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US 8,286,432 B2Granted
Electric power generating turbine engine fuel supply system
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorBruce Anson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine engine fuel supply system includes a priority flow line, a plurality of secondary fuel loads, a fluid-powered metering pump, a mechanically-driven fuel pump, and an electric machine. The fluid-powered metering pump, upon receiving fuel at its fuel inlet, rotates at a rotational speed, discharges the fuel from its fuel outlet at a flow rate dependent on the rotational speed, and supplies a first drive torque. The mechanically-driven fuel pump receives a second drive torque and, in response, draws fuel into its fuel inlet and discharges the fuel from its outlet to the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet to drive the fluid-powered metering fuel pump. The electric machine receives the first drive torque from the fluid-powered metering pump and generates electrical power.
Claims20
A turbine engine fuel supply system, comprising:
- a priority flow line configured to supply fuel to one or more gas turbine engine fuel manifolds to define a primary fuel load;
- a plurality of secondary fuel loads;
- a fluid-powered metering pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the fluid-powered metering pump coupled to receive fuel at its fuel inlet and, upon receipt of the fuel at its fuel inlet, to (i) rotate at a rotational speed, (ii) discharge the fuel from its fuel outlet for supply to the priority flow line at a flow rate dependent on the rotational speed, and (iii) supply a first drive torque;
- a mechanically-driven fuel pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump adapted to receive a second drive torque and operable, upon receipt of the second drive torque, to draw fuel into its fuel inlet and discharge the fuel from its outlet to the plurality of secondary fuel loads and to the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet to drive the fluid-powered metering fuel pump;
- and
- an electric machine connected to receive the first drive torque from the fluid-powered metering pump and operable, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power.
3 more elements
A gas turbine engine system, comprising:
- a gas turbine engine including one or more fuel manifolds that define a primary fuel load, and a gearbox;
- a plurality of secondary fuel loads;
- a fluid-powered metering pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the fluid-powered metering pump coupled to receive fuel at its fuel inlet and, upon receipt of the fuel at its fuel inlet, to (i) rotate at a rotational speed, (ii) discharge the fuel from its fuel outlet for supply to the one or more fuel loads at a flow rate dependent on the rotational speed, and (iii) supply a first drive torque;
- a mechanically-driven fuel pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump adapted to receive a second drive torque and operable, upon receipt of the second drive torque, to draw fuel into its fuel inlet and discharge the fuel from its outlet to the plurality of secondary fuel loads and to the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet to drive the fluid-powered metering fuel pump;
- and
- an electric machine connected to receive the first drive torque from the fluid-powered metering pump and operable, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power.
3 more elements
A turbine engine fuel supply system, comprising:
- a priority flow line configured to supply fuel to one or more gas turbine engine fuel manifolds to define a primary fuel load;
- a plurality of secondary fuel loads;
- a fluid-powered metering pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the fluid-powered metering pump coupled to receive fuel at its fuel inlet and, upon receipt of the fuel at its fuel inlet, to (i) rotate at a rotational speed, (ii) discharge the fuel from its fuel outlet for supply to the priority flow line at a flow rate dependent on the rotational speed, and (iii) supply a first drive torque;
- a mechanically-driven fuel pump having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump fuel outlet in fluid communication with the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet, the mechanically-driven fuel pump adapted to receive a second drive torque and operable, upon receipt of the second drive torque, to draw fuel into its fuel inlet and discharge the fuel from its outlet to the plurality of secondary fuel loads and to the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet to drive the fluid-powered metering fuel pump;
- a differential pressure control valve in fluid communication with the fluid-powered metering pump fuel inlet and the fluid-powered metering pump fuel outlet, the differential pressure control valve operable to maintain a constant differential pressure across the fluid-powered metering pump;
- an electric machine connected to receive the first drive torque from the fluid-powered metering pump and operable, upon receipt thereof, to generate electrical power;
- an electrical load connected to selectively receive the electrical power generated by the electric machine;
- and
- a controller operable to selectively connect and vary the electrical load to thereby control the rotational speed and the flow rate of the fluid-powered metering pump.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.