Ram air turbine system
AssigneeAlliedSignal Inc.
InventorsRoger P. Murry, Eric L. Poulson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ram air turbine includes a reaction turbine and an electrical generator that is driven by shaft power of the reaction turbine. A scoop directs a flow of ram air to an inlet of the reaction turbine and creates a pressure head for the reaction turbine. The reaction turbine and the scoop are contained entirely within a pod. The ram air turbine further includes a turbocompressor, including a turbine stage and a compressor stage, which provides a stream of cooled air to equipment inside the pod. The turbocompressor also reacts loads shed by the electrical generator.
Claims19
A ram air turbine system comprising:
- a ram air turbine including a reaction turbine and a variable-speed electrical generator driven by shaft power of the reaction turbine;
- and
- a scoop for directing a flow of ram air to an inlet of the reaction turbine and for creating a pressure head for the reaction turbine.
A ram air turbine comprising:
- a shaft;
- a reaction turbine coupled to the shaft;
- an electrical generator coupled to the shaft, the electrical generator applying a first load to the shaft when electrical energy is extracted from the electrical generator;
- and
- a turbocompressor including a compressor stage coupled to the shaft, the compressor stage applying a second load to the shaft, the second load being a non-linear function of shaft speed, the compressor stage increasing the second load on the shaft when the first load is shed by the electrical generator, whereby the compressor stage reacts the first load shed by the electrical generator.
A method of generating electricity inside an aircraft pod, the pod containing an electrical generator and a reaction turbine, the method comprising the steps of:
- slowing a flow of ram air and recovering momentum of the ram air to create a pressure head for the reaction turbine;
- using the pressure head to drive the reaction turbine to produce shaft power;
- and
- using the shaft power to drive the electrical generator;
- extracting electrical power from the electrical generator, whereby a first load is applied to the shaft;
- and
- applying a second load to the shaft when the first load is removed from the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.