Hybrid-electric propulsion system for an aircraft

A hybrid-electric propulsion system for an aircraft comprising:

• an electric machine;
• a gas turbine engine mechanically coupled to the electric machine for driving the electric machine;
• an electric propulsor assembly electrically connectable to the electric machine;
• and
• a controller comprising memory and one or more processors, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the hybrid-electric propulsion system to perform functions, the functions including:
• receiving data indicative of an amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine;
• receiving data indicative of an operating parameter of the hybrid-electric propulsion system;
• assessing a health of the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the received data indicative of the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine and the received data indicative of the operating parameter of the hybrid electric propulsion system;
• providing information to a user indicative of the health of the gas turbine engine;
• changing an amount of fuel provided to a combustion section of the gas turbine engine for an amount of time, the combustion section including a sensor operable with a fuel delivery system;
• and
• determining a change in the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine during at least a portion of the time that the amount of fuel is changed, wherein receiving data indicative of the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine comprises receiving data indicative of the change in the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine during at least a portion of the amount of time the amount of fuel is changed.

An engine health assessment control system for a hybrid electric propulsion system having a gas turbine engine, the control system comprising one or more controllers comprising memory and one or more processors, the memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the engine health assessment control system to perform functions, the functions including:

• receiving data indicative of an amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine;
• receiving data indicative of an operating parameter of the hybrid-electric propulsion system;
• assessing a health of the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the received data indicative of the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine and the received data indicative of the operating parameter of the hybrid electric propulsion system;
• providing information to a user indicative of the health of the gas turbine engine;
• changing an amount of fuel provided to a combustion section of the gas turbine engine for an amount of time, the combustion section including a sensor operable with a fuel delivery system;
• and
• determining a change in the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine during at least a portion of the time that the amount of fuel is changed, wherein receiving data indicative of the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine comprises receiving data indicative of the change in the amount of electrical power provided to, or extracted from, the electric machine during at least a portion of the amount of time the amount of fuel is changed.