Electric Motor Torque Waveform Control for Fuel Flow Ripple
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in controlling pressure and flow variations in fuel delivery to gas turbine engines, particularly due to the linkage of fuel pump rotational speed with the accessory gearbox, making it difficult to manage flow ripple effectively.
Innovation Solution
An electric drive apparatus comprising an inverter system, an electric motor with phase windings, and a controller that adjusts current waveforms to control torque characteristics, including frequency, phase shift, and amplitude, to manage periodic variations in fuel flow to maintain target flow parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the fuel pump is driven from the accessory gearbox coupled to the spool, then the fuel pump rotational speed matches the accessory gearbox output speed, but flow ripple control becomes difficult due to linkage with spool speed variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drive system (accessory gearbox coupled to spool) with an electric motor drive system. The electric motor is controlled by an inverter that can independently regulate rotational speed and torque, decoupling the fuel pump from spool speed variations. This substitution enables precise control of flow ripple through electronic control while maintaining the required rotational speed, directly resolving the contradiction between speed matching and flow ripple control.
2Ease of operation
If the controller adjusts current waveform electrical characteristics to control torque, then flow ripple is reduced, but the system complexity increases due to inverter and controller components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls flow ripple by dynamically adjusting electrical parameters (frequency composition, phase shift, amplitude) of the current waveforms supplied to the electric motor. The inverter modifies these parameters in real-time based on controller commands, enabling precise torque control that reduces flow ripple. This parameter-based control approach achieves flow ripple reduction while keeping the hardware architecture relatively simple, as it utilizes standard inverter and controller components with programmable control logic.
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 system effectively controls fuel flow ripple by adjusting electrical characteristics of the motor, ensuring stable fuel delivery to the combustor, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
an inverter system configured to provide a respective current waveform to each of the phase windings of the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor including a rotor and a plurality of phase windings
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electric drive apparatus 201, 202 comprising an inverter system 220, an electric motor 230 and a controller 290. The electric motor 230 includes a rotor 234 and a plurality of phase windings 221, 222, 223, 224. The inverter system 220 is configured to provide a respective current waveform 321, 322, 323, 324 to each of the phase windings 221, 222, 223, 224 of the electric motor 230. Each current waveform 321, 322, 323, 324 is defined by a group of electrical characteristics including: a frequency composition, a phase shift relative to a reference waveform 349, and an amplitude. For one or more of the current waveforms 321, 322, 323, 324, the controller 290 is configured to control one or more of the group of electrical characteristics to cause a periodically varying torque to be applied to the rotor 234.