Systems and methods for providing AC power from multiple turbine engine spools
First Claim
1. An aircraft system, comprising:
- a turbofan engine that includes;
a compressor;
a first turbine;
a high pressure shaft connected between the compressor and the first turbine;
a fan;
a second turbine; and
a low pressure shaft connected between the fan and the second turbine, the low pressure shaft being disposed annularly around the high pressure shaft;
a synchronous starter/generator;
a first constant speed drive connected between the high pressure shaft and the starter/generator, the first constant speed drive being positioned to receive a first mechanical input rotating at a first variable rate, and provide a first mechanical output rotating at a first generally constant rate;
a synchronous generator;
a second constant speed drive connected between the low pressure shaft and the generator, the second constant speed drive being positioned to receive a second mechanical input rotating at a second variable rate, and provide a second mechanical output rotating at a second generally constant rate that is generally the same as the first constant rate;
a common bus electrically connected between the starter/generator and the generator, the bus being positioned to receive electrical power from the starter/generator that is in phase with and at the same frequency as power received from the generator; and
a controller operatively coupled to the starter/generator and the generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing AC power from multiple turbine engine spools are disclosed. A system in a particular embodiment includes a turbofan engine having a compressor, a first turbine and a first shaft connected between the compressor and the first turbine, and a fan, a second turbine and a second shaft connected between the fan and the second turbine. The system can further include a state power bus and a first energy converter coupled between the first shaft and the power bus, with the first energy converter including a starter/generator, and being positioned to convert a first variable frequency energy transmitted by the first shaft to a first generally constant frequency energy. A second energy converter can be coupled between the second shaft and the power bus, with the second energy converter including a generator and being positioned to convert a second variable frequency energy transmitted by the second shaft to a second generally constant frequency energy, with the second generally constant frequency energy in phase with and at generally the same frequency as the first generally constant frequency energy. A controller can be operatively coupled to the starter/generator and the generator, e.g., to control the functions of these devices.
55 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An aircraft system, comprising:
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a turbofan engine that includes; a compressor; a first turbine; a high pressure shaft connected between the compressor and the first turbine; a fan; a second turbine; and a low pressure shaft connected between the fan and the second turbine, the low pressure shaft being disposed annularly around the high pressure shaft; a synchronous starter/generator; a first constant speed drive connected between the high pressure shaft and the starter/generator, the first constant speed drive being positioned to receive a first mechanical input rotating at a first variable rate, and provide a first mechanical output rotating at a first generally constant rate; a synchronous generator; a second constant speed drive connected between the low pressure shaft and the generator, the second constant speed drive being positioned to receive a second mechanical input rotating at a second variable rate, and provide a second mechanical output rotating at a second generally constant rate that is generally the same as the first constant rate; a common bus electrically connected between the starter/generator and the generator, the bus being positioned to receive electrical power from the starter/generator that is in phase with and at the same frequency as power received from the generator; and a controller operatively coupled to the starter/generator and the generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An aircraft system, comprising:
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a turbofan engine that includes; a compressor, a first turbine, and a first shaft connected between the compressor and the first turbine; and a fan, a second turbine, and a second shaft connected between the fan and the second turbine; a power bus; a first energy converter coupled between the first shaft and the power bus, the first energy converter including a starter/generator and being positioned to convert a first variable frequency energy transmitted by the first shaft to a first generally constant frequency energy; a second energy converter coupled between the second shaft and the power bus, the second energy converter including a generator and being positioned to convert a second variable frequency energy transmitted by the second shaft to a second generally constant frequency energy, with the second generally constant frequency energy in phase with and at generally the same frequency as the first generally constant frequency energy; and a controller operatively coupled to the starter/generator and the generator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating an aircraft system, comprising:
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starting a turbofan engine by driving a first shaft with a starter/generator, the first shaft being connected between a compressor and a first turbine of the engine; extracting a first portion of the energy from the first shaft with the starter/generator; extracting a second portion of energy from a second shaft connected between a fan and a second turbine of the engine; converting the first portion of energy from a first variable frequency to a first fixed frequency; converting the second portion of energy from a second variable frequency to a second fixed frequency generally identical to the first fixed frequency; and distributing the first and second portions of energy to aircraft components via a common electrical bus. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification