Back to results
US 12,460,583 B2Granted
Integrated electro-aero-thermal turbine engine
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsDaniel Bernard Kupratis, Zubair Ahmed Baig, Gary Collopy, Coy Bruce Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine engine includes integrated electric machines in the compressor section and the turbine section to supplement power produced from fuel with electric power. The example compressor section includes a compressor electric motor that is coupled to a compressor generator. The example turbine section includes a turbine electric motor that is coupled to the geared architecture to supplement power driving the fan section. A turbine generator provides electric power to the turbine electric motor.
Claims20
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan section containing a fan rotatable about an engine longitudinal axis and a low pressure compressor section;
- a fan drive system configured to drive the fan, the fan drive system including a turbine section, a turbine generator electrically coupled to a turbine motor and a geared architecture, wherein the turbine section and the turbine motor are coupled to the geared architecture;
- a low pressure section forward of the turbine section and coupled to rotate with the fan;
- a high pressure turbine coupled to drive a compressor generator;
- a high pressure compressor section including a first compressor section and a second compressor section, the first compressor section driven by the high pressure turbine and the second compressor section driven by a compressor motor electrically coupled to the compressor generator;
- a combustor in flow communication with high pressure compressor;
- and
- an electrical system including a battery, the electrical system electrically coupled to each of the turbine motor and the compressor motor to supplement and or reapportion power provided by a corresponding one or both of the turbine generator and the compressor generator.
5 more elements
A method of operating a turbine engine comprising:
- coupling a low pressure compressor to a fan section;
- coupling a high pressure turbine to a compressor generator;
- coupling a first compressor section to the high pressure turbine and coupling a second compressor section to a compressor motor electrically coupled to the compressor generator;
- coupling a fan to a fan drive system, the fan drive system including a turbine section, a turbine generator electrically coupled to a turbine motor and a geared architecture, wherein the turbine section and the turbine motor are coupled to drive portions of the geared architecture;
- supplementing power transferred through the geared architecture with the turbine motor;
- electrically coupling a battery system to each of the turbine motor and the compressor motor to supplement electric power provided by a corresponding one of the turbine generator and the compressor generator;
- generating a high pressure airflow from the low pressure compressor as a total input airflow to the first compressor section and the second compressor section;
- generating a first output airflow from the first compressor section separate from a second output airflow generated by the second compressor section;
- and
- generating a total output airflow that comprises the first output airflow from the first compressor section and the second output airflow from the second compressor section, and communicating the total output airflow to a combustor section.
7 more elements
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan rotatable about an engine longitudinal axis;
- a fan drive system comprising a geared architecture configured to drive the fan;
- a turbine section comprising a high pressure turbine, an intermediate pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a turbine generator, and a turbine motor electrically coupled to the turbine generator, wherein the low pressure turbine and the turbine motor are configured to drive separate portions of the geared architecture and the intermediate turbine is configured to drive the turbine generator and a portion of the fan section;
- a low pressure compressor section forward of the turbine section and coupled to rotate with the fan section;
- a compressor generator driven by the high pressure turbine;
- a compressor section comprising a first compressor section and a second compressor section, the first compressor section driven by the high pressure turbine and the second compressor section driven by a compressor motor electrically coupled to the compressor generator, wherein the first compressor section and the second compressor section generate a total output airflow communicated to a combustor section, wherein the total output airflow comprises a first output airflow from the first compressor section and a second output airflow from the second compressor section and the first output airflow and the second output airflow are equal at the combustor section;
- a combustor in flow communication with high pressure compressor;
- a propulsion battery;
- and
- at least one drive control configured to control operation of the turbine motor, turbine generator, compressor motor and compressor generator, the at least one drive control is configured to supplement and reapportion electric power from the propulsion battery, the turbine generator, and the compressor generator to at least one of the turbine motor and the compressor motor.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.