Patent Application
20230022809
The present disclosure relates generally to gas turbine engines, and more particularly to gas turbine engines with intercooling. There is always a need in the art for improvements to engine architecture in the aerospace industry.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a primary gas path having, in fluid series communication: an air inlet, a compressor fluidly connected to the air inlet, a combustor fluidly connected to an outlet of the compressor, and a turbine section fluidly connected to an outlet of the combustor section. The turbine section is operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor; and an output shaft is operatively connected to the turbine section to be driven by the turbine section. In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger having a gas conduit fluidly connected to the primary gas path, and a fluid conduit in fluid isolation from the gas conduit and in thermal communication with the gas conduit, the fluid conduit having a liquid hydrogen inlet and a gaseous hydrogen outlet fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet.
In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes an expansion turbine having a gas inlet fluidly connected to the gaseous hydrogen outlet and a gas outlet fluidly connected to the gas inlet, the gas outlet of the expansion turbine being fluidly connected to the combustor. In certain embodiments, the compressor has multiple compressor sections and the gas conduit of the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the primary gas path at a location between adjacent compressor sections of the multiple compressor sections.
In certain embodiments, a liquid hydrogen pump is fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger and operable to supply liquid hydrogen to the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger. In certain embodiments the gas turbine engine can include one or both of: a gaseous hydrogen accumulator downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow, such that the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is between the heat exchanger and the combustor, and a gaseous hydrogen meter downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor, such that the gaseous hydrogen meter is between the accumulator and the combustor.
In certain embodiments, the expansion turbine is operatively connected to the output shaft to drive the output shaft in parallel with the turbine section. In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes a gearbox, where the gear box is operatively connected to a main shaft driven by a turbine section of the gas turbine engine. The gearbox can further include an output shaft driven by combined power from the turbine section and the expansion turbine. In certain embodiments, an outlet of the hydrogen expansion turbine is in fluid communication with the combustor to provide combustor ready hydrogen gas to the combustor and to add additional rotational power to the gearbox.
In certain embodiments, the expansion turbine is operatively connected to one or both of: an electrical power generator to drive the electrical power generator, and an auxiliary air compressor to drive the auxiliary air compressor.
In certain embodiments, a controller is operatively connected to the gaseous hydrogen meter and at least one sensor in any of the gearbox, the hydrogen expansion turbine, and/or the turbine section, The controller can include machine readable instructions that cause the controller to receive input for a command power, receive input from at least one of the gearbox, the hydrogen expansion turbine, and/or the turbine section, adjust the flow of gaseous hydrogen via the gaseous hydrogen meter to achieve the command power.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a primary gas path having, in fluid series communication: an air inlet, a compressor fluidly connected to the air inlet, a combustor fluidly connected to an outlet of the compressor, and a turbine section fluidly connected to an outlet of the combustor, the turbine section operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor, wherein the compressor has multiple compressor sections. An output shaft is operatively connected to the turbine section to be driven by the turbine section. The gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger having a gas conduit fluidly connected to the primary gas path, and a fluid conduit in fluid isolation from the gas conduit and in thermal communication with the gas conduit, the fluid conduit having a liquid hydrogen inlet and a gaseous hydrogen outlet fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet, wherein and gas conduit of the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the primary gas path at a location between adjacent compressor sections of the multiple compressor sections. In certain embodiments, the compressor, combustor, and turbine section are part of one of: a gas turbine engine, a reciprocating heat engine, and a rotary heat engine.
In certain embodiments, a liquid hydrogen pump is in fluid communication with the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger, where the combustor is also in fluid communication to receive hydrogen downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow for combustion of hydrogen and air.
In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes a hydrogen expansion turbine in fluid communication to receive hydrogen from the gaseous hydrogen outlet of the heat exchanger, the expansion turbine including a rotatable component operatively connected to the expansion turbine to be rotated by rotation of the expansion turbine where the rotatable component is also operatively connected to a gearbox. In certain embodiments, an outlet of the hydrogen expansion turbine is in fluid communication with the combustor to provide combustor ready hydrogen gas to the combustor and to add additional rotational power to the gearbox.
In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes a gaseous hydrogen accumulator downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow where the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is between the heat exchanger and the combustor. In certain embodiments, the gas turbine engine includes a gaseous hydrogen meter downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor, wherein the gaseous hydrogen meter is between the accumulator and the combustor.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating an aircraft. The method comprises, expanding a flow of liquid hydrogen to a flow of gaseous hydrogen, extracting kinetic energy from the flow of gaseous hydrogen to rotate a rotatable component of the aircraft, after the extracting, combusting the flow of gaseous hydrogen in a combustor of a gas turbine engine of the aircraft. In certain embodiments, using rotation of the rotatable component, generating one or both of: thrust, and electrical power.
In embodiments, the method includes extracting power from a flow of gaseous hydrogen with a hydrogen expansion turbine downstream of the heat exchanger. In certain embodiments, the method includes combining power from the expansion turbine with power from a main shaft driven by a turbine section to drive an output shaft. In certain embodiments, the method includes receiving input from at least one of the gearbox, a hydrogen expansion turbine, and/or the turbine section, and outputting a command to the gaseous hydrogen meter to achieve a command power output at the output shaft.
In certain embodiments, the method includes retrofitting a gas turbine engine with a dual cycle intercooled architecture. In certain such embodiments, retrofitting can include introducing a liquid hydrogen supply, introducing the heat exchanger to a duct between the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor, introducing a gaseous hydrogen accumulator and a gaseous hydrogen meter between the heat exchanger and the second stage compressor, and introducing an expansion turbine between the heat exchanger and the gaseous hydrogen accumulator, the expansion turbine operatively connected to a gear box. In certain such embodiments, retrofitting can further include connecting the liquid hydrogen supply to the heat exchanger via a liquid hydrogen pump in a first line, connecting the heat exchanger to the expansion turbine via a second line, and connecting the expansion turbine to the second stage compressor via a third line, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator and gaseous hydrogen meter are disposed in the third line.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes a primary gas path having, in fluid series communication: a primary air inlet, a compressor fluidly connected to the primary air inlet, a combustor fluidly connected to an outlet of the compressor, and a turbine fluidly connected to an outlet of the combustor. The turbine is operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor.
A turbine cooling air conduit extends from an air inlet of the turbine cooling air conduit to an air outlet of the turbine cooling air conduit. An upstream inlet is connected in fluid communication with the primary gas path a location downstream of the compressor and upstream of a combustion chamber of the combustor. An outlet is connected to the turbine section for cooling in the turbine section using air from the compressor conveyed through the turbine cooling air path.
The turbine cooling air conduit is defined in part by an air conduit of a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a fluid conduit in fluid isolation from the air conduit and in thermal communication with the air conduit. The fluid conduit extends from a hydrogen inlet of the fluid conduit to a hydrogen outlet of the fluid conduit, the hydrogen inlet being fluidly connected to a source of hydrogen and the hydrogen outlet being fluidly connected to the combustor.
A compressor section is fluidly connected to the primary air inlet and includes a plurality of compressor stages. A turbine section is fluidly connected to the outlet of the combustor and operatively connected to the compressor section to drive the compressor section. The turbine section includes a plurality of turbine stages, where the compressor is a compressor stage of the plurality of compressor stages, the turbine is a turbine stage of the plurality of turbine stages, and the air inlet of the turbine cooling air path is fluidly downstream of at least one compressor stage of the plurality of compressor stages.
In certain embodiments the air inlet of the turbine cooling air path is fluidly downstream of all compressor stages of the plurality of compressor stages. In certain such embodiments, the air outlet of the turbine cooling air path is fluidly upstream of all turbine stages of the plurality of turbine stages. In embodiments, the heat exchanger is a downstream heat exchanger and the primary gas path is defined in part by an air conduit of an upstream heat exchanger at a location in the primary gas path that is between adjacent compressor stages of the plurality of compressor stages. The upstream heat exchanger has a fluid conduit in fluid isolation from the air conduit of the upstream heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the air conduit of the upstream heat exchanger. The fluid conduit of the downstream heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen via the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger.
In embodiments, the combustor is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen via a hydrogen conduit defined in part by the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and by a pump operable to move hydrogen from the source of hydrogen to the combustor. The source of hydrogen is a source of liquid hydrogen operable to provide a supply of liquid hydrogen to the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger and the pump is a liquid hydrogen pump disposed in the hydrogen conduit at a location that is fluidly upstream of the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger.
In certain embodiments, the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and the liquid hydrogen pump are sized to convert a majority of the supply of liquid hydrogen into a supply of gaseous hydrogen. In certain embodiments, the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and the liquid hydrogen pump are sized to convert 90%-100% of the supply of liquid hydrogen into a supply of gaseous hydrogen, by volume.
In embodiments, the hydrogen conduit is defined in part by an expansion turbine at a location in the hydrogen conduit that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers. In embodiments, the hydrogen conduit is defined in part by a gaseous hydrogen accumulator at a location in the hydrogen conduit that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers. In embodiments, the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is fluidly downstream of the expansion turbine in the hydrogen conduit.
In certain embodiments, the expansion turbine is operatively connected to a rotatable component of the gas turbine engine to drive the rotatable component. In certain embodiments, the rotatable component is one of: an output shaft, a reduction gearbox, and an accessory gearbox. In certain such embodiments, the rotatable component of the expansion turbine is operatively connected to the output shaft to drive the output shaft in parallel with the turbine section, and the gear box is operatively connected to a main shaft driven by the turbine section, the gearbox having an output shaft driven by combined power from the turbine section and the expansion turbine.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating the engine as described in an aircraft. The method includes heating a flow of gaseous hydrogen in an upstream heat exchanger with compressor discharge air, passing the flow of gaseous hydrogen through a compressor to a downstream heat exchanger, downstream of the upstream heat exchanger, extracting kinetic energy from the flow of gaseous hydrogen from the downstream heat exchanger to rotate a rotatable component of the aircraft, after the extracting, combusting the flow of gaseous hydrogen with the compressor discharge air in a combustor of the gas turbine engine of the aircraft, and cooling a turbine section of the gas turbine engine with air from the downstream heat exchanger.
In embodiments, the method further includes, expanding a flow of liquid hydrogen to a flow of gaseous hydrogen in the upstream heat exchanger upstream of the second downstream exchanger relative to hydrogen flow, compressing cooled air from the upstream heat exchanger, where expanding the liquid hydrogen to gaseous hydrogen includes cooling the compressed air from a first compressor stage, and supplying heat to the downstream heat exchanger with compressed air from a second compressor stage. In embodiments, the method further includes using rotation of the rotatable component, generating one or both of: thrust, and electrical power.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a gas turbine engine of an aircraft. The engine includes a primary gas path having means for fluidly communicating in series a primary air inlet, a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, the turbine operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor. A turbine cooling air conduit extends from an air inlet of the turbine cooling air conduit to an air outlet of the turbine cooling air conduit. The engine includes means for connecting the primary gas path to the combustor a location downstream of the compressor and upstream of a combustion chamber of the combustor, and means for cooling in the turbine section using air from the compressor conveyed through the turbine cooling air path.
The turbine cooling air conduit is defined in part by an air conduit of a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a fluid conduit in fluid isolation from the air conduit and in thermal communication with the air conduit, the fluid conduit extending from a hydrogen inlet of the fluid conduit to a hydrogen outlet of the fluid conduit, hydrogen inlet being fluidly connected to a source of hydrogen, the hydrogen outlet being fluidly connected to the combustor.
These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
Traditionally, hydrocarbon fuels are used to power gas turbine engines, however, it is possible to use a variety of fuels for the combustion portion of the Brayton Cycle, for example pure hydrogen, non-hydrocarbon fuels, or mixes. When hydrogen is used as the fuel, it is possible to operate the gas turbine engine with little or no pollutants in the exhaust. Moreover, various means of intercooling/evaporating are also possible when using hydrogen fuel, as described and contemplated herein. As a non-limiting example, such means of intercooling/evaporating may include in-situ pre-coolers in the engine inlet or axial intercoolers between axial compressors.
In certain embodiments, referring to
With reference now to
A main output shaft 120 is operatively connected to the turbine section 116 to be driven by the turbine section 116. A heat exchanger 122 is fluidly connected between a liquid hydrogen supply 124 and the compressor 104. An air conduit 126 is fluidly connected to the primary gas path 106. A fluid conduit 128, carrying liquid hydrogen from the liquid hydrogen supply 124, is in thermal communication with the air conduit 126 within the heat exchanger 122, but is fluidly isolated from the air conduit 126.
The fluid conduit 128 has a liquid hydrogen inlet 130 and a gaseous hydrogen outlet 132 fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet 130. A liquid hydrogen pump 133 is fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet 130 of the heat exchanger 122 and operable to supply liquid hydrogen to the liquid hydrogen inlet 130. It is contemplated that any suitable liquid hydrogen supply can be used, for example, the liquid hydrogen can be pumped from aircraft cryogenic tanks 131 using the liquid hydrogen pump 133 mounted on an accessory pad (e.g. on an engine accessory gearbox), or the pump 133 may be driven externally by other means.
An expansion turbine 134 having a gas inlet 136 is fluidly connected to the gaseous hydrogen outlet 132 and a gas outlet 138 fluidly connected to the gas inlet 136, where the gas outlet 138 of the expansion turbine 134 is fluidly connected to the combustor 108 via conduit 139.
In certain embodiments, the compressor 104 includes a first stage (e.g. low pressure) compressor 140 and a second stage (e.g. high pressure) compressor 142. The second stage compressor 142 is in fluid communication with the first stage compressor 140 through an inter-stage duct 144. The heat exchanger 122 is fluidly connected to the primary gas path 106 between the adjacent first and second stage compressors 140, 142 such that the inter-stage duct 144 forms a compressor air conduit through the heat exchanger 122. For example, hot compressed air from the first stage compressor 140 passes through conduit 126 to the second stage compressor 142, where heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger 122 so that liquid hydrogen in the fluid conduit 128 is evaporated to gaseous hydrogen. This heat exchange serves the dual purpose of converting the liquid hydrogen 119 to gaseous hydrogen 121 to be used as fuel in the combustor 108, and while also cooling the air inlet 112 of the compressor 104, improving engine efficiency. The hydrogen (119, 121) and compressor air are in fluid isolation from each other throughout their respective passages (conduits 126, 128) in the heat exchanger 122 to avoid mixing of air and hydrogen in the heat exchanger 122, but are in thermal communication with one another for heat exchange between the hydrogen and compressor air in the heat exchanger 122.
The hydrogen expansion turbine 134 is positioned downstream of the heat exchanger 122 and upstream of the combustor 108 relative to hydrogen flow (119, 121). A rotatable element of the expansion turbine 134 (e.g. a turbine shaft 146) is operatively connected to a gearbox 148 (e.g. a reduction gearbox for a propeller, accessory gearbox, or the like) to input additional rotational power to the gearbox 148. More specifically, the expansion turbine shaft 146 is meshed with at least one gear 150 in the gearbox 148 such that when the liquid hydrogen 119 is converted to a gaseous state 121, the power from the expanding gas is extracted through the expansion turbine 134, driving the expansion turbine 134, adding additional rotational power to the gearbox 148. For example, the expansion turbine 134 is operatively connected to the main shaft 120 (e.g. via the gearbox 148 and output shaft 151) to drive the main shaft 120 in parallel with the turbine section 116. In this manner, the main shaft 120 is driven by combined power from the turbine section 116 and the expansion turbine 134. In certain embodiments, the hydrogen expansion turbine 134 can be operatively connected to one or both of an electrical power generator 152 to drive the electrical power generator 152, and an auxiliary air compressor 154 to drive the auxiliary air compressor 154.
In certain embodiments, a gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 is disposed in conduit 139 downstream of the heat exchanger 122 relative to hydrogen flow, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 is between the heat exchanger 122 and the combustor 108. A gaseous hydrogen meter 158 is disposed in the conduit 139 downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor 108, the gaseous hydrogen meter 158 being between the accumulator 156 and the combustor 108. After the gaseous hydrogen 121 is evaporated and extracted through the expansion turbine 134, the expanded low pressure gaseous hydrogen 121 is collected and stored in the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 and then regulated to a pressure where it can then be metered (e.g. via meter 158) to provide combustor ready hydrogen gas to the combustor 108.
In certain embodiments, a controller 160 is operatively connected to the gaseous hydrogen meter 158 and at least one sensor included in any of the gearbox 148, the hydrogen expansion turbine 134, and/or the turbine section 116. The controller 160 can include machine readable instructions that cause the controller to receive input for a command power, receive input from at least one of the gearbox 148, the hydrogen expansion turbine 134, and/or the turbine section 116, and adjust the flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 via the gaseous hydrogen meter 158 to achieve the command power, based on the input (e.g. signals 161, 162, 163, 164) received by the controller 160. In embodiments, the controller 160 can additionally receive input from a compressor pressure (e.g. P3 pressure, upstream of the accumulator 156) and input from the accumulator 156 downstream of the compressor pressure.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. For example, the controller 160 can include machine readable instruction operable to execute the method. The method includes, supplying liquid hydrogen 119 to a heat exchanger 122 and expanding the liquid hydrogen 119 to gaseous hydrogen 121 with heat supplied to the heat exchanger 122, supplying the heat to the heat exchanger 122 with compressed air from a first stage compressor 140, where expanding the liquid hydrogen 119 to gaseous hydrogen 121 includes cooling the compressed air from the first stage compressor 140, compressing cooled air from the heat exchanger 122, and combusting the gaseous hydrogen 121 with the compressed cooled air in the combustor 108.
In embodiments, the method includes extracting power from a flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 with a hydrogen expansion turbine 134 downstream of the heat exchanger 122. In certain embodiments, the method includes combining power from the expansion turbine 134 with power from a main shaft 120 driven by a turbine section 116 to drive an output shaft 151 for example to generate thrust and/or electrical power. In certain embodiments, the method includes receiving input from at least one of the gearbox 148, the hydrogen expansion turbine 134, and/or the turbine section 116 (e.g. signals 161, 162, 163, 164) and outputting a command 165 to the gaseous hydrogen meter 158 to adjust flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 to the combustor 108 to achieve a command power output at the output shaft 151.
It is contemplated that a dual cycle intercooled architecture as described herein can be retrofit on an existing, conventional gas turbine engine. For example, any or all of a liquid hydrogen supply 124, heat exchanger 122, a gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156, a gaseous hydrogen meter 158, an expansion turbine 134 between the heat exchanger 122 and the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156, can be introduced in an existing turbine engine. The system can then be connected as follows: connecting the liquid hydrogen supply 124 to the heat exchanger 122 via a liquid hydrogen pump 133 in a first line (e.g. fluid conduit 128), connecting the heat exchanger 122 to the expansion turbine 134 via a second line (e.g. an upstream portion of conduit 139), and connecting the expansion turbine 134 to the combustor via a third line (e.g. a downstream portion of conduit 139), wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 and gaseous hydrogen meter 158 are disposed in the third line.
This architecture differs from other intercooled or expansion turbine engines in that it combines several engine improvements by making use of cold liquid hydrogen for cooling and expansion. The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improved engine efficiency through intercooling. Additionally, inclusion of the expansion turbine allows for a smaller engine without sacrificing power output, therefore improving power to weight ratio. Carbon emissions may also be reduced or eliminated. Finally, this arrangement accomplishes these improvements in a compact package which would fit in existing nacelle loft lines (e.g. for a turboprop) therefore minimizing drag.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided another gas turbine engine 300. In certain embodiments, for example as provided in
For engine 300, the primary gas path 106 has, in fluid series communication, a primary air inlet 112, a compressor 104 fluidly connected to the primary air inlet 112 via an air conduit 370, a combustor 108 fluidly connected to an outlet 114 of the compressor 104, and a turbine 116 fluidly connected to an outlet 118 of the combustor 108, where the turbine 116 is operatively connected to the compressor 104 to drive the compressor 104. In some embodiments, such as shown in, the turbine section includes a plurality of turbine stages and plurality of compressor stages. It is contemplated that the engine 300 can be a single compressor, single turbine engine, where there is a single stage of each of the compressor 104 and turbine 116. It is also contemplated the engine 300 can include multiple stages of each of the compressor 104 and turbine 116, as shown, where there can be any number and type of stages. For example, as shown the compressor stages 140, 142 as shown are centrifugal, however there may be embodiments in which be one stage may be centrifugal followed by axial stages, embodiments may include all axial stages, for example. Any suitable number and combination of stages is contemplated herein.
In embodiments, the combustor 108 is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen 124 via the hydrogen conduit 139 defined in part by fluid conduits 128, 328 of upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322. The pump 133 is operable to move hydrogen 119 from the source of hydrogen 124, through the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322, and ultimately to the combustor 108. In certain embodiments, the source of hydrogen 124 is a source of liquid hydrogen 119 operable to provide a supply of liquid hydrogen 119 to the fluid conduits 128, 328 of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322. The pump 131 is a liquid hydrogen pump disposed in the hydrogen conduit 129 at a location that is fluidly upstream of the fluid conduits 128, 328 of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122,322. In certain embodiments, the pump 133 can be driven by a power source 178 operatively connected to the pump 133.
The fluid conduit 128 of the upstream heat exchanger 122 is in fluid isolation from an air conduit 126 of upstream first heat exchanger 122 and in thermal communication with the air conduit 126. The fluid conduit 128 extends from the hydrogen inlet 130 to a hydrogen outlet 132, the hydrogen inlet 130 being fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen 124 and the hydrogen outlet 132 being fluidly connected to the fluid conduit 328. The fluid conduit 328 of the downstream heat exchanger 322 is in fluid isolation from an air conduit 326 of the downstream heat exchanger 322 and in thermal communication with the air conduit 326. The fluid conduit 328 extends from the hydrogen inlet 130 to a hydrogen outlet 338 (e.g. the fluid conduit 328 of the downstream heat exchanger 322 is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen 124 via the fluid conduit 128 of the upstream heat exchanger 122).
For the ease of understanding, and not for the purpose of limitation, the flow of hydrogen will be described as it is moved from the source of hydrogen 124 to the combustor 108. The liquid hydrogen is moved through the hydrogen pump 133 to the fluid conduit 128 of the upstream heat exchanger 122 where it is first expanded to gaseous hydrogen 121. Next, the gaseous hydrogen 121 is moved through to the fluid conduit 328 of the downstream heat exchanger 322 where it is further expanded, and then moved through conduit 139 to the expansion turbine 134. The gaseous hydrogen 121 drives rotation of the expansion turbine 134, and is then moved through the conduit 139 to the accumulator 156, where it is held in the accumulator 156 until its commanded release (e.g. via controller 160) to the combustor 108. The hydrogen 119, 121 is expanded in the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322 through thermal communication with hot compressor air in the air conduit 126, 326, as described below.
In certain embodiments, the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322 and the liquid hydrogen pump 133 are sized to convert a majority of the supply of liquid hydrogen 119 into a supply of gaseous hydrogen 121. In certain embodiments, the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322 and the liquid hydrogen pump 133 are sized to convert 90%-100% of the supply of liquid hydrogen 119 into a supply of gaseous hydrogen 121, by volume. For example, the supply rate (e.g. flow rate) of the pump 133, and the heat transfer rates of the heat exchangers 122, 322 are selected for the particular application and size of engine such that the claimed functionality is provided, where the sizing and/or selection of pump and heat exchanger may be done using conventional engineering principles, for example.
In embodiments, the hydrogen conduit 139 is defined in part by the expansion turbine 134 at a location in the hydrogen conduit 139 that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits 128, 328 of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322. In embodiments, the hydrogen conduit 139 is defined in part by the gaseous hydrogen accumulator 156 at a location in the hydrogen conduit 139 that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits 128, 328 of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322 and downstream of the expansion turbine 134.
The primary air inlet 112 of the air conduit 370 is connected in fluid communication with the primary gas path 106 fluidly downstream of at least one compressor stage of the compressor 104 and upstream of the combustor 108. The air outlet 114 is connected to the turbine section 116 for cooling in the turbine section 116 using air from the compressor 104 conveyed through a turbine cooling air conduit 372. As the air passes through the first compressor stage 140, the air is heated, before passing through the air conduit 126 of the upstream heat exchanger 122. This hot compressor air heats the liquid hydrogen 119 in the upstream heat exchanger 122, expanding the hydrogen a given amount. This given amount may be sufficient to power the expansion turbine 134 and may be sufficient for combustion, however, there is still potential for additional expansion. Therefore, as the air passes through the air conduit 370 and further through the compressor stages e.g. stage 142, this further compressed and heated air then moves through the air conduit 326 of the downstream heat exchanger 322, completely or near completely expanding the hydrogen in the fluid conduit to gaseous hydrogen 121. At the same time, the hot compressor air in air conduit 370 and 326 is then cooled by the hydrogen 119, 121 such that the air in the air conduit 126, 326 of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers 122, 322 can be used to cool turbine components (e.g. via turbine cooling air conduit 372).
In this way, turbine cooling air conduit 372 extends from an air inlet 374 of the turbine cooling air conduit to an air outlet 376 of the turbine cooling air conduit 372. The outlet 376 can be the same as compressor outlet 114, or a different outlet than outlet 114. In this configuration, the turbine cooling air conduit 372 is defined in part by the air conduit 326 of the first heat exchanger 322 and the air conduit 370 of the primary gas path 106 is therefore defined in part by the air conduit 126 of the second heat exchanger 122 at a location in the primary gas path that is between adjacent compressor stages of the plurality of compressor stages 140, 142. As shown the air inlet 374 of the turbine cooling air conduit 372 is fluidly downstream of all compressor stages 140, 142.
In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating the engine 300 in the aircraft 1. The method includes heating the flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 in an upstream heat exchanger 122 with compressor air, passing a flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 to a downstream heat exchanger 322, downstream of the upstream heat exchanger 122, extracting kinetic energy from the flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 from the downstream heat exchanger 322 to rotate a rotatable component 120 of the aircraft 1. After the extracting, combusting the flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 with the compressor discharge air in a combustor 108 of the gas turbine engine 300 of the aircraft 1, and cooling a turbine section 116 of the gas turbine engine 300 with air from the downstream heat exchanger 322.
In embodiments, the method further includes, expanding a flow of liquid hydrogen 119 to a flow of gaseous hydrogen 121 in the upstream heat exchanger 122 upstream of the downstream heat exchanger 322 relative to hydrogen flow, compressing cooled air from the second heat exchanger 122, where expanding the liquid hydrogen 119 to gaseous hydrogen 121 includes cooling the compressed air from a first compressor stage 140, and supplying heat to the downstream heat exchanger 322 with compressed air from a second compressor stage 142. In embodiments, the method further include using rotation of the rotatable component 120, generating one or both of: thrust, and electrical power.
While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
For example, the following particular embodiments of the present technology are likewise contemplated, as described herein next by clauses.
Clause 1. A gas turbine engine (100), comprising:
a primary gas path (106) having, in fluid series communication: an air inlet (112), a compressor (104) fluidly connected to the air inlet, a combustor (108) fluidly connected to an outlet (114) of the compressor, and a turbine section (116) fluidly connected to an outlet (118) of the combustor section, the turbine section operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor;
an output shaft (151) operatively connected to the turbine section to be driven by the turbine section;
a heat exchanger (122) having:
an expansion turbine (134) having a gas inlet (136) fluidly connected to the gaseous hydrogen outlet and a gas outlet (138) fluidly connected to the gas inlet, the gas outlet of the expansion turbine being fluidly connected to the combustor.
Clause 2. The gas turbine engine of Clause 1, further comprising a liquid hydrogen pump (133) fluidly connected to the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger and operable to supply liquid hydrogen to the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger.
Clause 3. The gas turbine engine of Clause 1, further comprising one or both of:
a gaseous hydrogen accumulator (156) downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is between the heat exchanger and the combustor; and
a gaseous hydrogen meter (158) downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor, wherein the gaseous hydrogen meter is between the accumulator and the combustor.
Clause 4. The gas turbine engine of Clause 1, wherein the expansion turbine is operatively connected to the output shaft to drive the output shaft in parallel with the turbine section.
Clause 5. The gas turbine engine of Clause 4, further comprising a gearbox (148), and wherein the gear box is operatively connected to a main shaft (120) driven by the turbine section of the gas turbine engine, wherein the gearbox further includes an output shaft (151) driven by combined power from the turbine section and the expansion turbine.
Clause 6. The gas turbine engine of Clause 5, wherein the expansion turbine is operatively connected to one or both of: an electrical power generator (152) to drive the electrical power generator, and an auxiliary air compressor (154) to drive the auxiliary air compressor.
Clause 7. The gas turbine engine of Clause 1, wherein the compressor has multiple compressor sections and the gas conduit of the heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the primary gas path at a location between adjacent compressor sections of the multiple compressor sections, further comprising:
a gaseous hydrogen accumulator downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is between the heat exchanger and the combustor;
a gaseous hydrogen meter downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor, wherein the gaseous hydrogen meter is between the accumulator and the combustor; and
a hydrogen expansion turbine downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the combustor relative to hydrogen flow, wherein a turbine shaft of the hydrogen expansion turbine is operatively connected to a gearbox.
Clause 8. The gas turbine engine of Clause 7, wherein an outlet of the hydrogen expansion turbine is in fluid communication with the combustor to provide combustor ready hydrogen gas to the combustor and to add additional rotational power the gearbox, wherein the gear box is operatively connected to a main shaft driven by the turbine section of the gas turbine engine, wherein the gearbox further includes an output shaft driven by combined power from the turbine section and the expansion turbine.
Clause 9. The gas turbine engine of Clause 8, further comprising, a controller (160) operatively connected to the gaseous hydrogen meter and at least one sensor in any of the gearbox, the hydrogen expansion turbine, and/or the turbine section, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions that cause the controller to:
receive input for a command power;
receive input from at least one of the gearbox, the hydrogen expansion turbine, and/or the turbine section
receive input from compressor pressure;
receive input from accumulator downstream pressure; and
adjust the flow of gaseous hydrogen via the gaseous hydrogen meter to achieve the command power.
Clause 10. A gas turbine engine (100), comprising:
a primary gas path (106) having, in fluid series communication: an air inlet (112), a compressor (104) fluidly connected to the air inlet, a combustor (108) fluidly connected to an outlet (114) of the compressor, and a turbine section (116) fluidly connected to an outlet (118) of the combustor, the turbine section operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor, wherein the compressor has multiple compressor sections;
an output shaft (151) operatively connected to the turbine section to be driven by the turbine section;
a heat exchanger (122) having:
Clause 11. The gas turbine engine of Clause 10, wherein the compressor, combustor, and turbine section are part of one of: a gas turbine engine, a reciprocating heat engine, and a rotary heat engine.
Clause 12. The gas turbine engine of Clause 10, further comprising a liquid hydrogen pump in fluid communication with the liquid hydrogen inlet of the heat exchanger; and wherein the combustor is also in fluid communication to receive hydrogen downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow for combustion of hydrogen and air.
Clause 13. The gas turbine engine of Clause 10 or 11, further comprising a hydrogen expansion turbine in fluid communication to receive hydrogen from the gaseous hydrogen outlet of the heat exchanger, the expansion turbine including a rotatable component operatively connected to the expansion turbine to be rotated by rotation of the expansion turbine, wherein the rotatable component is also operatively connected to a gearbox.
Clause 14. The gas turbine engine of Clause 13, wherein an outlet of the hydrogen expansion turbine is in fluid communication with the combustor to provide combustor ready hydrogen gas to the combustor and to add additional rotational power to the gearbox.
Clause 15. The gas turbine engine of Clause 10, further comprising:
a gaseous hydrogen accumulator (156) downstream of the heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is between the heat exchanger and the combustor; and
a gaseous hydrogen meter (158) downstream of the gaseous hydrogen accumulator relative to hydrogen flow for controlling flow of hydrogen to the combustor, wherein the gaseous hydrogen meter is between the accumulator and the combustor.
Clause 16. A method of operating an aircraft, comprising:
expanding a flow of liquid hydrogen to a flow of gaseous hydrogen;
extracting kinetic energy from the flow of gaseous hydrogen to rotate a rotatable component of the aircraft; and
after the extracting, combusting the flow of gaseous hydrogen in a combustor of a gas turbine engine (100) of the aircraft, supplying the heat to a heat exchanger (122) with compressed air from a first stage compressor (140), wherein expanding the liquid hydrogen to gaseous hydrogen includes cooling the compressed air from the first stage compressor;
compressing cooled air from the heat exchanger; and
combusting the gaseous hydrogen in the compressed cooled air.
Clause 17. The method of Clause 16, further comprising, using rotation of the rotatable component, generating one or both of: thrust, and electrical power.
Clause 18. The method of Clause 16, wherein the component is a turbine (116) of the gas turbine engine and the method further includes generating thrust by rotating an output shaft (151) of the gas turbine engine using rotation of the turbine, wherein the generating the thrust includes converting the rotation of the turbine into a slower rotation of the output shaft; and
wherein the expanding the flow of liquid hydrogen includes cooling a compressed airflow passing through the gas turbine engine to heat up the flow of liquid hydrogen.
Clause 19. A method of retrofitting a gas turbine engine with a dual cycle intercooled architecture, wherein retrofitting includes:
introducing a liquid hydrogen supply (134);
introducing a heat exchanger (122) to a duct between the first stage compressor (140) and the second stage compressor (142);
introducing a gaseous hydrogen accumulator (156) and a gaseous hydrogen meter (158) between the heat exchanger and the second stage compressor,
introducing an expansion turbine (134) between the heat exchanger and the gaseous hydrogen accumulator, the expansion turbine operatively connected to a gear box.
Clause 20. The method as recited in Clause 19, further comprising, connecting the liquid hydrogen supply to the heat exchanger via a liquid hydrogen pump (133) in a first line, connecting the heat exchanger to the expansion turbine via a second line, and connecting the expansion turbine to the second stage compressor via a third line, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator and gaseous hydrogen meter are disposed in the third line.
Clause 21. A gas turbine engine (300), comprising:
a primary gas path (106) having, in fluid series communication: a primary air inlet (112), a compressor (104) fluidly connected to the primary air inlet, a combustor (108) fluidly connected to an outlet of the compressor, and a turbine (116) fluidly connected to an outlet (118) of the combustor, the turbine operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor; and
a turbine cooling air conduit (372) extending from an air inlet (374) of the turbine cooling air conduit to an air outlet (376) of the turbine cooling air conduit,
wherein the turbine cooling air conduit is defined in part by an air conduit (326) of a heat exchanger (322), the heat exchanger having a fluid conduit (328) in fluid isolation from the air conduit and in thermal communication with the air conduit, the fluid conduit extending from a hydrogen inlet (130) of the fluid conduit to a hydrogen outlet (138) of the fluid conduit, the hydrogen inlet being fluidly connected to a source of hydrogen (124), the hydrogen outlet being fluidly connected to the combustor.
Clause 22. The gas turbine engine of Clause 21, comprising a compressor section (102) fluidly connected to the primary air inlet and having a plurality of compressor stages, and a turbine section (116) fluidly connected to the outlet of the combustor and operatively connected to the compressor section to drive the compressor section, the turbine section having a plurality of turbine stages, and wherein:
the compressor is a compressor stage of the plurality of compressor stages,
the turbine is a turbine stage of the plurality of turbine stages, and
the air inlet of the turbine cooling air conduit is fluidly downstream of at least one compressor stage of the plurality of compressor stages.
Clause 23. The engine of Clause 22, wherein the air inlet of the turbine cooling air conduit is fluidly downstream of all compressor stages of the plurality of compressor stages.
Clause 24. The engine of Clause 23, wherein the air outlet of the turbine cooling air path is fluidly upstream of all turbine stages of the plurality of turbine stages.
Clause 25. The engine of Clause 22, wherein:
the heat exchanger (322) is a downstream heat exchanger and the primary gas path is defined in part by an air conduit (126) of an upstream heat exchanger (122) at a location in the primary gas path that is between adjacent compressor stages of the plurality of compressor stages, the upstream heat exchanger having a fluid conduit (128) in fluid isolation from the air conduit of the upstream heat exchanger and in thermal communication with the air conduit of the upstream heat exchanger; and
the fluid conduit of the downstream heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen via the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger.
Clause 26. The engine of Clause 25, wherein the combustor is fluidly connected to the source of hydrogen via a hydrogen conduit (139) defined in part by the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and by a pump (133) operable to move hydrogen from the source of hydrogen to the combustor.
Clause 27. The engine of Clause 26, wherein:
the source of hydrogen is a source of liquid hydrogen operable to provide a supply of liquid hydrogen (119) to the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger; and
the pump is a liquid hydrogen pump disposed in the hydrogen conduit at a location that is fluidly upstream of the fluid conduit of the upstream heat exchanger.
Clause 28. The engine of Clause 27, wherein the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and the liquid hydrogen pump are sized to convert a majority of the supply of liquid hydrogen into a supply of gaseous hydrogen (121).
Clause 29. The engine of Clause 27, wherein the upstream and downstream heat exchangers and the liquid hydrogen pump are sized to convert 90%-100% of the supply of liquid hydrogen into a supply of gaseous hydrogen, by volume.
Clause 30. The engine of any one of Clauses 27-29, wherein the hydrogen conduit is defined in part by an expansion turbine (134) at a location in the hydrogen conduit that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers.
Clause 31. The engine of any one of Clauses 27-30, wherein the hydrogen conduit is defined in part by a gaseous hydrogen accumulator (156) at a location in the hydrogen conduit that is fluidly downstream of the fluid conduits of the upstream and downstream heat exchangers.
Clause 32. The engine of Clause 31, wherein the gaseous hydrogen accumulator is fluidly downstream of the expansion turbine in the hydrogen conduit.
Clause 33. The engine of Clause 30 or 31, wherein the expansion turbine is operatively connected to a rotatable component (120) of the gas turbine engine to drive the rotatable component.
Clause 34. The engine of Clause 33, wherein the rotatable component is one of: an output shaft, a reduction gearbox, and/or an accessory gearbox.
Clause 35. The engine of Clause 34, wherein the rotatable component of the expansion turbine is operatively connected to the output shaft (151) to drive the output shaft in parallel with the turbine section, wherein the gear box is operatively connected to a main shaft (120) driven by the turbine section, the gearbox having an output shaft (151) driven by combined power from the turbine section and the expansion turbine.
Clause 36. A method of operating the engine of claim 1 in an aircraft, comprising:
heating a flow of gaseous hydrogen (121) in an upstream heat exchanger (122) with compressor discharge air;
passing the flow of gaseous hydrogen to a downstream heat exchanger (322), downstream of the upstream heat exchanger;
extracting kinetic energy from the flow of gaseous hydrogen (121) from the downstream heat exchanger to rotate a rotatable component (120) of the aircraft; and
after the extracting, combusting the flow of gaseous hydrogen with the compressor discharge air in a combustor (108) of the gas turbine engine of the aircraft; and
cooling a turbine section of the gas turbine engine with air from the downstream heat exchanger.
Clause 37. The method as recited in Clause 36, further comprising:
expanding a flow of liquid hydrogen to a flow of gaseous hydrogen in the upstream heat exchanger upstream of the downstream heat exchanger relative to hydrogen flow;
compressing cooled air from the upstream heat exchanger;
wherein expanding the liquid hydrogen to gaseous hydrogen includes cooling the compressed air from a first compressor stage; and
supplying heat to the downstream heat exchanger with compressed air from a second compressor stage.
Clause 38. The method of Clause 37, further comprising, using rotation of the rotatable component, generating one or both of: thrust, and electrical power.
Clause 39. A gas turbine engine (300) of an aircraft (1), comprising:
a primary gas path (106) having means for fluidly communicating in series a primary air inlet (112), a compressor (104), a combustor (108), and a turbine (116), the turbine operatively connected to the compressor to drive the compressor; and
a turbine cooling air conduit (372) extending from an air inlet (374) of the turbine cooling air conduit to an air outlet (376) of the turbine cooling air conduit,
means for connecting the primary gas path to the combustor a location downstream of the compressor and upstream of a combustion chamber of the combustor,
means for cooling in the turbine section using air from the compressor conveyed through the turbine cooling air path; and
wherein the turbine cooling air conduit is defined in part by an air conduit (326) of a heat exchanger (322), the heat exchanger having a fluid conduit (328) in fluid isolation from the air conduit and in thermal communication with the air conduit, the fluid conduit extending from a hydrogen inlet (130) of the fluid conduit to a hydrogen outlet (138) of the fluid conduit, hydrogen inlet being fluidly connected to a source of hydrogen (124), the hydrogen outlet being fluidly connected to the combustor.
