Hybrid Electric Turbine Engine Offset Core Layout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engines face inefficiencies in power distribution during cruise and take-off conditions, requiring larger cores and additional components, which increase size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid electric gas turbine engine design featuring a gas generating core offset from the central axis and an electric motor in concentric relationship with the central axis, allowing for optimal performance during cruise and supplemental power during take-off, with the electric motor providing up to 70% of maximum static take-off thrust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conventional gas turbine engine uses a larger core to provide sufficient thrust during both cruise and take-off, then the thrust requirement is met, but the engine size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The power generation function is segmented between two independent sources: a gas generating core and an electric motor. The gas generating core handles cruise power requirements while the electric motor provides supplemental power during take-off, allowing each component to be optimized for its specific operating condition rather than requiring a single oversized core
Solution Approach 2:
The electric motor is designed to serve multiple functions: providing supplemental thrust during take-off, enabling efficient cruise operation with a smaller core, and potentially serving as a generator during descent to recover energy. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to meet varying thrust requirements without increasing overall complexity
2Use of energy by moving object
If a hybrid electric configuration is implemented with offset gas generating core and concentric electric motor, then efficiency is improved and core size is reduced, but structural arrangement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The design employs asymmetric positioning of the gas generating core relative to the central axis, while the electric motor maintains a symmetric concentric arrangement. This asymmetric-concentric hybrid layout optimizes space utilization and allows independent optimization of each component's position for its specific function, resolving the structural complexity issue while maintaining energy efficiency benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The offset positioning of the gas generating core in a radial direction from the central axis creates a three-dimensional spatial arrangement that allows the electric motor to be concentric with the axis while the core operates from an offset position. This dimensional arrangement optimizes both components' performance without requiring them to share the same spatial plane, thereby managing structural complexity
3Use of energy by moving object
If the gas generating core is sized for optimal cruise performance, then cruise efficiency is maximized, but take-off power is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is pre-positioned and pre-powered (via battery or other energy storage) before take-off to provide immediate supplemental thrust when needed. This preliminary preparation allows the smaller gas generating core to operate at optimal cruise efficiency while the electric motor is ready to deliver additional power during take-off without requiring the core to be oversized
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the power contribution parameters between the gas generating core and electric motor based on operating conditions. During cruise, the core operates at optimal parameters for efficiency, while during take-off, the electric motor's power parameter is increased to supplement the core, allowing each component to operate at its optimal parameter range for different flight phases
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 reduces the size of the gas generating core, improves overall efficiency by integrating the electric motor within the existing footprint, and enables robust power support during take-off and efficient energy recovery during descent.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor disposed in concentric relationship with the central longitudinal axis of the hybrid electric gas turbine engine
Implementation Method 2
a gas generating core arranged radially offset from a central longitudinal axis of the hybrid electric gas turbine engine... Air entering the compressor section is compressed and delivered into the combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited
Implementation Method 3
The high-speed exhaust gas flow expands through the turbine section to drive the compressor and the fan section through a driven shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A hybrid electric gas turbine engine (10) includes a fan section (12) having a fan, a turbine section (14) having a turbine drivably connected to the fan through a main shaft (26) that extends along a central longitudinal axis (28), a gas generating core (18) extending along a first axis (62) that is radially offset from the central longitudinal axis, and an electric motor (90) drivably connected to the main shaft, wherein the electric motor is colinear with the main shaft.