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US 7,513,120 B2Granted
Electrically coupled supercharger for a gas turbine engine
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorDaniel B. Kupratis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine, in particular a turboshaft engine, includes a spool having a turbine and a gas generator compressor mounted thereto, a source of heat positioned between the turbine and the compressor, a first shaft and a free turbine mounted to the first shaft, and a control system for transferring power between the spool and the shaft. The operating speed of the gas generator compressor is re-matched in order to improve the efficiency and surge margin of the gas generator compressor and to improve the transient performance of the gas turbine engine.
Claims38
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas generator spool having a compressor and a first turbine mounted thereto;
- a power output shaft and a second turbine mounted to said power output shaft;
- said spool and said power output shaft being independently rotatable and rotating at different speeds;
- and
- electrical means for modifying the speed of said spool to achieve a balance between power absorbed by the compressor and power available from the first turbine, said electrical means including a first electrical machine having functionality as one of a motor and a generator mounted to the spool.
2 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas generator spool having a compressor and a first turbine mounted thereto;
- a power output shaft and a second turbine mounted to said power output shaft;
- said spool and said power output shaft being independently rotatable and rotating at different speeds;
- electrical means for modifying the speed of said spool to achieve a balance between power absorbed by the compressor and power available from the first turbine,
- wherein the electrical means comprises a first electrical machine mounted to the spool and a second electrical machine mounted to the power output shaft, and
- wherein said first electrical machine operates as a generator and said second electrical machine operates as a motor.
3 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas generator spool having a compressor and a first turbine mounted thereto;
- a power output shaft and a second turbine mounted to said power output shaft;
- said spool and said power output shaft being independently rotatable and rotating at different speeds;
- electrical means for modifying the speed of said spool to achieve a balance between power absorbed by the compressor and power available from the first turbine,
- wherein the electrical means comprises a first electrical machine mounted to the spool and a second electrical machine mounted to the power output shaft, and
- wherein said first electrical machine operates as a motor and said second electrical machine operates as a generator.
3 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas generator spool having a compressor and a first turbine mounted thereto;
- a power output shaft and a second turbine mounted to said power output shaft;
- said spool and said power output shaft being independently rotatable and rotating at different speeds;
- electrical means for modifying the speed of said spool to achieve a balance between power absorbed by the compressor and power available from the first turbine,
- wherein the electrical means comprises a first electrical machine mounted to the spool and a second electrical machine mounted to the power output shaft,
- power electronic means for transferring electrical power between said first electrical machine and said second electrical machine to achieve re-matching of said compressor to higher speed and flow rate to increase a surge margin of the compressor;
- and
- a control system for controlling operation of the first and second electrical machines and a FADEC connected to said control system.
5 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas generator spool having a compressor and a first turbine mounted thereto;
- a power output shaft and a second turbine mounted to said power output shaft;
- said spool and said power output shaft being independently rotatable and rotating at different speeds;
- electrical means for modifying the speed of said spool to achieve a balance between power absorbed by the compressor and power available from the first turbine;
- and
- a free compressor for supercharging said compressor on said spool.
3 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a spool having a turbine and a compressor mounted thereto;
- a first shaft and a free turbine mounted to said first shaft;
- and
- means for transferring power between said spool and said first shaft:
- and
- said power transferring means comprising a first electrical machine attached to said spool, a second electrical machine attached to said first shaft, and means for transmitting electrical power between said first electrical machine and said second electrical machine.
3 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a spool having a turbine and a compressor mounted thereto;
- a first shaft and a free turbine mounted to said first shaft;
- means for transferring power between said spool and said first shaft;
- and
- a free compressor connected to a second shaft.
2 more elements
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a spool having a turbine and a compressor mounted thereto;
- a first shaft and a free turbine mounted to said first shaft;
- means for transferring power between said spool and said first shaft;
- and
- said first shaft comprising a power output shaft for driving a load,
- wherein said load comprises a helicopter rotor.
3 more elements
The A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a spool having a turbine and a compressor mounted thereto;
- a first shaft and a free turbine mounted to said first shaft;
- means for transferring power between said spool and said first shaft;
- and
- a free compressor connected to a second shaft,
- wherein each of said compressors is a variable geometry compressor and further comprising means for controlling the geometry of each of said compressors and for controlling said power transferring means.
3 more elements
A turboshaft engine for use in an aircraft comprising:
- a power output shaft and a power turbine attached to said power output shaft;
- a spool surrounding a portion of said power output shaft;
- a gas generator compressor and a turbine attached to said spool;
- and
- a free compressor attached to a driven shaft.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.