Reverse-flow gas turbine engine
First Claim
1. A reverse-flow gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an aft end and a front end, an air inlet disposed at the aft end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine and an exhaust outlet disposed at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine, gases configured to flow through the reverse-flow gas turbine engine during operation thereof along a flow direction from the air inlet at the aft end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine to the exhaust outlet at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine;
a first spool having a low pressure compressor section disposed forward of the air inlet along the flow direction and in fluid communication with the air inlet, and a low pressure turbine section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along the flow direction and at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine aft of the exhaust outlet, a power shaft extending between the low pressure compressor section and the low pressure turbine section;
a second spool having a high pressure compressor section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along the flow direction and in fluid communication therewith to receive pressurized air therefrom, and a high pressure turbine section disposed forward of the high pressure compressor section along the flow direction and drivingly engaged thereto, the high pressure turbine section disposed aft of the low pressure turbine section along the flow direction and in fluid communication therewith; and
an output drive shaft mechanically connected to the power shaft and extending forwardly from the low pressure turbine section, the output drive shaft drivingly engaging a rotatable load forward of the low pressure turbine section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas turbine engine has a first spool having a low pressure compressor section disposed forward of an air inlet along a direction of travel of the engine, and a low pressure turbine section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section and drivingly engaged thereto. A second spool has a high pressure compressor section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section, and a high pressure turbine section disposed forward of the high pressure compressor section and drivingly engaged thereto. The high pressure turbine section is disposed aft of the low pressure turbine section. An output drive shaft drivingly engages the low pressure turbine section and extends forwardly therefrom to drive a rotatable load. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also discussed.
159 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A reverse-flow gas turbine engine, comprising:
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an aft end and a front end, an air inlet disposed at the aft end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine and an exhaust outlet disposed at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine, gases configured to flow through the reverse-flow gas turbine engine during operation thereof along a flow direction from the air inlet at the aft end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine to the exhaust outlet at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine; a first spool having a low pressure compressor section disposed forward of the air inlet along the flow direction and in fluid communication with the air inlet, and a low pressure turbine section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along the flow direction and at the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine aft of the exhaust outlet, a power shaft extending between the low pressure compressor section and the low pressure turbine section; a second spool having a high pressure compressor section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along the flow direction and in fluid communication therewith to receive pressurized air therefrom, and a high pressure turbine section disposed forward of the high pressure compressor section along the flow direction and drivingly engaged thereto, the high pressure turbine section disposed aft of the low pressure turbine section along the flow direction and in fluid communication therewith; and an output drive shaft mechanically connected to the power shaft and extending forwardly from the low pressure turbine section, the output drive shaft drivingly engaging a rotatable load forward of the low pressure turbine section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a turboprop engine, comprising:
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drawing air into a core of the turboprop engine through a low pressure compressor section and then through a high pressure compressor section along a forward direction with respect to a direction of travel of the turboprop engine to provide pressurized air; igniting a mixture of the pressurized air and fuel to generate combustion gases; circulating the combustion gases along the forward direction through a high pressure turbine section and then through a low pressure turbine section to drive the high pressure turbine section and the low pressure turbine section with the combustion gases; driving the high pressure compressor section with the high pressure turbine section; and
driving the low pressure compressor section with the low pressure turbine section, and driving a propeller with the low pressure turbine section, a low-pressure-compressor-section shaft and a propeller shaft connected to a same low pressure turbine rotor of the low pressure turbine section, the low pressure turbine section and the high pressure turbine section rotating independently from one another. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A reverse-flow gas turbine engine, comprising:
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an output drive shaft having a front end drivingly engaged to a rotatable load disposed at a front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine; a power shaft extending between a low pressure turbine section and a low pressure compressor section, the power shaft drivingly engaged to the output drive shaft, the low pressure turbine section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along a direction toward the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine; a high pressure shaft rotatable independently of the output drive shaft; a high pressure turbine section and a high pressure compressor section drivingly engaged to the high pressure shaft, the high pressure compressor section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section along a direction toward the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine and in fluid communication therewith, and the high pressure turbine section disposed aft of the low pressure turbine section and in fluid communication therewith; wherein during operation of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine, air flows toward the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine through the low pressure compressor section and the high pressure compressor section, and combustion gases flow toward the front end of the reverse-flow gas turbine engine through the high pressure turbine section and the low pressure turbine section. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification