Turbine blow down starter for turbine engine
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorGary D. Roberge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In order to start a turbine engine (10), high-pressure fluid is directed onto a turbine (34a) to cause rotation of the turbine and thereby start the turbine engine. In a disclosed embodiment, the high-pressure fluid is provided through a fluid outlet (120) in a vane (36a) positioned adjacent the turbine (34a). The high-pressure fluid is provided by an air source, which may be another turbine engine, especially where the turbine engine to be started is a tip turbine engine that is not the primary propulsion source.
Claims29
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan having a plurality of radially extending fan blades, wherein at least one of the plurality of fan blades defines a compressor chamber extending radially therein, wherein rotation of the at least one fan blade provides centrifugal compression of core airflow;
- a turbine blade operatively coupled to the fan for rotatably driving the fan;
- a combustor for generating a high-energy gas stream to the turbine blade after the turbine engine is started, the centrifugally compressed core airflow being supplied to the combustor;
- and
- a fluid outlet supplying high-pressure fluid onto the turbine blade to cause rotation of the turbine blade to start the turbine engine before the combustor generates a high-energy gas stream, wherein the high-pressure fluid from the fluid outlet is distinct from the core airflow.
A turbine engine comprising:
- a fan having a plurality of radially extending fan blades, at least one of the plurality of fan blades defining a compressor chamber extending radially therein and rotation of the at least one fan blade provides centrifugal compression of core airflow;
- a turbine for rotatably driving the fan, the turbine coupled to an outer periphery of the fan blades;
- and
- a fluid outlet for supplying high-pressure fluid to the turbine to cause rotation of the turbine to start the turbine engine, wherein the high-pressure fluid from the fluid outlet does not pass through the compressor chamber defined by the at least one of the plurality of fan blades.
A method for starting a turbine engine including the steps of:
- directing high-pressure fluid onto a turbine blade radially outward of a fan of the turbine engine, the fan having a plurality of radially extending fan blades, at least one of the plurality of fan blades defining a compressor chamber extending radially therein, wherein the high-pressure fluid does not pass through the compressor chamber defined in the at least one of the plurality of fan blades;
- causing rotation of the turbine blade and the fan with the high-pressure fluid, rotation of the at least one fan blade providing centrifugal compression of core airflow;
- and
- starting the turbine engine based upon the rotation of the turbine blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.