A method of controlling a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a compressor, a combustor, and a motor configured to drive the compressor. The method has in a first idle mode, controlling combustor fuel flow to maintain compressor rotational speed at or above a predetermined value; and in a second idle mode, controlling the combustor and the motor to drive the compressor to maintain the compressor rotational speed at or above a second predetermined value, lower than the first predetermined value.

A system includes a gas turbine engine having a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor. The system also includes a low spool motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool. The system further includes a controller configured to cause fuel flow. The controller is operable to control the low spool motor to drive rotation of the low speed spool responsive to a thrust command while the controller does not command fuel flow to the combustor.

A hybrid electric gas turbine engine system includes a first compressor and an auxiliary compressor. The first compressor is configured to output first compressed air. The auxiliary compressor is configured to operate in parallel with the first compressor to output second compressed air. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first compressor or the auxiliary compressor based on an operating condition of the hybrid electric gas turbine engine system.

A hybrid electric gas turbine engine system includes a first compressor and an auxiliary compressor. The first compressor is configured to output first compressed air. The auxiliary compressor is configured to operate in parallel with the first compressor to output second compressed air. A controller is configured to selectively activate the first compressor or the auxiliary compressor based on an operating condition of the hybrid electric gas turbine engine system.

A system includes a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the gas turbine engine having a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor. The system also includes a low spool motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool and a high spool motor configured to augment rotational power of the high speed spool. The system further includes a controller configured to cause fuel flow. The controller is configured to control a thrust response of the gas turbine engine to a thrust target between zero and a thrust level to move the aircraft during engine start and during engine idle. The controller is also configured to control the low spool motor to drive rotation of the low speed spool responsive to a thrust command while the controller does not command fuel flow to the combustor.

A system and method for increasing power output of a gas turbine. A method of increasing a power output of a gas turbine comprises providing an auxiliary system configured to be coupled to the gas turbine. The auxiliary system includes a natural gas engine, a compressor, and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled to the compressor. The method includes fluidly coupling the auxiliary system to a combustor case of the gas turbine. The method comprises operating the natural gas engine to drive the compressor to compress air to form compressed air and directing exhaust of the natural gas engine to the heat exchanger. The method includes heating the compressed air in the heat exchanger using the exhaust of the natural gas engine to form heated compressed air and injecting the heated compressed air into the combustor case of the gas turbine.

An aircraft electrical power generation system includes an AC generator having a rotor including a plurality of electromagnetic rotor-windings and stator including plurality of electrical stator-windings. The rotor mechanically coupled to a shaft of a gas turbine engine by transmission-system. The generator includes a frequency controller, a torque sensor determining a torque on the transmission-system by the generator and controller to operate the system in first and second modes. In first mode, the power output frequency of the generator controlled by the frequency controller within limits, and reduced idle signal going to a turbine engine controller. In second mode, the power output frequency of the generator not controlled by the frequency controller and increased idle signal going to the turbine engine controller. The controller operates the system in first mode when the torque is below a limit, and in second mode when the torque is above a limit.

An engine system for an aircraft includes a first gas turbine engine, a second gas turbine engine, and a control system. The control system is configured to operate the first gas turbine engine with an idle fuel burn schedule in a taxi mode of the aircraft and dry crank the second gas turbine engine in a first pre-takeoff portion of the taxi mode to cool the second gas turbine engine absent fuel burn by the second gas turbine engine. The control system operates the second gas turbine engine with a sub-idle fuel burn schedule in a second pre-takeoff portion of the taxi mode of the aircraft. The sub-idle fuel burn schedule includes a reduction of the idle fuel burn schedule. A fuel flow of the first gas turbine engine and the second gas turbine engine is increased above the idle fuel burn schedule prior to takeoff of the aircraft.

A method of operating an engine of a multi-engine aircraft includes sequentially operating the engine through a plurality of cycles, each cycle including a breathing-in phase followed by a breathing-out phase. The breathing-in phase includes: i) in response to a speed of a rotor of the engine being at a sub-idle threshold, opening variable guide vanes upstream a compressor and injecting fuel into the combustor to increase rotor speed to a pre-determined upper threshold, and then ii) in response to the rotor speed reaching the pre-determined upper threshold, reducing a supply rate of fuel into the combustor and substantially closing the variable guide vanes. The breathing-out phase includes maintaining the variable guide vanes closed at least until the speed drops from the pre-determined upper threshold to the pre-determined sub-idle threshold.

A method of operating an engine of a multi-engine aircraft includes sequentially operating the engine through a plurality of cycles, each cycle including a breathing-in phase followed by a breathing-out phase. The breathing-in phase includes: i) in response to a speed of a rotor of the engine being at a sub-idle threshold, opening variable guide vanes upstream a compressor and injecting fuel into the combustor to increase rotor speed to a pre-determined upper threshold, and then ii) in response to the rotor speed reaching the pre-determined upper threshold, reducing a supply rate of fuel into the combustor and substantially closing the variable guide vanes. The breathing-out phase includes maintaining the variable guide vanes closed at least until the speed drops from the pre-determined upper threshold to the pre-determined sub-idle threshold.