Aircraft powerplant(s) for an aircraft with electric machine controlled propulsor speed
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorDaniel Alecu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft system includes a propulsor, a powerplant and a control system. The powerplant is configured to output mechanical power to drive rotation of the propulsor. The powerplant includes a heat engine and an electric machine. The heat engine is configured to provide a first portion of the mechanical power. The electric machine is configured to provide a second portion of the mechanical power. The control system is configured to operate the powerplant to control a rotational speed of the propulsor by adjusting the second portion of the mechanical power.
Claims14
A system for an aircraft, comprising:
- a propulsor;
- a powerplant configured to output mechanical power to drive rotation of the propulsor, the powerplant comprising a heat engine and an electric machine, the heat engine configured to provide a first portion of the mechanical power, and the electric machine configured to provide a second portion of the mechanical power;
- and
- a control system configured to operate the powerplant to control a rotational speed of the propulsor by adjusting the second portion of the mechanical power,
- wherein
- the propulsor comprises a plurality of variable pitch propulsor blades;
- the rotational speed of the propulsor is controlled by the control system independent of adjustments to a pitch of the plurality of variable pitch propulsor blades;
- the pitch of the plurality of variable pitch propulsor blades is adjusted independent of the rotational speed of the propulsor;
- and
- the pitch of the plurality of variable pitch propulsor blades is adjusted based on:
- an indicated airspeed of the aircraft;
- a true airspeed of the aircraft;
- a Mach number of the aircraft;
- a thrust request;
- and
- a phase of aircraft flight.
A method for operating an aircraft system, comprising
- rotating a propulsor to generate thrust, the propulsor rotated using mechanical power provided concurrently from a heat engine and an electric machine;
- operating the electric machine to control a rotational speed of the propulsor;
- and
- controlling a pitch of a plurality of blades independent of the rotational speed of the propulsor, the propulsor comprising the plurality of blades,
- wherein the rotational speed of the propulsor is controlled by the electric machine independent of adjustments to the pitch of the plurality of blades, and
- wherein the pitch of the plurality of blades is controlled and adjusted based on:
- an indicated airspeed of the aircraft system;
- a true airspeed of the aircraft system;
- a Mach number of the aircraft system;
- a thrust request;
- and
- a phase of aircraft flight.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.