Turbine Engine Power Turbine Electric Generator Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mechanical power required to drive electric generators in aircraft turbine engines can become critical, especially in 'open rotor' engines, leading to unsatisfactory pumping margins and operability issues during idling phases due to excessive power demand from high-pressure compressors.
Innovation Solution
A turbine engine design incorporating a gas generator and a receiver driven by a power turbine with a mechanical gear transmission, where the electric generator's rotor is driven by a free power turbine via a toothed drive wheel, allowing power pickup from the power turbine and maintaining thermodynamic equilibrium, and featuring counter-rotating propellers for increased power generation without affecting the gas generator's operability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If mechanical power is picked up on the high pressure compressor to drive the electric generator, then electric power generation is achieved, but pumping margins become unsatisfactory and operability deteriorates under certain flight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power pickup location from the high pressure compressor and relocates it to the power turbine. This separation allows the high pressure compressor to maintain its pumping margins while the power turbine provides the mechanical power needed for electric generation, thus resolving the contradiction between power generation and reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power turbine acts as an intermediary component between the gas generator and the electric generator. It receives thermal energy from the gas generator and converts it to mechanical energy to drive the electric generator, thereby enabling power generation without directly impacting the high pressure compressor's pumping margins.
2Power
If excessive mechanical power is picked up on the high pressure compressor, then electric power generation capacity increases, but thermodynamic disequilibrium occurs in the gas generator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function of driving the electric generator from the high pressure compressor and assigns it to the power turbine instead. This extraction prevents the high pressure compressor from experiencing thermodynamic disequilibrium while still achieving the desired electric power generation capacity through the power turbine.
3Power
If the high pressure compressor drives the electric generator, then power generation is achieved, but accessibility for operators becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The power turbine serves as an intermediary that enables electric power generation while improving accessibility. By positioning the electric generator on the power turbine rather than the high pressure compressor, the design allows operators to more easily access and maintain the electric generator during handling operations.
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 design ensures satisfactory pumping margins under all flight conditions, including those with small-diameter components, and provides easy access for operators while reducing the size and impact of electric generators on turbine engine operability.
Implementation Method 1
the rotor of which, centred on a rotor axis distinct from the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine, is driven into rotation by a power turbine via a mechanical gear transmission
Implementation Method 2
an electric power generator, the rotor of which, centred on a rotor axis distinct from the longitudinal axis of the turbine engine, is driven into rotation by said power turbine
Data Source
AI summary
A turbine engine for aircraft includes a gas generator as well as to a receiver driven by a power turbine, and to an electric power generator, the rotor of which centered on a rotor axis distinct from the longitudinal axis, is driven into rotation by the power turbine, via a mechanical gear transmission, including a toothed drive wheel centered on the axis. Further the receiver includes a first propeller driven by a free power turbine and the toothed drive wheel is attached on an outer case of this power turbine.