Oil cooling arrangement and method of cooling oil

Abstract

An oil cooling arrangement includes a first manifold and a second manifold, each configured to route an oil. Further included is a first tube having a first end proximate the first manifold and a second end proximate the second manifold, wherein the first tube is configured to receive the oil and route the oil toward the second manifold. Yet further included is a second tube having a third end proximate the second manifold and a fourth end proximate the first manifold, wherein the second tube is configured to route the oil from the second manifold toward the first manifold. Also included is a turbine exhaust path configured to route an exhaust flow, wherein the first tube and the second tube are disposed along the turbine exhaust path, wherein the oil is cooled upon passage of the exhaust flow over the first tube and the second tube.

1 . An oil cooling arrangement comprising:
 a first manifold;   a second manifold, wherein the first manifold and the second manifold are each configured to route an oil;   a first tube having a first end proximate the first manifold and a second end proximate the second manifold, wherein the first tube is configured to receive the oil and route the oil toward the second manifold;   a second tube having a third end proximate the second manifold and a fourth end proximate the first manifold, wherein the second tube is configured to route the oil from the second manifold toward the first manifold; and   a turbine exhaust path configured to route an exhaust flow, wherein the first tube and the second tube are disposed along the turbine exhaust path, wherein the oil is cooled upon passage of the exhaust flow over the first tube and the second tube.   
     
     
         2 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fins extending from an outer surface of each of the first tube and the second tube. 
     
     
         3 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a rod disposed within each of the first tube and the second tube, wherein the rod and an inner surface of the first tube and the second tube define an annulus within the first tube and the second tube for the oil to flow through. 
     
     
         4 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover member operatively coupled to the first manifold. 
     
     
         5 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the cover member comprises an inlet region and an outlet region. 
     
     
         6 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 4 , further comprising a thermal control valve disposed within the cover member and proximate an oil cooling arrangement bypass, wherein the thermal control valve is in fluid communication with the inlet region and the outlet region. 
     
     
         7 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 6 , wherein the thermal control valve is moveable between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         8 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the first position comprises a fully open position and the second position comprises a fully closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal control valve is in the fully open position at a temperature less than and equal to about 250° F. (about 121° C.) and is in the fully closed position at a temperature greater than and equal to about 270° F. (about 132° C.). 
     
     
         10 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 5 , further comprising a pressure relief valve disposed within the cover member and configured to detect a pressure differential between the inlet region and the outlet region. 
     
     
         11 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third tube having a fifth end proximate the first manifold and a sixth end proximate the second manifold, wherein the third tube is configured to receive the oil and route the oil toward the second manifold; and   a fourth tube having a seventh end proximate the second manifold and an eighth end proximate the first manifold, wherein the fourth tube is configured to route the oil from the second manifold toward the first manifold.   
     
     
         12 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising a cover member operatively coupled to the first manifold, wherein the cover member comprises an inlet region and an outlet region. 
     
     
         13 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the first manifold separates the oil into the first tube and the third tube for routing toward the second manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The oil cooling arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the second manifold includes a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein the first fluid path fluidly couples the first tube to the second tube, and wherein the second fluid path fluidly couples the third tube to the fourth tube. 
     
     
         15 . A method of cooling oil comprising:
 supplying an oil to a first manifold of an oil cooling arrangement;   routing the oil through a first tube from the first manifold to a second manifold, wherein the first tube is disposed in a turbine exhaust path;   routing the oil through a second tube from the second manifold to the first manifold, wherein the second tube is disposed in the turbine exhaust path; and   flowing an exhaust flow through the turbine exhaust path and over the first tube and the second tube for cooling the oil routed therein.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising increasing a heat transfer rate by flowing the exhaust flow over a plurality of fins operatively coupled to an outer surface of the first tube and the second tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising positioning a thermal control valve in a fully open position, wherein the thermal control valve is disposed within a cover member and proximate an oil cooling arrangement bypass, wherein the thermal control valve is in fluid communication with an inlet region and an outlet region, wherein the thermal control valve is in the open position at a temperature less than or equal to about 250° F. (about 121° C.). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the thermal control valve is in a fully closed position at a temperature greater than or equal to about 270° F. (about 132° C.). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 routing the oil to an inlet disposed proximate the first manifold; and   separating the oil into the first tube and a third tube for routing toward the second manifold.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 flowing the oil from the first tube to the second tube through a first fluid path of the second manifold;   flowing the oil from the third tube to the fourth tube through a second fluid path of the second manifold; and   routing the oil through the second tube and the fourth tube from the second manifold toward the first manifold.