METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING ELECTRICAL POWER FROM A GAS TURBINE ENGINE

• US 20130062885A1
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Taneja, Dinesh Nath
• Application Number:
  US13/227,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20130062885A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/762 of the direct current (D.C.) type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/764 of the alternating current (A.C.) type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting

Abstract

A method and apparatus for powering an aircraft by extracting power from both the high pressure and low pressure spools of a gas turbine engine. DC power can be generated using the high pressure spool and AC power can be generated using the low pressure spool.

Claims

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:

a high pressure (HP) spool;

a low pressure (LP) spool;

an AC generator;

an LP drive assembly having an input mechanically coupled to the LP spool and an output mechanically coupled to the AC generator;

a DC generator; and

an HP drive assembly having an input mechanically coupled to the HP spool and an output mechanically coupled to the DC generator.

2. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the AC generator includes a first winding for AC output and a second winding for DC output.

3. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 wherein the DC output of the AC generator is paralleled with an output of the DC generator.

4. The gas turbine engine of claim 2 wherein the second winding comprises a phase controlled rectifier bridge.

5. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the LP drive assembly comprises a constant speed mechanical drive.

6. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the HP drive assembly comprises an accessory gearbox.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 1 wherein the DC generator comprises a starter-generator configured to turn the HP spool during an engine start process.

8. A method for powering an aircraft system comprising:

extracting AC power from a low pressure (LP) spool of a gas turbine engine;

extracting DC power from a high pressure (HP) spool of the gas turbine engine;

supplying the AC power extracted by the AC generator to a load; and

supplying the DC power extracted by the DC generator to a load.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein extracting AC power comprises driving an AC generator with mechanical power supplied by the LP spool.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein driving the AC generator comprises operating a constant speed mechanical drive coupled between the LP spool and the AC generator.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein supplying the AC power extracted by the AC generator comprises supplying constant frequency AC power.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein extracting DC power comprises driving a DC generator with mechanical power supplied by the HP spool.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein driving the DC generator comprises operating an accessory gearbox coupled between the HP spool and the DC generator.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein extracting DC power comprises driving a DC generator with mechanical power supplied by the HP spool.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the DC generator comprises a starter-generator, and further comprising starting the gas turbine engine by driving the HP spool with the starter-generator.

16. The method of claim 8, and further comprising extracting DC power from the LP spool of the gas turbine engine.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprises paralleling the DC power extracted from the LP spool with the DC power extracted from the HP spool.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein extracting DC power comprises driving an AC generator with mechanical power supplied by the LP spool.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein extracting DC power further comprises converting a portion of the AC power extracted from the LP spool into DC power.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein converting a portion of the AC power extracted from the LP spool into DC power comprises rectifying a portion of the AC power