Regenerative braking for gas turbine systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle system, comprising:
- at least one gas turbine engine;
at least one of a plug-in to a power grid, an electrical generator, and a braking system, the plug-in to a power grid generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is not operating, the electrical generator generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is idling, and the braking system generating electrical energy when braking;
a resistive grid to transform the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system into thermal energy by resistive dissipation;
at least one heat block in thermal communication with the resistive grid to absorb the thermal energy, wherein the at least one heat block is in thermal communication with the at least one gas turbine engine; and
wherein the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system is generated by a motor connected to a first shaft that is in mechanical communication with a transmission which is in mechanical communication with the at least one gas turbine engine, and wherein, in a first mode, the motor is disengaged from the first shaft and produces substantially no electrical energy and, in a second mode, the transmission is disengaged and the motor is engaged with a second shaft and generates the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system in response to braking.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an energy storage system comprised of a heat block having a relatively high specific energy capacity. The heat block can be used, for example, with a regenerative braking system for gas turbine powered vehicles to improve fuel efficiency.
43 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A vehicle system, comprising:
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at least one gas turbine engine; at least one of a plug-in to a power grid, an electrical generator, and a braking system, the plug-in to a power grid generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is not operating, the electrical generator generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is idling, and the braking system generating electrical energy when braking; a resistive grid to transform the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system into thermal energy by resistive dissipation; at least one heat block in thermal communication with the resistive grid to absorb the thermal energy, wherein the at least one heat block is in thermal communication with the at least one gas turbine engine; and wherein the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system is generated by a motor connected to a first shaft that is in mechanical communication with a transmission which is in mechanical communication with the at least one gas turbine engine, and wherein, in a first mode, the motor is disengaged from the first shaft and produces substantially no electrical energy and, in a second mode, the transmission is disengaged and the motor is engaged with a second shaft and generates the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system in response to braking. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vehicle system, comprising:
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at least one gas turbine engine; at least one of a plug-in to a power grid, an electrical generator, and a braking system, the plug-in to a power grid generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is not operating, the electrical generator generating electrical energy when the at least one gas turbine engine is idling, and the braking system generating electrical energy when braking; a resistive grid to transform the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system into thermal energy by resistive dissipation; and at least one heat block in thermal communication with the resistive grid to absorb the thermal energy, wherein the at least one heat block is in thermal communication with the at least one gas turbine engine; and wherein the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system is generated by a mechanical-to-electrical conversion device that is in electrical communication with an electrical bus which is in electrical communication with one or more traction motors that are in mechanical communication with one or more vehicle axles and wherein the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system is generated by the mechanical-to-electrical conversion device and the one or more traction motors, wherein, in a first mode, the one or more traction motors produce substantially no electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system and, in a second mode, the one or more traction motors are operated as retarder generators to generate the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system in response to braking, and, in a third mode, the mechanical-to-electrical conversion device generates the electrical energy from the at least one of a plug-in, electrical generator, and braking system.
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Specification