Abstract:
Aircraft power plants including combustion engines, and associated methods for recuperating waste heat from such aircraft power plants are described. A method includes transferring the heat rejected by the internal combustion engine to supercritical CO2 (sCO2) used as a working fluid in a heat engine. The heat engine converts at least some the heat transferred to the sCO2 to mechanical energy to perform useful work onboard the aircraft.
Abstract:
A turboprop engine assembly for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system, an air duct in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, a heat exchanger received within the air duct having coolant passages in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system and air passages air passages in fluid communication with the air duct, and an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust duct has an outlet positioned within the air duct downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of an outlet of the air duct, the outlet of the exhaust duct spaced inwardly from a peripheral wall of the air duct. In use, a flow of cooling air surrounds a flow of exhaust gases. A method of discharging air and exhaust gases in an turboprop engine assembly having an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
Abstract:
An engine assembly includes an engine compartment containing an internal combustion engine and a cooler compartment adjacent the engine compartment containing a heat exchanger. The engine and cooler compartments have an opening defined therebetween. A forced air system is operable to drive an airflow. A method for cooling the engine and its compartment is disclosed.
Abstract:
A turbofan engine assembly including a compressor, an intermittent internal combustion engine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor through at least one first passage of an intercooler, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the intermittent internal combustion engine, the turbine compounded with the intermittent internal combustion engine, a bypass duct surrounding the intermittent internal combustion engine, compressor and turbine, and a fan configured to propel air through the bypass duct and through an inlet of the compressor, wherein the intercooler is located in the bypass duct, the intercooler having at least one second passage in heat exchange relationship with the at least one first passage, the at least one second passage in fluid communication with the bypass duct.
Abstract:
A method of operating a hybrid electric power plant in cold climates comprises absorbing heat generated by an internal combustion engine, and using at least part of the heat absorbed from the internal combustion engine to warm a battery pack operatively connected to an electric motor.
Abstract:
A method of combusting fuel, e.g. heavy fuel, in a rotary engine, including injecting a main quantity of fuel directly into a combustion chamber to form a first fuel-air mixture having a first air-fuel equivalence ratio λ higher than 1, injecting a pilot quantity of fuel into a pilot subchamber to form a second fuel-air mixture having a second air-fuel equivalence ratio λ smaller than the first air-fuel equivalence ratio, igniting the second fuel-air mixture within the pilot subchamber, using the ignited second fuel-air mixture from the pilot subchamber to ignite the first fuel-air mixture, and injecting a supplemental quantity of fuel directly into the combustion chamber after igniting the first fuel-air mixture, upstream of an exhaust port of the rotary engine with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor. A rotary engine with interburner fuel injector is also discussed.
Abstract:
A turboprop engine assembly for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system, an air duct in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, a heat exchanger received within the air duct having coolant passages in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system and air passages air passages in fluid communication with the air duct, and an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust duct has an outlet positioned within the air duct downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of an outlet of the air duct, the outlet of the exhaust duct spaced inwardly from a peripheral wall of the air duct. In use, a flow of cooling air surrounds a flow of exhaust gases. A method of discharging air and exhaust gases in an turboprop engine assembly having an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
Abstract:
Aircraft power plants and associated methods are provided. A method for driving a load on an aircraft includes: transferring motive power from an internal combustion (IC) engine to the load; discharging a flow of first exhaust gas from the IC engine when transferring motive power from the IC engine to the load; receiving the flow of first exhaust gas from the IC engine into a combustor; mixing fuel with the first exhaust gas in the combustor and igniting the fuel to generate a flow of second exhaust gas; receiving the flow of second exhaust gas at a turbine and driving the turbine with the flow of second exhaust gas from the combustor; and transferring motive power from the turbine to the load.
Abstract:
Aircraft power plants including combustion engines, and associated methods for recuperating waste heat from such aircraft power plants are described. A method includes transferring the heat rejected by the internal combustion engine to supercritical CO2 (sCO2) used as a working fluid in a heat engine. The heat engine converts at least some the heat transferred to the sCO2 to mechanical energy to perform useful work onboard the aircraft.
Abstract:
There is provided a heat management system for a hybrid electrical aircraft comprising electric propulsors powered by a power plant. The heat management system comprises a heat exchanger integrated to a nacelle of at least one of the electric propulsors for dissipating heat withdrawn from the power components of the power plant into ambient air.