Virtual multi-stream gas turbine engine
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorAlan H. Epstein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas turbine engine is provided that includes a core flow path to direct a core stream flow. A common flow path is outboard of the core flow path, where the common flow path directs both a second stream flow and a third stream flow. Another gas turbine engine is provided that includes an outer case structure around a central longitudinal engine axis. An intermediate case structure is inboard of the outer case structure, where the intermediate case structure and the outer case structure direct both a third stream flow and a second stream flow. An inner case structure is inboard of the intermediate case structure, where the inner case structure and the intermediate case structure direct a core stream flow.
Claims17
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a fan section;
- a core flow path to direct a core stream flow;
- a common flow path outboard of the core flow path, the common flow path to direct both a second stream flow and a third stream flow, the common flow path at least partially formed between an outer case structure and a case structure;
- and
- a vane array with a multiple of span adaptive stators operable to separately control the second stream flow and the third stream flow,
- wherein the fan section is immediately upstream of the case structure wherein the case structure separates the common flow path from the core flow path, and
- wherein the multiple of span adaptive stators are upstream of the common flow path.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a fan section;
- an outer case structure around a central longitudinal engine axis;
- an intermediate case structure inboard of the outer case structure, the intermediate case structure and the outer case structure to direct a second stream flow and a third stream flow, respectively;
- an inner case structure inboard of the intermediate case structure, the inner case structure and the intermediate case structure to direct a core stream flow;
- and
- a vane array with a multiple of span adaptive stators operable to separately control the second stream flow and the third stream flow,
- wherein the fan section is immediately upstream of the intermediate case structure,
- wherein the intermediate case structure separates the core stream flow from the second stream flow, and
- wherein the multiple of span adaptive stators are upstream of a common flow path at least partially formed between the outer case structure and the intermediate case structure, the common flow path to receive both the third stream flow and the second stream flow.
A method of operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- directing both a third stream flow and a second stream flow from a fan section into a common flow path that is radially outboard of a core flow path;
- and
- separately controlling the second stream flow and the third stream flow using a vane array with a multiple of span adaptive stators,
- wherein the fan section is immediately upstream of a case structure that separates the common flow path from the core flow path,
- wherein the multiple of span adaptive stators are upstream of the common flow path, and
- wherein the common flow path is at least partially formed between an outer case structure and the case structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.