HIGH-SPEED HIGH-POLE COUNT GENERATORS
First Claim
1. A system for generating supplemental electrical power from the low-pressure (LP) turbine spool of a turbofan engine, the system comprising:
- a generator portion for generating electrical power, a gearbox for driving the generator portion, a controller portion for controlling an output of the generator; and
a power converter for converting generator power to power a load;
the LP turbine spool being mechanically coupled to the generator portion by the gearbox for driving the generator portion; and
the controller portion in electrical communication with a speed sensing element for sensing a speed of the LP turbine spool;
wherein during operation of the engine, the controller portion is configured to disable the power converter in response to the speed of the generator portion exceeding a predetermined speed, and to enable the power converter when the speed of the generator portion does not exceed the predetermined speed, such that the effective load on the generator portion is reduced to approximately zero when the LP turbine spool exceeds the predetermined speed.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for generating supplemental electrical power from the low-pressure (LP) turbine spool of a turbofan engine includes a high-speed, high magnetic pole count, generator, a gearbox, a controller and a power converter. The LP turbine spool is mechanically coupled to the generator portion by the gearbox for driving the generator portion. The controller portion has a speed-sensing element for sensing the LP turbine speed. The controller portion disables the power converter when the generator exceeds a predetermined speed, and enables the power converter when the generator portion is less or equal to the predetermined speed. The effective load on the generator is reduced to approximately zero when the LP turbine spool exceeds the predetermined speed, permitting the generator to be electrically bound up to the predetermined speed and mechanically bound in excess of the predetermined speed.
57 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for generating supplemental electrical power from the low-pressure (LP) turbine spool of a turbofan engine, the system comprising:
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a generator portion for generating electrical power, a gearbox for driving the generator portion, a controller portion for controlling an output of the generator; and
a power converter for converting generator power to power a load;the LP turbine spool being mechanically coupled to the generator portion by the gearbox for driving the generator portion; and the controller portion in electrical communication with a speed sensing element for sensing a speed of the LP turbine spool; wherein during operation of the engine, the controller portion is configured to disable the power converter in response to the speed of the generator portion exceeding a predetermined speed, and to enable the power converter when the speed of the generator portion does not exceed the predetermined speed, such that the effective load on the generator portion is reduced to approximately zero when the LP turbine spool exceeds the predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for generating supplemental electrical power from the low-pressure (LP) turbine spool of a turbofan engine, the system comprising:
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a generator portion for generating electrical power having a stator back iron portion and a rotor back iron portion, the stator back iron portion and the rotor back iron portion having significantly reduced thickness relative to low magnetic pole count generators; a gearbox for driving the generator portion, a controller portion for controlling an output of the generator; a power converter for converting generator power to power a load; the LP turbine spool being mechanically coupled to the generator portion by the gearbox for driving the generator portion; the controller portion in electrical communication with a speed sensing element for sensing a speed of the LP turbine spool; and wherein during operation of the engine, the controller portion is configured to disable the power converter in response to the speed of the generator portion exceeding a predetermined speed, and to enable the power converter when the speed of the generator portion does not exceed the predetermined speed, such that the effective load on the generator portion is reduced to approximately zero when the LP turbine spool exceeds the predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification