Electrical augmentation of a gas turbine engine

A method of electrical augmentation for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

• providing current to an electric motor from a current source during normal operation of the gas turbine engine;
• monitoring a plurality of system state values defining operating conditions of the gas turbine engine over a period of time;
• determining whether an anticipated torque increase condition for the gas turbine engine has been reached;
• and
• based on reaching the anticipated torque increase condition, commanding an electric motor to provide a temporary torque increase to the gas turbine engine using an energy storage device to provide a temporary increased current to the electric motor.

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a first shaft upon which a gas generator turbine and a gas generator compressor are mounted, the first shaft operably coupled to an electric motor of an electrical augmentation system;
• a heat source disposed between the gas generator turbine and the gas generator compressor;
• and
• a power turbine coupled to a second shaft to drive a load and an electrical generator of the electrical augmentation system, the electrical generator being operable to provide current to the electric motor during normal operation of the gas turbine engine, the second shaft arranged coaxially with respect to the first shaft;
• wherein the electrical augmentation system further comprises:
• an energy storage device operable to be charged by the electrical generator and to provide a temporary increased current to the electric motor;
• and
• a control system comprising a torque demand anticipation circuit operable to determine an anticipated torque increase condition for the gas turbine engine has been reached and, in response to determining that the anticipated torque increase condition has been reached, commanding a temporary torque increase by the electric motor using current supplied from the energy storage device.