BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to gas turbine engines, and more particularly to a heat exchanger array.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a high pressure spool, a combustion system, and a low pressure spool disposed within an engine case to form a generally axial, serial flow path about the engine centerline. The high pressure spool includes a high pressure turbine, a high pressure shaft extending axially forward from the high pressure turbine, and a high pressure compressor connected to a forward end of the high pressure shaft. The low pressure spool includes a low pressure turbine, which is disposed downstream of the high pressure turbine, a low pressure shaft, which typically extends coaxially through the high pressure shaft, and a fan connected to a forward end of the low pressure shaft, forward of the high pressure compressor. The combustion system is disposed between the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine and receives compressed air from the compressors and fuel provided by a fuel injection system. A combustion process is carried out within the combustion system to produce high energy gases to produce thrust and turn the high and low pressure turbines, which drive the compressor and the fan to sustain the combustion process.

The high energy gases contain a substantial amount of thermal energy, which is transferred to the high and low pressure turbines. Therefore, the high and low pressure turbines are cooled using air that is bled from the high pressure compressor. This cooling air can be cooled using a heat exchanger prior to flowing to the turbines in order to maximize the cooling capacity of the cooling air. In such an arrangement, the cooling air flows through the hot side of the heat exchanger, and another fluid must be used for the cold side of the heat exchanger.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a heat exchanger array includes a first row of heat exchangers with a hot side and a cold side, a second row of heat exchangers with a hot side and a cold side, and side curtains. The heat exchangers of the first row are spaced apart to define first gaps. The heat exchangers of the second row are spaced apart to define second gaps and are positioned downstream of and staggered from the heat exchangers of the first row such that the heat exchangers of the second row are aligned with the first gaps and the heat exchangers of the first row are aligned with the second gaps. Each of the side curtains is in close proximity to a heat exchanger in the first row and a heat exchanger in the second row. The side curtains are arranged to define a neck region upstream of and aligned with each heat exchanger in the first row and each heat exchanger in the second row. Each neck region has a neck area that is less than a frontal area of the heat exchanger with which it is aligned.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a gas turbine engine includes a fan section, a compressor section downstream of the fan section, a combustor section downstream of the compressor section, a first turbine section downstream of the combustor section, the first turbine section being connected to the compressor section, a second turbine section downstream of the first turbine section, the second turbine section being connected to the fan section, and a heat exchanger array that is fluidly connected to secondary air from the fan section. The heat exchanger array includes a first row of heat exchangers spaced apart to define first gaps, a second row of heat exchangers spaced apart to define second gaps, and side curtains. Each of the side curtains is in close proximity to one of the heat exchangers in the first row and one of the heat exchangers in the second row. The side curtains define a set of first passages and a set of second passages. In each first passage, secondary air flows through one of the heat exchangers in the first row and subsequently through one of the second gaps. In each second passage, the secondary air flows through one of the first gaps and subsequently through one of the heat exchangers in the second row heat.

