Gas turbine engine with controlled return of fuel to power accessories and retrofitting method
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorDavid Christopher Kiely
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retrofit gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor and a turbine. A tie shaft is connected to rotate by the turbine, and provide rotational drive into a gearbox. At least one fuel pump is connected to be driven by the gearbox. The at least one fuel pump delivers fuel downstream toward the combustor, and also has a return line. An added accessory turbine is positioned on the return line, and drives an added accessory which has been retrofit added to an existing gas turbine engine. A method is also disclosed.
Claims20
A retrofit gas turbine engine comprising:
- a compressor, a combustor and a turbine;
- a tie shaft connected to rotate by the turbine, and provide rotational drive into a gearbox, at least one fuel pump connected to be driven by the gearbox;
- the at least one fuel pump for delivering fuel downstream toward the combustor, and also having a return line;
- and
- an added accessory turbine positioned on the return line, and for driving an added accessory which has been retrofit added to an existing gas turbine engine.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a compressor, a combustor and a turbine;
- a tie-shaft connected to rotate by the turbine, and to provide drive into a gearbox, at least one fuel pump connected to be driven by the gearbox, the at least one fuel pump for delivering fuel downstream toward the combustor and also having a return line;
- a full authority digital electronic controller (“FADEC”) receiving electrical power from a first alternator;
- and
- an alternator turbine positioned on the return line and driving a second alternator which also supplies electric power to the FADEC.
A method of retrofitting an existing gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:
- 1) Determining a need for an additional accessory to be added to an existing gas turbine engine;
- 2) Modifying a fuel supply system for the existing gas turbine engine such that a return line downstream of a fuel pump in the fuel supply system returns fuel across an added accessory turbine to drive the additional accessory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.