Electric Machine Arc Path Protection via Electrical Break
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines with electric machines face the risk of electrical power arcing and damage due to insulation deterioration, leading to conductive paths through turbomachinery, causing damage to sensitive components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electrical break formed of non-electrically conductive materials with high resistivity, such as plastic, to transfer torque between the drive shaft and rotor assembly, and using air or mechanical bearings with electrical insulation to reduce the likelihood of electrical arcs, ensuring electrical isolation and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If insulation is used to contain high voltage electrical power in the electric generator, then electrical power containment is improved, but over time the insulation deteriorates and allows arcing and electrical conduction to turbomachinery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical insulation function from the traditional insulation material and replaces it with an electrical break component made of non-conductive material. This electrical break is specifically designed to prevent electrical conduction paths from the electric generator to the turbomachinery, effectively removing the vulnerability of insulation deterioration while maintaining electrical containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical break acts as an intermediary component between the electric generator and the turbomachinery. Made of non-conductive material, it mediates the connection by providing mechanical support and torque transmission while simultaneously blocking electrical conduction paths, thus protecting the turbomachinery from electrical damage without relying on deteriorating insulation.
2Reliability
If an electrical break made of non-conductive material is used to couple the drive shaft to the rotor assembly, then electrical conduction is prevented, but torque transfer capability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical break is constructed from non-conductive materials that possess both mechanical strength for torque transmission and electrical insulation properties. This composite material approach allows the single component to simultaneously fulfill both the electrical isolation function and the mechanical torque transfer function, resolving the contradiction between preventing electrical conduction and maintaining force transmission.
3Reliability
If air bearings or mechanically isolated bearings are used to support the rotor assembly, then electrical conduction paths are eliminated, but bearing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs air bearings to support the rotor assembly, utilizing a pneumatic field to provide bearing support without physical contact. This eliminates electrical conduction paths through the bearing while maintaining rotational support. The air bearing system provides electrical isolation without requiring complex mechanical insulation structures, as the compressed air itself acts as the isolating medium.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents electrical conduction from the rotor assembly to the drive shaft, reducing the risk of arcing and damage to engine components, even at high power generation levels, by utilizing non-conductive materials and insulation in the electrical break and bearings.
Implementation Method 1
the non-electrically conductive material has an electrical resistivity greater than about 1×1010 ρ (Ω·m)
Implementation Method 2
the electric machine includes a plurality of air bearings, and wherein the rotor assembly and the stator assembly are rotatably coupled using the plurality of air bearings
Data Source
AI summary
In one an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an engine includes a drive shaft; an electric machine including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly rotatable relative to the stator assembly; and an electrical break, the drive shaft coupled to the rotor assembly through the electrical break.