Gas turbine engine system
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsTimothy REDFORD, David MENHEERE
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine system includes, in serial flow communication, an engine compressor configured to compress air, a combustor in which the compressed air is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a stream of combustion gases, and a turbine configured to extract energy from the combustion gases. An electric generator is configured to be driven by the turbine and generate electric energy during use. An electric motor is configured to be driven by electric energy generated by the electric generator. The electric motor is configured in use to drive the engine compressor.
Claims20
A gas turbine engine system, comprising:
- an engine compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in serial flow communication;
- an electric generator configured to be driven by the turbine;
- and
- an electric motor configured to be driven by electric energy generated by the electric generator, the electric motor configured in use to drive the engine compressor.
A method of operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- using an engine compressor to compress air;
- generating a stream of combustion gases by igniting the compressed air mixed with fuel;
- extracting energy from the combustion gases with a turbine;
- driving an electric generator with the turbine to generate electric energy;
- and
- driving the engine compressor using an electric motor driven by the electric energy generated by the electric generator.
An auxiliary power unit comprising:
- an engine compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in serial flow communication;
- a differential gear train having an input shaft drivingly coupled to the turbine, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, the differential gear train configured to apportion an input torque from the turbine between a first output torque applied to the first output shaft and a second output torque applied to the engine compressor via the second output shaft;
- an electric generator drivingly coupled to the first output shaft of the differential;
- and
- an electric motor configured to be driven by electric energy generated by the electric generator, the electric motor configured in use to drive the compressor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.