or the first controller, the second fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service at least one of the second electric machine or the second controller, the third fluid circuit extending through the heat exchanger and configured to service the powerplant component, and the heat exchanger comprising a radiator;
the heat exchanger is configured to at least one of
exchange heat energy between a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit with a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit;
exchange heat energy between the first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit with a third fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit; or
exchange heat energy between the second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit with the third fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit.