Integrated boost cavity ring generator for turbofan and turboshaft engines

• US 8,198,744 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kern, John M., Qu, Ronghai, Young, Craig Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/614,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,000 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 290/52, 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/2, 290/3, 290/32, 290/30.R, 60/395.3
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/76 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/7642 of the synchronous type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/766 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/768 equipped with permanent magnets

Abstract

An electrical generator for extraction of electrical power from a gas turbine engine includes a rotor portion and a stator portion disposed within a booster cavity of the gas turbine engine. The rotor portion is rotatably supported about the stator portion. The stator portion rigidly is supported within the booster cavity. The rotor portion has a plurality of poles circumferentially arranged opposite the stator portion. The stator portion includes a plurality of coil portions disposed about an outer periphery of the stator portion adjacent to the stator portion. The stator and rotor portions are configured to generate electrical power when the rotor portion is rotated about the stator portion by a shaft of the gas turbine engine to induce electrical currents in the coil portions. The electrical generator extracts electric power from the turbine engine to supplement primary electrical generation sources of the engine.

Claims

1. An electrical generator for extraction of electrical power from a gas turbine engine comprising:

a rotor portion and a stator portion disposed within a booster cavity of the gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine comprising a first shaft driving a low pressure turbine and a second shaft driving a high pressure turbine, the first and second shafts independently rotatable,

the rotor portion rotatably positioned on an outer perimeter of the stator portion and supported about the stator portion, and the stator portion rigidly supported within the booster cavity;

the rotor portion having a plurality of poles circumferentially arranged opposite the stator portion;

the stator portion having a plurality of coil portions disposed about an outer periphery of the stator portion adjacent to the rotor portion;

the stator and rotor portions being configured to generate electrical power when the rotor portion is rotated about the stator portion by the first shaft of the gas turbine engine to induce electrical currents in the coil portions.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein the stator portion also includes an annular portion to accommodate non-electrical rotating components of the gas turbine engine within the annular portion.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a switched reluctance electromagnetic machine.

4. The generator of claim 1, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a synchronous reluctance machine.

5. The generator of claim 1, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as an induction machine.

6. The generator of claim 1, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as an electromagnetic machine.

7. The electrical generator of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic machine includes a plurality of field windings for excitation of the rotor portion.

8. The electrical generator of claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic machine also includes cooling means for cooling the stator portion.

9. The generator of claim 1, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a permanent magnet machine.

10. An electrical generator for extraction of electrical power from a gas turbine engine comprising:

a rotor portion and a stator portion disposed within a booster cavity of the gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine comprising a first shaft driving a low pressure turbine and a second shaft driving a high pressure turbine, the first and second shafts independently rotatable,

the rotor portion rotatably positioned on an outer perimeter of the stator portion and supported about the stator portion, and the rotor portion and the stator portion arranged concentrically within the booster cavity;

the rotor portion having a plurality of poles arranged circumferentially opposite the stator portion;

the stator portion having a plurality of coil portions adjacent to the rotor portion;

the rotor portion being integrated within the annular cavity and rotatable relative to the stator portion; and

the stator portion being rigidly supported within the annular cavity;

wherein the stator and rotor portions are configured to generate electrical power when one of the rotor portion and the stator portion is rotated relative to the other by the first shaft of the gas turbine engine to induce electrical currents in the coil portions.

11. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the generator also includes an annular portion to accommodate non-electrical rotating components of the gas turbine engine within the annular portion.

12. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a switched reluctance electromagnetic machine.

13. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a synchronous reluctance machine.

14. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as an induction machine.

15. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as an electromagnetic machine.

16. The electrical generator of claim 10, wherein the electromagnetic machine includes a plurality of field windings for excitation of the rotor portion.

17. The electrical generator of claim 16, wherein the electromagnetic machine also includes cooling means for cooling the stator portion.

18. The generator of claim 10, wherein the rotor portion and the stator portion are configured as a permanent magnet machine.