Back to results
US 8,820,046 B2Granted
Methods and systems for mitigating distortion of gas turbine shaft
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsSteven A. Ross, Thomas E. Agin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for mitigating distortion of a shaft of a gas turbine engine are provided. One method comprises at least one step of applying intermittent rotary power to a shaft of a gas turbine engine. The step of applying intermittent power to the shaft is performed during a period where conditions of temperature differential in the engine exist capable of distorting the shaft. The methods and systems shorten the time needed to start a gas turbine engine in such a way that bowing of a shaft is not a significant problem.
Claims8
A system for operating a gas turbine engine:
- (a) at least one sensor configured to determine at least one engine operating parameter;
- (b) auxiliary rotary power supply unit;
- (c) a controller coupled to the at least one sensor and to the auxiliary rotary power supply unit,
- wherein the controller is configured to apply at least one pulse signal to the auxiliary rotary power supply unit for applying intermittent rotary power to a shaft of a gas turbine engine when the at least one engine operating parameter is within a preselected value,
- wherein the applying intermittent rotary power includes pulsing rotary power to the shaft sufficient to cause rotation of the shaft, and
- the pulsing includes applying pulses of rotary power wherein each pulse causes one or more rotations of the shaft.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.