A compressed air energy storage generator includes a motor, a compressor, a pressure accumulator, an expander, a generator, an electric-motor inverter, a generator inverter, a feed command receiver, a discharge command receiver, and a controller. The controller includes a feed determination unit, a discharge determination unit, and an input and output adjustment unit, the feed determination unit being configured to determine whether a feed command value is smaller than minimum charge power, the discharge determination unit being configured to determine whether a discharge command value is smaller than minimum discharge power, the input and output adjustment unit being configured to control, when the feed determination unit determines that the feed command value is smaller than the minimum charge power or when the discharge determination unit determines that the discharge command value is smaller than the minimum discharge power, the inverters to simultaneously drive the motor and the generator.

A system controller manages a gas turbine engine driving a pump directly or indirectly coupled to the engine. The controller is programmed to automatically determine and adjust inputs to the gas turbine engine in order to cause the pump to produce a user-specified hydraulic output.

An engine bleed air system for providing air to an aircraft system includes a port for extracting bleed air from a compressor section of an engine. The system additionally includes a turbo-generator having a turbine and a generator. The generator is driven by rotation of the turbine. A boost compressor is fluidly coupled to the port. Bleed air from the port is selectively provided to one of the turbo-generator and the boost compressor based on a demand of the aircraft system.

Methods for protecting turbochargers of engine systems include determining a speed gradient of the turbocharger and implementing a turbocharger speed protection action if the determined speed gradient is above a speed gradient threshold. Implementing a protection action comprises limiting engine torque, engine speed, vehicle speed, and/or fuel injection to the engine. The method can further include determining a cold start condition prior to determining the speed gradient of the turbocharger. A cold start condition can be determined based on ambient temperature, engine oil temperature, or engine coolant temperature. The method can further include, subsequent to implementing the turbocharger speed protection action, disabling the turbocharger speed protection action when a subsequently determined turbocharger speed gradient is below the speed gradient threshold. Systems for implementing the methods are also disclosed.

A method of extracting work from a convertible gas turbine engine having a core flowpath and a bypass flowpath. The method comprises operating the convertible gas turbine engine at a first volumetric flow rate through the core flowpath and a second volumetric flow rate through the bypass flowpath to produce a first work output of the convertible gas turbine engine; extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a first fan to shaft extraction ratio; altering the second volumetric flowrate through the bypass flowpath while maintaining the first work output; and extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a second fan to shaft extraction ratio.

A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine and a control system including sensors for monitoring operating properties of the engine, a signaling device that outputs a discrete switching signal indicative of an engine load change, such as connecting or disconnecting an electrical load in an electrical power system powered by the gas turbine engine, and an electronic control unit. The control unit calculates an engine load estimate based upon the switching signal, the operating properties, and statistical information in a recursive statistical estimator.

A compressed air energy storage generator includes a motor, a compressor, a pressure accumulator, an expander, a generator, an electric-motor inverter, a generator inverter, a feed command receiver, a discharge command receiver, and a controller. The controller includes a feed determination unit, a discharge determination unit, and an input and output adjustment unit, the feed determination unit being configured to determine whether a feed command value is smaller than minimum charge power, the discharge determination unit being configured to determine whether a discharge command value is smaller than minimum discharge power, the input and output adjustment unit being configured to control, when the feed determination unit determines that the feed command value is smaller than the minimum charge power or when the discharge determination unit determines that the discharge command value is smaller than the minimum discharge power, the inverters to simultaneously drive the motor and the generator.

Hybrid electric systems and methods therefore are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a hybrid electric system includes an engine, an electric machine operatively coupled thereto and configured to generate electrical power when driven by the engine. One or more electrical loads are electrically connectable with the electric machine. An engine controller of the engine receives load state data indicative of electrical loads that anticipate electrically disconnecting from or electrically connecting to the electric machine at a predetermined time. In this way, the engine controller can anticipate electrical load changes and the engine can be controlled to adjust its torque output in anticipation of the electrical load change. In another exemplary aspect, a hybrid electric system is provided that includes features for nearly instantaneously reacting to load changes on the engine based on load state data received from feed forward inputs of the electrical system of the hybrid electric system.

A method of extracting work from a convertible gas turbine engine having a core flowpath and a bypass flowpath. The method comprises operating the convertible gas turbine engine at a first volumetric flow rate through the core flowpath and a second volumetric flow rate through the bypass flowpath to produce a first work output of the convertible gas turbine engine; extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a first fan to shaft extraction ratio; altering the second volumetric flowrate through the bypass flowpath while maintaining the first work output; and extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a second fan to shaft extraction ratio.

A gas turbine system and control method for the gas turbine system that includes a gas turbine having a compressor for producing compressed air, a combustor for burning fuel with the compressed air, a turbine driven by a combustion gas generated by burning the fuel in the combustor, and an inlet guide vane for adjusting an intake air amount of the compressor; an inlet guide vane control device for controlling an opening degree of the inlet guide vane; and a motor generator drivable by the turbine and capable of providing rotational power to the gas turbine by electric power supplied from outside the gas turbine. The inlet guide vane control device controls the opening degree of the inlet guide vane to be an opening degree greater than a minimum opening degree which is a minimum value of the opening degree of the inlet guide vane in a normal operation mode.