Gas turbine engines and methods for reducing spool thrust in a turbine section thereof are provided. The engines include a turbine disk, a shaft coupled to the turbine disk, an inner cavity downstream of the turbine disk, a thrust bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the shaft, a seal assembly having a seal land, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a loss of oil event to the thrust bearing assembly and, in response: actuate the seal assembly to move the seal land toward a downstream face of the turbine disk to form a continuous axial seal about the inner cavity, supply a pressurized gas to the inner cavity to increase pressure in therein to an extent greater than an operating pressure thereof, and maintain the axial seal and the pressure within the inner cavity and thereby reduce the axial loads on the shaft.

Gas turbine engines and methods for reducing spool thrust in a turbine section thereof are provided. The engines include a turbine disk, a shaft coupled to the turbine disk, an inner cavity downstream of the turbine disk, a thrust bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the shaft, a seal assembly having a seal land, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a loss of oil event to the thrust bearing assembly and, in response: actuate the seal assembly to move the seal land toward a downstream face of the turbine disk to form a continuous axial seal about the inner cavity, supply a pressurized gas to the inner cavity to increase pressure in therein to an extent greater than an operating pressure thereof, and maintain the axial seal and the pressure within the inner cavity and thereby reduce the axial loads on the shaft.

Gas turbine engines and methods for reducing spool thrust in a turbine section thereof are provided. The engines include a turbine disk, a shaft coupled to the turbine disk, an inner cavity downstream of the turbine disk, a thrust bearing assembly mechanically coupled to the shaft, a seal assembly having a seal land, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a loss of oil event to the thrust bearing assembly and, in response: actuate the seal assembly to move the seal land toward a downstream face of the turbine disk to form a continuous axial seal about the inner cavity, supply a pressurized gas to the inner cavity to increase pressure in therein to an extent greater than an operating pressure thereof, and maintain the axial seal and the pressure within the inner cavity and thereby reduce the axial loads on the shaft.

A turbine engine includes a spool with a compressor for providing a compressed air flow to a turbine, a shaft that connects the compressor and a turbine such that the compressor and the turbine rotate together, and a fuel supply. A combustor located downstream of the compressor receives and combusts the compressed air flow and the fuel supply, generating combustion gases. The combustion gases rotate the turbine, in turn rotating the spool. A balance piston for applying an axial force on the spool includes a rotating boundary portion and a fixed enclosure portion that does not rotate, defining a balance piston cavity. A water system provides water to the balance piston cavity, heat transfer from the balance piston to the water causes expansion of the water, the water in the balance piston cavity being balance piston fluid that is pressurized and applies an axial force to the spool.

A turbine engine includes a spool with a compressor for providing a compressed air flow to a turbine, a shaft that connects the compressor and a turbine such that the compressor and the turbine rotate together, and a fuel supply. A combustor located downstream of the compressor receives and combusts the compressed air flow and the fuel supply, generating combustion gases. The combustion gases rotate the turbine, in turn rotating the spool. A balance piston for applying an axial force on the spool includes a rotating boundary portion and a fixed enclosure portion that does not rotate, defining a balance piston cavity. A water system provides water to the balance piston cavity, heat transfer from the balance piston to the water causes expansion of the water, the water in the balance piston cavity being balance piston fluid that is pressurized and applies an axial force to the spool.

A turbine engine includes a spool with a compressor for providing a compressed air flow to a turbine, a shaft that connects the compressor and a turbine such that the compressor and the turbine rotate together, and a fuel supply. A combustor located downstream of the compressor receives and combusts the compressed air flow and the fuel supply, generating combustion gases. The combustion gases rotate the turbine, in turn rotating the spool. A balance piston for applying an axial force on the spool includes a rotating boundary portion and a fixed enclosure portion that does not rotate, defining a balance piston cavity. A water system provides water to the balance piston cavity, heat transfer from the balance piston to the water causes expansion of the water, the water in the balance piston cavity being balance piston fluid that is pressurized and applies an axial force to the spool.

A turbine engine includes a spool with a compressor for providing a compressed air flow to a turbine, a shaft that connects the compressor and a turbine such that the compressor and the turbine rotate together, and a fuel supply. A combustor located downstream of the compressor receives and combusts the compressed air flow and the fuel supply, generating combustion gases. The combustion gases rotate the turbine, in turn rotating the spool. A balance piston for applying an axial force on the spool includes a rotating boundary portion and a fixed enclosure portion that does not rotate, defining a balance piston cavity. A water system provides water to the balance piston cavity, heat transfer from the balance piston to the water causes expansion of the water, the water in the balance piston cavity being balance piston fluid that is pressurized and applies an axial force to the spool.