F01D21/006

System for braking a low pressure spool in a gas turbine engine

A braking system for the low pressure spool of a gas turbine engine includes a braking assembly connected to the low pressure spool and reversibly configurable between an actuated state and an unactuated state. The braking assembly in the unactuated state allows rotation of the low pressure spool without interference. The braking assembly in the actuated state applies a force opposing the rotation of the low pressure spool. A method of controlling the speed of rotation of a low pressure spool and a method of controlling the speed of rotation of low and high pressure spools are also discussed.

Method and System for Mitigating Bowed Rotor Operation of Gas Turbine Engine
20200347746 · 2020-11-05 ·

Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a gas turbine engine defining a bowed rotor condition are generally provided. The systems and methods include rotating a rotor assembly defining a bowed rotor condition from approximately zero revolutions per minute (RPM) to within a bowed rotor mitigation speed range, in which the bowed rotor mitigation speed range is defined by a lower speed limit greater than zero RPM and an upper speed limit less than or equal to an idle speed condition of the gas turbine engine; applying a load at the rotor assembly via an energy storage device; adjusting the load to limit rotational speed or acceleration of the rotor assembly to within the bowed rotor mitigation speed range for a period of time; and removing the load to enable rotation of the rotor assembly to the idle speed condition following the period of time.

Turbine of a turbocompound engine with variable load and a controller thereof
10822994 · 2020-11-03 · ·

A turbine of a turbocompound engine (10) for extracting energy from the exhaust fluid flow of an and a controller (40) thereof is described. The turbine (10) comprises a housing (30); a turbine wheel (12) rotatably coupled within the housing (30) and rotatable by a fluid flow to provide a rotational output (14); a variable load (34) applying a load to the rotational output; and a controller (40). The controller (40) is configured to: receive information (404) relating to the operating conditions of the turbine (10); calculate an optimum operating velocity (402) of the rotational output based on the operating conditions; and supply a signal (410) to the variable load (34) to vary the load applied to the rotational output (14) in response to said operating conditions so that the rotational output (14) rotates at a corrected operating velocity (408). Such an arrangement increases the ability to operate the turbine at its optimum operating velocity.

Anti-windmilling system for a gas turbine engine
10815823 · 2020-10-27 · ·

A gas turbine engine has an engine static structure and at least one component rotatable relative to the engine static structure about an engine axis of rotation. A fan is coupled to at least one component for rotation about the engine axis of rotation. An actuator is mounted to the engine static structure, wherein the actuator is activated to prevent the fan from rotation and is inactivated to allow the fan to rotate. A method for preventing rotation of a fan in a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Electromagnetic anti-windmilling system
10801413 · 2020-10-13 · ·

A gas turbine engine including a compressor has a first compressor section and a second compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor, and a turbine fluidly connected to the combustor. The turbine includes a first turbine section and a second turbine section. A first shaft connects the first compressor section and the first turbine section. A second shaft connects the second compressor section and the second turbine section. A fan is connected to the first shaft via a geared architecture. The first shaft includes at least one magnetic section. An electromagnet is disposed radially outward of the first shaft at an axial location of the at least one magnetic section, relative to an axis defined by the gas turbine engine.

Geared turbine engine with gear driving low pressure compressor and fan at common speed, and failsafe overspeed protection and shear section

A turbine engine has a fan and a low pressure compressor that rotate at a common speed and in a common direction. A fan drive turbine drives a gear reduction to, in turn, drive the low pressure compressor and the fan at a speed which is slower than a speed of the fan drive turbine. A combustor intermediate the low pressure compressor and the fan drive turbine and a thrust bearing mount the fan drive turbine, the thrust bearing being aft of a location of the combustor. A shear section in a drive connection connecting the fan drive turbine to the gear reduction is weaker than other portions of the drive connection. The shear section is aft of the thrust bearing.

Method and system for mitigating bowed rotor operation of gas turbine engine

Embodiments of systems and methods for operating a gas turbine engine defining a bowed rotor condition are generally provided. The systems and methods include rotating a rotor assembly defining a bowed rotor condition from approximately zero revolutions per minute (RPM) to within a bowed rotor mitigation speed range, in which the bowed rotor mitigation speed range is defined by a lower speed limit greater than zero RPM and an upper speed limit less than or equal to an idle speed condition of the gas turbine engine; applying a load at the rotor assembly via an energy storage device; adjusting the load to limit rotational speed or acceleration of the rotor assembly to within the bowed rotor mitigation speed range for a period of time; and removing the load to enable rotation of the rotor assembly to the idle speed condition following the period of time.

GAS TURBINE ENGINE

A gas turbine engine, and an aircraft including the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine comprising: an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a shaft system connecting the turbine to the compressor. The shaft system is axially located by a thrust bearing located forward of the turbine, and the engine is configured such that, in the event of a shaft break which divides the shaft system into a front portion located by the thrust bearing and a rear portion unlocated by the thrust bearing, the rear portion is free to move axially rearwardly under a gas load; and the engine further comprises an axial movement sensor configured to register a shaft break when it detects the axial movement of the rear portion of the shaft system.

GAS TURBINE ENGINE WITH LOW PRESSURE COMPRESSOR STAGES
20200116041 · 2020-04-16 ·

A low pressure compressor section of a gas turbine engine includes low pressure compressor stages spaced apart along an axis of rotation of the low pressure compressor section. The low pressure compressor section includes at least one of a fluid conduit extending between an air inlet of the gas turbine engine and the low pressure compression stages. The fluid conduit having at least one flow diverter displaceable between a first position and a second position to modulate air through the low pressure compressor stages. And/or a compressor stage disabler is engageable with at least one of the low pressure compressor stages and configured to reduce a rotation thereof.

Turbogenerator Rotor Lock
20200063598 · 2020-02-27 ·

A turbogenerator rotor lock (1) is described, the turbogenerator rotor lock (1) including a head portion (10) and a locking portion (20, 21), wherein the locking portion (20,21) extends from the head portion (10) to engage with a turbogenerator rotor to prevent its rotation. In this way, a simplified apparatus for locking a turbogenerator rotor in position is provided, allowing the prime mover to continue operation in the event of a turbogenerator system (1000) failure