Turbine intercooler

Abstract

An intercooler includes a shell with an inlet and an outlet. The shell defines a first chamber. The intercooler further includes a plurality of elongate conducting members. Each of the conducting members includes a first end section and a second end section and is disposed such that each of the first end sections is inside the first chamber of the shell and such that each of the second end sections is disposed exteriorly of the shell. Each of the second end sections is disposed in a flow path of at least one cooling medium so as to undergo evaporative cooling.

1 . An intercooler including a shell with an inlet and an outlet, the shell defining a first chamber, the intercooler further including a plurality of elongate conducting members, each of the conducting members including a first end section and a second end section, each of the conducting members disposed such that each of the first end sections is inside the first chamber of the shell and such that each of the second end sections is disposed exteriorly of the shell, each of the second end sections disposed in a flow path of at least one cooling medium so as to undergo evaporative cooling. 
     
     
         2 . The intercooler of  claim 1 , compressed gaseous fluid adapted to move through the first chamber from the inlet to the outlet, the first end sections disposed in a flow path of the compressed gaseous fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The intercooler of  claim 1 , the plurality of elongate conducting members including a header with a first end and a second end, the header transitioning to a first set of submembers at the first end and to a second set of submembers at the second end respectively, the first end positioned inside the shell and the second end positioned exteriorly of the shell. 
     
     
         4 . The intercooler of  claim 1 , further including a cooler defining a second chamber, each of the second end sections disposed inside the second chamber, the at least one cooling medium adapted to move through the second chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The intercooler of  claim 4 , the cooler further including a discharger for supplying, as the at least one cooling medium, a cooling liquid to the second end sections. 
     
     
         6 . The intercooler of  claim 5 , the cooler including a wick element in which each of the second end sections is embedded, the wick element configured to retain the cooling liquid by capillary action. 
     
     
         7 . The intercooler of  claim 6 , the cooler including a container disposed at a base of the cooler to recover the cooling liquid not retained in the wick element. 
     
     
         8 . The intercooler of  claim 6 , the cooler further including a blower generating movement of air, the wick element disposed in a flow path of the air. 
     
     
         9 . The intercooler of  claim 1 , the intercooler adapted for use with a gas turbine engine including a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, the shell located between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor, the first chamber in fluid communication with the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor, compressed gaseous fluid moving from the low pressure compressor to the high pressure compressor. 
     
     
         10 . An intercooler including:
 a shell defining a first chamber; and   
       a plurality of elongate conducting members, each of the conducting members including a first end section and a second end section, each of the conducting members disposed such that each of the first end sections is inside the first chamber of the shell and such that each of the second end sections converges toward one another, each of the second end sections disposed in a flow path of at least one cooling medium so as to undergo evaporative cooling. 
     
     
         11 . The intercooler of  claim 10 , compressed gaseous fluid adapted to move through the first chamber and at least one cooling medium adapted to move through the second chamber, each of the first end sections disposed in a flow path of the compressed gaseous fluid moving through the gas turbine engine. 
     
     
         12 . The intercooler of  claim 10 , further including a cooler including a peripheral wall defining a second chamber, the peripheral wall surrounded by the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The intercooler of  claim 12 , the shell arranged to substantially encircle the cooler. 
     
     
         14 . The intercooler of  claim 12 , the conducting members disposed radially about the cooler. 
     
     
         15 . The intercooler of  claim 12 , the cooler further including a discharger for supplying, as the at least one cooling medium, a cooling liquid to the second end sections. 
     
     
         16 . The intercooler of  claim 15 , the cooler further including a wick element in which the second end sections are embedded. 
     
     
         17 . The intercooler of  claim 10 , the intercooler adapted for use with a gas turbine engine including a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, the shell configured between the low pressure compressor and the high pressure compressor such that the first chamber is in fluid communication with the high pressure compressor and the low pressure compressor, compressed gaseous fluid moving from the low pressure compressor to the high pressure compressor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of cooling compressed gaseous fluid including the steps of:
 disposing each of first end sections of a plurality of elongate conducting members in a flow path of compressed gaseous fluid such that heat from the compressed gaseous fluid is transferred toward second end sections of the conducting members by way of conduction;   disposing each of second end sections of the conducting members in a flow path of at least one cooling medium; and   generating a flow of the at least one cooling medium moving toward the second end sections such that heat from the second end sections is transferred to the cooling medium.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the step of generating a flow of the at least one cooling medium using a discharger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the discharger configured to supply a cooling liquid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further including the step of embedding each of the second end sections in a wick element configured to retain the cooling liquid by capillary action.