System and method for driving a pump
AssigneeSolar Turbines Incorporated
InventorKevin D. ANDERSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for driving a pump includes a gas turbine engine having an output shaft, and a torque converter including an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the gas turbine engine and an output shaft configured to be coupled to an input shaft of a pump. The system further includes a controller coupled to the torque converter, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a pressure at at least one of a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and control a speed of the output shaft of the torque converter based on the signal indicative of pressure.
Claims20
A system for driving a pump configured to receive fluid at a pump inlet and discharge the fluid at a pump outlet, the system comprising:
- a gas turbine engine having an output shaft;
- a torque converter including an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the gas turbine engine, and an output shaft configured to be coupled to an input shaft of a pump;
- and
- a controller coupled to the torque converter,
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a signal indicative of a pressure at at least one of the pump inlet and the pump outlet, and
- control a speed of the output shaft of the torque converter based on the signal indicative of pressure.
A system for pumping fluid, the system comprising:
- a gas turbine engine having an output shaft;
- a pump configured to pump fluid, the pump including an inlet, an outlet, and an input shaft;
- a torque converter including an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the gas turbine engine and an output shaft coupled to the input shaft of the pump;
- and
- a controller coupled to the torque converter,
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a signal indicative of a pressure at at least one of the pump inlet and the pump outlet, and
- control a speed of the output shaft of the torque converter based on the signal indicative of pressure.
A method for controlling output of a pump coupled to a gas turbine engine via a torque converter, the method comprising:
- operating the gas turbine engine at a relatively constant speed;
- and
- controlling a speed of an output shaft of the torque converter based on a signal indicative of pressure at at least one of an inlet of the pump and an outlet of the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.