Patent ID: 6584778
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: F02C,F04D,F28D,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for supplying cooling air to a gas turbine engine including a casing using a cooling system in flow communication with the gas turbine engine, the cooling system including a recirculating loop including at least three heat exchangers in fluid communication, said method comprising the steps of:circulating fluid through the recirculating loop such that fuel is heated prior to being injected into the gas turbine engine; circulating fluid through at least one heat exchanger that includes a tortuous flow path defined by and between a plurality of closely-spaced tubes such that a Reynolds number of the fluid entering the heat exchanger is increased within the heat exchanger for reducing fuel gum deposit formation within at least of the heat exchangers as the engine is operated; passing air through at least one of the heat exchangers to cool fluid circulating within the recirculating loop; and passing air through at least one of the heat exchangers to cool the air prior to the air being directing to the gas turbine engine wherein at least one heat exchanger is mounted to an internal surface of an engine fan bypass casing, and at least one heat exchanger is mounted to an external surface of the engine core casing.