Torsional damping for generators
AssigneeGE Aviation Systems LLC
InventorsJinhui Zhang, Paul Robert Gemin, Arthur Vorwerk Radun
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for a generator assembly for a drive train such as a rotatable turbine engine assembly. The generator assembly includes at least first and second generators mechanically coupled to the drive train. First and second dampers are operably coupled to the first and second generators, respectively, to selectively damp the first and second generators. Damping the first and second generators can reduce or eliminate both common mode and differential mode torsional oscillations from the generators to the drive train.
Claims25
A generator assembly, comprising:
- a first generator;
- a second generator;
- a drive train mechanically coupling the first generator and the second generator;
- a damping module operably coupled to both the first generator and the second generator;
- and
- a damper included with at least one of the first generator or the second generator;
- wherein the damping module is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a first load on the first generator and to receive a second signal indicative of a second load on the second generator, and wherein the damping module is configured to operate the damper to modify an output voltage to change the damping gains for at the at least one of the first generator or the second generator to reduce torsional oscillations of the first generator and the second generator, and wherein the reduced torsional oscillations are independent of a change in power demand from the generator assembly.
A generator assembly, comprising:
- a first generator having a first damper;
- a second generator having a second damper;
- a drive train mechanically coupling the first generator and the second generator;
- and
- a damping module operably coupled to both the first generator and the second generator;
- and
- wherein the damping module is configured to vary a damping gain on one of the first damper of the first generator or the second damper of the second generator to modify a corresponding output voltage to change the damping gains at one of the first generator or the second generator to reduce a torsional oscillation of the first generator and the second generator, and wherein the reduced torsional oscillation is independent of a change in power demand from the generator assembly.
A generator assembly, comprising:
- a first generator including a first damper configured to generate a first output voltage on the first generator;
- a second generator including a second damper configured to generate a second output voltage on the second generator;
- a drive train having a rotating shaft, where the drive train mechanically couples to the first and second generators;
- and
- a damping module configured to receive a first signal indicative of a first torsional oscillation on the first generator and configured to receive a second signal indicative of a second torsional oscillation on the second generator and configured to vary a damping gain on at least one of the first generator or the second generator by way of controllably operating at least one of the first damper to generate a first damping gain output voltage on the first generator or a second damping gain output voltage on the second generator to regulate a respective generator speed to reduce torsional oscillations of the first generator and the second generator, and wherein the reduced torsional oscillations are independent of a change in power demand from the generator assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.