US-12618365-B2 - Bidirectional pump for thermal management systems

Abstract

A bidirectional pump for a thermal management system including a working fluid fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump; a bypass air heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid; an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid; a fuel heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the bidirectional pump is configured to pump the working fluid through each of the bypass air heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the fuel heat exchanger in at least one of a first flow direction and a second flow direction.

Inventors

• Christine Kelsey

Assignees

• RTX CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240802

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A thermal management system, having a bidirectional pump, the thermal management system comprising: a working fluid fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump; a bypass air heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid; an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid; and a fuel heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the bidirectional pump pumps the working fluid through each of the bypass air heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the fuel heat exchanger in a first flow direction and a second flow direction opposite to the first direction.
2. 2 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the bypass air heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the fuel heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the fuel heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series.
3. 3 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , wherein the second flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the fuel heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the bypass air heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the bypass air heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series.
4. 4 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass air heat exchanger comprises a bypass air side and a working fluid side; the bypass air heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between a bypass air and the working fluid.
5. 5 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises an auxiliary fluid side and a working fluid side, the auxiliary heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between an auxiliary fluid and the working fluid.
6. 6 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel heat exchanger comprises a fuel side and a working fluid side, the fuel heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between a fuel and the working fluid.
7. 7 . The thermal management system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a controller in operative communication with the bidirectional pump; wherein the controller is configured to operate the bidirectional pump in the first flow direction and the second flow direction responsive to a gas turbine engine operational condition and flight envelope.
8. 8 . A gas turbine engine having a thermal management system with a bidirectional pump, the gas turbine engine comprising: bypass air duct configured to flow a bypass air; a fuel system configured to supply a fuel to a combustor; a lubrication oil system configured to supply lubrication oil to components in the gas turbine engine; a compressor bleed air system configured to supply compressor bleed air to aircraft systems; a working fluid fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump; a bypass air heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid, wherein the bypass air heat exchanger includes the bypass air thermally coupled with the working fluid; an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger includes an auxiliary fluid thermally coupled with the working fluid; and a fuel heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the fuel heat exchanger includes the fuel thermally coupled with the working fluid; wherein the bidirectional pump pumps the working fluid through each of the bypass air heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the fuel heat exchanger in a first flow direction and a second flow direction opposite to the first direction.
9. 9 . The gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , wherein the first flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the bypass air heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the fuel heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the fuel heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series.
10. 10 . The gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , wherein the second flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the fuel heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the bypass air heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the bypass air heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series.
11. 11 . The gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , wherein the bypass air heat exchanger comprises a bypass air side and a working fluid side; the bypass air heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between the bypass air and the working fluid.
12. 12 . The gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises an auxiliary fluid side and a working fluid side, the auxiliary heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between the auxiliary fluid and the working fluid.
13. 13 . The gas turbine engine according to claim 8 , wherein the fuel heat exchanger comprises a fuel side and a working fluid side, the fuel heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between the fuel and the working fluid.
14. 14 . A process for a thermal management system having a bidirectional pump in a gas turbine engine comprising: configuring a bypass air duct to flow a bypass air; configuring a fuel system to supply a fuel to a combustor; configuring a lubrication oil system to supply a lubrication oil to components in the gas turbine engine; configuring a compressor bleed air system to supply compressor bleed air to aircraft systems; fluidly coupling a working fluid with the bidirectional pump; fluidly coupling a bypass air heat exchanger with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid; thermally coupling the bypass air with the working fluid; fluidly coupling an auxiliary heat exchanger with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid; thermally coupling an auxiliary fluid with the working fluid; fluidly coupling a fuel heat exchanger with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, thermally coupling the fuel with the working fluid; and flowing via the bidirectional pump the working fluid through each of the bypass air heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the fuel heat exchanger in a first flow direction and a second flow direction opposite to the first direction.
15. 15 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising: flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the bypass air heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the fuel heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the fuel heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series, as the first flow direction.
16. 16 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising: flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the fuel heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the bypass air heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the bypass air heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series, as the second flow direction.
17. 17 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the bypass air heat exchanger comprises a bypass air side and a working fluid side; and configuring the bypass air heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy between the bypass air and the working fluid.
18. 18 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises an auxiliary fluid side and a working fluid side; and configuring the auxiliary heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy between the auxiliary fluid and the working fluid.
19. 19 . The process of claim 14 , wherein the fuel heat exchanger comprises a fuel side and a working fluid side; and configuring the fuel heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy between the fuel and the working fluid.
20. 20 . The process of claim 14 , further comprising: coupling a controller in operative communication with the bidirectional pump; and configuring the controller to operate the bidirectional pump the first flow direction and the second flow direction responsive to a gas turbine engine operational condition and flight envelope.

Description

BACKGROUND The present disclosure is directed to a bidirectional pump for a thermal management system. Engine thermal management sinks transfer heat from different fluids to keep certain areas cool, such as the oil system. The fluid being cooled is often compressor bleed air or oil. In certain areas of the flight envelope, it is ideal to sink heat to bypass air, while in other areas of the envelope, it is better to sink heat to fuel. Air temperature, fuel temperature, air mass flow, fuel mass flow, and the like affects how efficient either the bypass air or fuel performs transferring heat. Currently solutions include an engine having several heat exchangers. Some systems use bypass air as a heat sink for cooling. Others use fuel as a heat sink for cooling. Some systems have both a bypass air heat exchanger and a fuel heat exchanger. SUMMARY In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a bidirectional pump for a thermal management system comprising a working fluid fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump; a bypass air heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid; an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid; and a fuel heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the bidirectional pump is configured to pump the working fluid through each of the bypass air heat exchanger, the auxiliary heat exchanger and the fuel heat exchanger in at least one of a first flow direction and a second flow direction. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the first flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the bypass air heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the fuel heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the fuel heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the second flow direction comprises flowing the working fluid from the bidirectional pump to the fuel heat exchanger and then to the auxiliary heat exchanger and then to the bypass air heat exchanger and return the working fluid from the bypass air heat exchanger to the bidirectional pump in series. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the bypass air heat exchanger comprises a bypass air side and a working fluid side; the bypass air heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between bypass air and the working fluid. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the auxiliary heat exchanger comprises an auxiliary fluid side and a working fluid side, the auxiliary heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between an auxiliary fluid and the working fluid. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the fuel heat exchanger comprises a fuel side and a working fluid side, the fuel heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy between a fuel and the working fluid. A further embodiment of any of the foregoing embodiments may additionally and/or alternatively include the bidirectional pump for a thermal management system further comprising a controller in operative communication with the bidirectional pump; wherein the controller is configured to operate the bidirectional pump in one of the first flow direction or the second flow direction responsive to a gas turbine engine operational condition and flight envelope. In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a bidirectional pump for a thermal management system in a gas turbine engine comprising bypass air duct configured to flow a bypass air flow; a fuel system configured to supply fuel to a combustor; a lubrication oil system configured to supply lubrication oil to components in the gas turbine engine; a compressor bleed air system configured to supply compressor bleed air to components; a working fluid fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump; a bypass air heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump through the working fluid, wherein the bypass air heat exchanger includes the bypass air thermally coupled with the working fluid; an auxiliary heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the bypass air heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the auxiliary heat exchanger includes the auxiliary fluid thermally coupled with the working fluid; and a fuel heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the bidirectional pump and the auxiliary heat exchanger through the working fluid, wherein the fuel heat exchanger includes the fuel thermally coupled with the working fluid; wherein the bidirectional pump is co