Forward-swept impellers and gas turbine engines employing the same

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a shaft having a rotational axis;
• and
• an impeller mounted to the shaft, the impeller comprising:
• an inboard impeller section having a first center of gravity (CG);
• and
• an outboard impeller section circumscribing the inboard impeller section and having a second CG, the outboard impeller section tilted in a forward direction proximate an outer diameter of the forward-swept impeller such that the second CG is offset from the first CG in a forward direction by a predetermined amount AXOFF reducing deformation of the forward-swept impeller during operation of the gas turbine engine.

A forward-swept impeller, comprising:

• an inboard impeller section;
• an outboard impeller section circumscribing the inboard impeller section;
• and
• a plurality of hub flow paths extending from the inboard impeller section to the outboard impeller section and each having a flow path exit that is tilted in a forward direction, as taken along a line tangent to the flow path exit.