Oil circulation system for hybrid electric engine
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsMichael Winter, Denman H. James, Richard W. Monahan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid electric propulsion system including: a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor; a lubrication circuit comprising a bearing compartment, a supply pump, and a scavenger pump; an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool or the high speed spool; and a controller operable to: control the electric motor based upon a pressure differential between an interior of the bearing compartment and an exterior of the bearing compartment and to drive rotation of the low speed spool and/or the high speed spool via the electric motor responsive to a thrust command while fuel flow to the combustor is inhibited.
Claims14
A hybrid electric propulsion system, comprising:
- a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor;
- a lubrication circuit comprising a bearing compartment, a supply pump, and a scavenger pump;
- an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool or the high speed spool;
- a supplemental motor operably coupled to the supply pump or the scavenger pump;
- and
- a controller that:
- controls the supplemental motor based upon a pressure differential between an interior of the bearing compartment and an exterior of the bearing compartment and an operational condition of the hybrid electric propulsion system.
A method for controlling an oil pressure in a bearing compartment of a lubrication circuit of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- providing power assist to a high speed spool and/or a low speed spool of the gas turbine engine via an electric motor operably coupled to the high speed spool and/or the low speed spool;
- maintaining a pressure in the bearing compartment or a scavenger line of the lubrication circuit of the gas turbine engine at a desired pressure, the gas turbine engine comprising the bearing compartment, a supply pump, and a scavenger pump operably coupled to the lubrication circuit and a supplemental motor operably coupled to the supply pump or the scavenger pump;
- and
- controlling the supplemental motor based upon a pressure differential between an interior of the bearing compartment and an exterior of the bearing compartment via a controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.