| CPC B64D 37/34 (2013.01) [B64D 37/02 (2013.01); F02C 3/22 (2013.01); F02C 7/14 (2013.01); F02C 7/224 (2013.01); F05D 2260/213 (2013.01)] | 13 Claims |
|
1. A fuel conditioning system configured to supply an aircraft turbomachine with fuel from a cryogenic tank wherein it is stored at an initial temperature, the conditioning system extending in a tank enclosure and in an engine enclosure distinct from the tank enclosure, the cryogenic tank being mounted in the tank enclosure and the turbomachine being mounted in the engine enclosure, the tank enclosure being configured to operate at a temperature lower than a maximum operating temperature, the engine enclosure being configured to operate at a temperature above a minimum operating temperature, the conditioning system comprising:
a fuel circuit connected at the inlet to the cryogenic tank and at the outlet to the turbomachine, a fuel flow circulating from upstream to downstream in the fuel circuit,
at least one mechanical pump configured to circulate the fuel flow from the cryogenic tank from upstream to downstream in the fuel circuit, and
a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of a heat transfer fluid configured to transfer calories to the fuel flow, the control system comprising:
a circulation loop for circulating the heat transfer fluid extending both in the tank enclosure and in the engine enclosure, the circulation loop comprising:
an engine branch extending in the engine enclosure between an engine inlet point and an engine outlet point, the heat transfer fluid circulating from upstream to downstream between the engine inlet point and the engine outlet point, the heat transfer fluid having a first temperature at the engine inlet point, the first temperature being greater than the minimum operating temperature of the engine enclosure,
a tank branch extending in the tank enclosure between a tank inlet point and a tank outlet point, the heat transfer fluid circulating from upstream to downstream between the tank inlet point and the tank outlet point, the engine outlet point being fluidly connected to the tank inlet point, the tank outlet point being fluidly connected to the engine inlet point,
at least one first engine heat exchanger, mounted on the engine branch, configured to warm the heat transfer fluid to a second temperature higher than the first temperature, from calories transferred by at least one hot fluid available in the engine enclosure, the second temperature being higher than the maximum operating temperature of the tank enclosure,
at least one first tank exchanger, mounted on the tank branch, configured to warm the fuel flow from the heat transfer fluid to a primary temperature,
at least one second engine exchanger, mounted on the engine branch, configured to warm the fuel flow from the heat transfer fluid to a secondary temperature higher than the primary temperature,
at least one mechanical pump configured to circulate the heat transfer fluid in the circulation loop so as to:
in the second engine heat exchanger, transferring a first part of calories from the heat transfer fluid to the fuel flow and cooling the heat transfer fluid to a third temperature lower than the second temperature, the third temperature being lower than the maximum operating temperature, so as to heat the heat transfer fluid in the first engine exchanger to a temperature higher than the maximum operating temperature and to lower this temperature in the second engine exchanger below the maximum operating temperature, before it leaves the engine enclosure and enters the tank enclosure,
in the first tank exchanger, transferring a second part of calories from the heat transfer fluid to the fuel flow and cooling the heat transfer fluid to a fourth temperature, lower than the third temperature, so as to heat the fuel flow to the primary temperature, so as to warm the fuel flow before it leaves the tank enclosure.
|