# US 2014/0360205 A1 · Gas turbine engine and electrical system

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- Number: US 2014/0360205 A1
- Document ID: US20140360205A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/135,567
- Filed: 2013-12-19
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-13
- Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc; Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation; Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
- Inventors: Mat French; John T. Alt; Mark J. Blackwelder
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360205A1

## CPC

- F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
- B81B 7/02: containing distinct electrical or optical devices of particular relevance for their function, e.g. microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS] (B81B7/04 takes precedence)
- B81C 1/00158: {Diaphragms, membranes (manufacture process for semi-permeable inorganic membranes B01D67/0039)}
- B81C 1/00301: {Connecting electric signal lines from the MEMS device with external electrical signal lines, e.g. through vias}
- F02C 7/268: Starting drives for the rotor {, acting directly on the rotor of the gas turbine to be started}
- F02C 7/32: Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
- F02C 7/36: Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H)
- F02C 9/00: Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants (controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05)
- F02K 3/06: with front fan
- F02N 11/0862: {characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery}
- H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads}
- H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines}
- H02P 9/48: Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle (H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence)
- B81B 2201/0257: Microphones or microspeakers
- B81B 2201/0264: Pressure sensors
- F05B 2220/706: an electrical generator
- F05D 2220/76: an electrical generator
- F05D 2270/62: Electrical actuators
- H02J 1/102: being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence)
- H02J 1/16: using energy storage units, e.g. batteries or dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
- H02J 3/30: using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
- H02J 3/32: using batteries or super capacitors with converting means
- H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel
- H02J 2105/32: {for aircrafts}
- H02P 2101/25: for combustion engines
- H02P 2101/30: for aircraft
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- B81B: MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICAL DEVICES (piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/00, H10N35/00)
- B81C: PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS (making microcapsules or microballoons B01J13/02; processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive elements per se H10N30/01)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- F02K: JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (features of jet-propulsion plants common to gas-turbine plants, air intakes or fuel supply control of air-breathing jet-propulsion plants F02C7/00, F02C9/00)
- F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique machine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and electrical systems.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gas turbine engine, comprising:
a high pressure spool;
a low pressure spool; and
an electrical system configured to supply power in parallel to a first electrical bus and a second electrical bus, including:
a first controller configured to control operation of the gas turbine engine;
a second controller coupled to the first controller;
a first electrical machine in mechanical communication with the high pressure spool;
a second electrical machine in mechanical communication with the low pressure spool;
a first inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus under direction of the second controller;
a second inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine, the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the other of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;
an energy storage system configured to supply power to and absorb power from at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus; and
a converter controller coupled to the energy storage system, the second controller and the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, wherein the converter controller is configured to control the amount of electrical power supplied to the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus from the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller; and to control the amount of electrical power received from the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus and supplied to the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a third inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus in parallel with the second inverter/converter controller under the direction of the second controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a fourth inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine, and the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus in parallel with the first inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the first electrical machine is a starter/generator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads on the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the second controller, the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, the first inverter/converter controller and the second inverter/converter controller are configured for variable power sharing as between the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine when supplying electrical power to the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to regulate a voltage of the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to transfer power between the high pressure spool and the low pressure spool.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the energy storage system is configured to supply power to the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus during high thrust operations of the gas turbine engine.

### Claim 10

A machine, comprising:
a first rotor;
a second rotor; and
an electrical system configured to supply power in parallel to an electrical bus, including:
a first controller configured to control operation of the machine;
a second controller coupled to the first controller;
a first electrical machine in mechanical communication with the first rotor;
a second electrical machine in mechanical communication with the second rotor;
a first inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;
a second inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;
an energy storage system configured to supply power to and absorb power from the electrical bus; and
a converter controller coupled to the energy storage system, the second controller and the electrical bus, wherein the converter controller is configured to control the amount of electrical power supplied to the electrical bus from the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller; and configured to control the amount of electrical power received from the electrical bus and supplied to the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, further comprising a third inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus in parallel with the first inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, further comprising a fourth inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus in parallel with the second inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the first electrical machine is a starter/generator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads on the electrical bus.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the second controller, the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, the first inverter/converter controller and the second inverter/converter controller are configured for variable power sharing as between the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine when supplying electrical power to the electrical bus.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the electrical system is configured to regulate a voltage of the electrical bus.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the electrical system is configured to transfer power between the first rotor and the second rotor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The machine of claim 10, wherein the energy storage system is configured to supply power to the electrical bus during high output operations of the machine.

### Claim 19

A gas turbine engine, comprising:
a high pressure spool;
a low pressure spool; and
means for supplying power to an electrical bus.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The gas turbine engine of claim 19, wherein the means for supplying power includes a first electrical machine coupled to the high pressure spool for supplying power to the electrical bus; a second electrical machine coupled to the low pressure spool for supplying power to the electrical bus; and an energy storage system coupled to the electrical bus;
wherein the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine and the energy storage system are configured to supply power simultaneously to the electrical bus;
wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads from the electrical bus; and
wherein the energy storage system is configured to be charged by the electrical bus.