Embedded Electric Machine Gear Coupling for Dual-Spool Turbines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines often require oversized electric machines to generate baseline electric power across a wide range of engine speeds, leading to unnecessary weight and size due to the need for oversizing to accommodate varying engine conditions.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine engine configuration with a gear assembly that mechanically couples multiple spools to an electric machine, allowing for efficient power transfer and reducing the turndown ratio, thereby minimizing the size and weight of the electric machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric machine is oversized to generate baseline electric power across a wide range of engine speeds, then the electric machine can provide consistent power output under all engine conditions, but the electric machine becomes unnecessarily heavy and large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the electric machine's effective operating range variable through the governor mechanism. The governor dynamically adjusts the turbine inlet valve positioning based on engine speed, thereby controlling the amount of steam admitted to the turbine. This allows the electric machine to operate efficiently across different engine speeds without being permanently oversized, as the effective power input to the electric machine is dynamically regulated to match actual demand.
2Reliability
If the electric machine is oversized to generate baseline electric power across a wide range of engine speeds, then the electric machine can provide consistent power output under all engine conditions, but the electric machine size increases unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The governor mechanism dynamically regulates the turbine inlet valve to control steam admission to the electric machine's turbine based on actual engine speed and power demand. This dynamic control allows a smaller electric machine to provide consistent baseline power across varying engine speeds by adjusting the effective power input, rather than requiring a permanently oversized machine that would operate inefficiently at lower speeds.
3Productivity
If a governor mechanism is added to control steam admission to the turbine, then the electric machine can operate efficiently across varying engine speeds, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The governor mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls steam admission to the turbine, regulates electric machine power output, maintains consistent baseline electric power generation, and adapts to varying engine speeds. By consolidating these control functions into a single governor assembly, the patent achieves multi-functionality that justifies the added complexity through improved overall system efficiency and reliability.
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
This configuration enables the electric machine to generate baseline power across a wide range of engine speeds without being oversized, resulting in a lighter and more cost-efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
a gear assembly mechanically coupling a first spool and a second spool to the electric machine for driving the electric machine
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section. A first spool is rotatable with a first turbine of the turbine section and a first compressor of the compressor section. Additionally, a second spool is rotatable with a second turbine of the turbine section and a second compressor of the compressor section. An electric machine is positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath of the gas turbine engine along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. Additionally, the exemplary gas turbine engine includes a gear assembly mechanically coupled to both the first spool and the second spool, such that the first and second spools may each drive the electric machine.