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US 11,453,488 B2Granted
Lightweight parallel combustion lift system for vertical takeoff aircraft
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorDonald Klemen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight lift system for VTOL/VSTOL operation running in parallel with an existing turbine. This system distributes LP power by switching compressor flow and fuel proportionally over to the lift turbine module. As forward thrust is demanded, some of the power is transitioned back to the flight LP turbine, which can drive a variable propeller, fan or can supply jet thrust. As flight motion occurs, the power to the lift fan can be reduced to zero and lift closed off.
Claims16
A distributed combustor gas turbine system, comprising:
- a gas turbine, comprising:
- a compressor;
- a first combustor and,
- a first turbine, the first turbine in fluid communication with and downstream from the compressor and first combustor via a first passage;
- wherein the first turbine drives the compressor and a first power output;
- a power turbine comprising
- a second combustor,
- a second turbine,
- the power turbine remote from the first turbine and the first combustor, the power turbine being in fluid communication with the compressor via a second passage;
- a second power output coupled to a second load, the second turbine drives the second power output, wherein the first power output and the second power output are independent of each other, and wherein an exhaust outlet of the second turbine is located within a duct containing a lift fan upstream of the lift fan and configured such that an exhaust flow exiting the exhaust outlet acts as an ejector pump to supplement drawing air into an intake of the lift fan.
7 more elements
A VTOL aircraft propulsion and lift system comprising:
- a propulsion gas turbine, the propulsion gas turbine comprising:
- a compressor;
- a primary combustor and,
- a primary turbine, the primary turbine in fluid communication with and downstream from the compressor and primary combustor via a first passage;
- wherein the primary turbine drives the compressor and a propulsor;
- a lift fan power turbine, the lift fan power turbine comprising
- a secondary combustor,
- a secondary turbine, and
- a lift fan driven by the secondary turbine;
- the lift fan power turbine being located remotely from the primary turbine and the primary combustor, the lift fan power turbine being in fluid communication with the compressor via a second passage;
- wherein the propulsor and the lift fan are not mechanically coupled;
- wherein a force generated by the lift fan is not parallel to a thrust generated by the propulsor;
- and
- wherein an exhaust outlet of the secondary turbine is located within a duct containing the lift fan upstream of the lift fan and configured such that an exhaust flow exiting the exhaust outlet acts as an ejector pump to supplement drawing air into an intake of the lift fan.
11 more elements
A method for localized power extraction from a working fluid, comprising
- compressing a working fluid at a primary compressor;
- dividing out from the compressed working fluid an auxiliary stream downstream of the primary compressor;
- injecting fuel into the compressed working fluid in a primary combustor and heating the working fluid via combustion of the fuel injected into the compressed working fluid;
- expanding the heated working fluid through a primary turbine and driving the primary compressor from work extracted from the expanded working fluid;
- routing the auxiliary stream to an auxiliary combustion chamber remote from a core stream;
- injecting fuel into the auxiliary stream in the auxiliary combustion chamber and heating the auxiliary stream via combustion of the fuel injected into the auxiliary stream;
- and,
- expanding the heated auxiliary stream through an auxiliary turbine and driving a lift fan from work extracted from the expanded auxiliary stream, wherein an exhaust outlet of the auxiliary turbine is located within a duct containing the lift fan upstream of the lift fan and configured such that an exhaust flow exiting the exhaust outlet acts as an ejector pump to supplement drawing air into an intake of the lift fan.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.