GAS TURBINE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• US 20140360205A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc), Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc. (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: French, Mat, Blackwelder, Mark J., Alt, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,601,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/786
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0257 Microphones or microspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0264 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/02 containing distinct electrical or optical devices of particular relevance for their function, e.g. microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS] B81B7/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00158 Diaphragms, membranes manufacture process for semi-permeable inorganic membranes B01D67/0039
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00301 Connecting electric signal lines from the MEMS device with external electrical signal lines, e.g. through vias
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/268 Starting drives for the rotor , acting directly on the rotor of the gas turbine to be started
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/32 Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/36 Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 3/06 with front fan
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/76 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/62 Electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/16 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/30 using dynamo-electric machines coupled to flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/32 using batteries with converting means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 : Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 : for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 : structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/25 : for combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 : for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 : Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence

Abstract

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique machine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and electrical systems.

Claims

1. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a high pressure spool;

a low pressure spool; and

an electrical system configured to supply power in parallel to a first electrical bus and a second electrical bus, including;

a first controller configured to control operation of the gas turbine engine;

a second controller coupled to the first controller;

a first electrical machine in mechanical communication with the high pressure spool;

a second electrical machine in mechanical communication with the low pressure spool;

a first inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus under direction of the second controller;

a second inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine, the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the other of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;

an energy storage system configured to supply power to and absorb power from at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus; and

a converter controller coupled to the energy storage system, the second controller and the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, wherein the converter controller is configured to control the amount of electrical power supplied to the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus from the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller; and

to control the amount of electrical power received from the at least one of the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus and supplied to the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller.

2. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a third inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the other of first electrical bus and the second electrical bus in parallel with the second inverter/converter controller under the direction of the second controller.

3. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, further comprising a fourth inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine, and the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the one the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus in parallel with the first inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

4. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the first electrical machine is a starter/generator.

5. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads on the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

6. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the second controller, the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, the first inverter/converter controller and the second inverter/converter controller are configured for variable power sharing as between the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine when supplying electrical power to the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

7. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to regulate a voltage of the first electrical bus and/or the second electrical bus.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the electrical system is configured to transfer power between the high pressure spool and the low pressure spool.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 1, wherein the energy storage system is configured to supply power to the first electrical bus and the second electrical bus during high thrust operations of the gas turbine engine.

10. A machine, comprising:

a first rotor;

a second rotor; and

an electrical system configured to supply power in parallel to an electrical bus, including;

a first controller configured to control operation of the machine;

a second controller coupled to the first controller;

a first electrical machine in mechanical communication with the first rotor;

a second electrical machine in mechanical communication with the second rotor;

a first inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;

a second inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus under the direction of the second controller;

an energy storage system configured to supply power to and absorb power from the electrical bus; and

a converter controller coupled to the energy storage system, the second controller and the electrical bus, wherein the converter controller is configured to control the amount of electrical power supplied to the electrical bus from the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller; and

configured to control the amount of electrical power received from the electrical bus and supplied to the energy storage system under the direction of the second controller.

11. The machine of claim 10, further comprising a third inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the first electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus in parallel with the first inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

12. The machine of claim 10, further comprising a fourth inverter/converter controller coupled to the second controller, the second electrical machine and the electrical bus, and configured to provide electrical power to the electrical bus in parallel with the second inverter/converter controller under direction of the second controller.

13. The machine of claim 10, wherein the first electrical machine is a starter/generator.

14. The machine of claim 10, wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads on the electrical bus.

15. The machine of claim 10, wherein the second controller, the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine, the first inverter/converter controller and the second inverter/converter controller are configured for variable power sharing as between the first electrical machine and the second electrical machine when supplying electrical power to the electrical bus.

16. The machine of claim 10, wherein the electrical system is configured to regulate a voltage of the electrical bus.

17. The machine of claim 10, wherein the electrical system is configured to transfer power between the first rotor and the second rotor.

18. The machine of claim 10, wherein the energy storage system is configured to supply power to the electrical bus during high output operations of the machine.

19. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a high pressure spool;

a low pressure spool; and

means for supplying power to an electrical bus.

20. The gas turbine engine of claim 19, wherein the means for supplying power includes a first electrical machine coupled to the high pressure spool for supplying power to the electrical bus;

a second electrical machine coupled to the low pressure spool for supplying power to the electrical bus; and

an energy storage system coupled to the electrical bus;

wherein the first electrical machine, the second electrical machine and the energy storage system are configured to supply power simultaneously to the electrical bus;

wherein the energy storage system is configured to absorb transient loads from the electrical bus; and

wherein the energy storage system is configured to be charged by the electrical bus.