Gas Turbine Engine With Integrated Generator for Electric Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas turbine engines face challenges in reducing size due to the large frontal projected area caused by the accessory gear box, which is determined by the size of the gear necessary to drive accessories, limiting further size reduction.
Innovation Solution
The engine integrates an electric power generator within the casing, driven by the rotating shaft, and supplies electric power to electrically-operated accessories outside the casing, eliminating the need for a mechanical accessory gear box, and includes an electrically-operated fuel pump and oil mist generator, reducing the engine's frontal projected area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accessories are mechanically driven by power extracted from the engine through an accessory gear box, then the accessories can be driven reliably, but the accessory gear box becomes large and increases the frontal projected area of the engine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical accessory drive system (accessory gear box with gears) with an electrically-operated system. The electric power generator converts mechanical energy from the rotating shaft into electrical energy, which then powers the accessories electrically, eliminating the need for a large mechanical gear box and reducing the frontal projected area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the accessory drive function from the mechanical power transmission system. Instead of using the rotating shaft's mechanical power directly through gears, the power is converted to electrical energy and then used to drive accessories, separating the power conversion function from the mechanical transmission function.
2Volume of moving object
If the accessory gear box size is reduced, then the engine size can be reduced, but the gear size necessary to obtain the required reduction ratio cannot be reduced further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical gear box entirely by substituting it with an electrical drive system. The electric power generator provides electrical power to the accessories, removing the constraint of gear size and allowing for a more compact engine configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric power generator serves multiple functions: it converts mechanical energy to electrical energy, provides power to the accessories, and enables the use of compact electric motors instead of large mechanical gears, making the system more versatile and space-efficient.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the frontal projected area of the engine is reduced to suppress air resistance, then aerodynamic performance improves, but the accessory gear box occupies space that cannot be eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the space-consuming mechanical accessory gear box with a compact electrically-operated system. The electric power generator and electric motors occupy significantly less space, reducing the frontal projected area and thereby suppressing air resistance when the engine is mounted on an airframe.
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 configuration allows for a smaller engine size while maintaining functionality by eliminating the accessory gear box and reducing the frontal projected area, with improved aerodynamic performance and efficient power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
an electric power generator arranged inside the casing and driven by the rotating shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes: a casing that accommodates a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; an electric power generator arranged inside the casing and driven by a rotating shaft; an electric power line through which electric power generated by the electric power generator is supplied to an outside of the outer shell; and an electrically-operated accessory that is arranged at an outside of the casing, is driven by the electric power supplied from the electric power line, and includes an electrically-operated fuel pump.