Abstract: Fault-tolerant four-phase electric drive systems are provided. One such system comprises: a rotary electric machine having a permanent magnet rotor and an alternate-wound stator having eight evenly-spaced coils arranged in pairs, each coil in each pair being separated by 180 degrees; a first phase (?A) comprising a first one of the coil pairs and a first phase drive circuit connected therewith; a second phase (?B) separated by +45 degrees from the first phase and comprising a second one of the coil pairs and a second phase drive circuit connected therewith; a third phase (?C) separated by +90 degrees from the first phase and comprising a third one of the coil pairs and a third phase drive circuit connected therewith; a fourth phase (?D) separated by +135 degrees from the first phase and comprising a fourth one of the coil pairs and a fourth phase drive circuit connected therewith; and a controller connected with the first, second, third and fourth phase drive circuits to control operation thereof.

Abstract: Gas turbine engines and methods of starting gas turbine engines, the gas turbine engine including: an electronic engine controller; one or more spools designated a starting spool for starting the engine, and has a required starting torque ?s; a permanent magnet alternator mechanically coupled with the starting spool, the alternator, in a motor mode, provides a peak torque of ?a, and, in a generator mode, generates electrical power for the electronic engine controller; and an electrical starter-generator mechanically coupled with the starting spool. The starter-generator in a motor mode, provides a peak torque of ?sg, and, in a generator mode, generates electrical power for an external load. ?sg+?a??s and ?sg, ?a<?s, and the electronic engine controller, during a start procedure, operates both the permanent magnet alternator and the starter-generator in a motor mode to drive the starting spool.

Abstract: An electric machine including a stator having a fully non-magnetic core and stator windings formed of a non-superconducting transposed conductor to reduce eddy current losses. It further includes a rotor having a fully non-magnetic core and superconducting windings or superconducting magnets which produce a magnetic field for interaction with the stator windings. A cryogenic cooling system is arranged to cool the stator windings to reduce conduction losses in the stator windings.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for a ducted fan gas turbine engine has a low temperature side and plural high temperature sides. The heat exchanger is configured such that heat is extracted from respective engine fluids flowing through the high temperature sides and is received by a portion of a bypass airflow of the engine which, on passing through the fan duct, is diverted through the low temperature side of the heat exchanger thereby cooling the engine fluids.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: controlling ignition within a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine; controlling rotation of a low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine, and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine, the combustion chamber downstream of the low pressure compressor and high pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a self-sustaining threshold pressure; and in response to determining that the exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than the self-sustaining threshold pressure, ceasing controlling rotation of the low pressure compressor using the first electrical machine, and/or the high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine.

Abstract: An electric machine including a stator having a fully non-magnetic core and stator windings formed of a non-superconducting transposed conductor to reduce eddy current losses. It further includes a rotor having a fully non-magnetic core and superconducting windings or superconducting magnets which produce a magnetic field for interaction with the stator windings. A cryogenic cooling system is arranged to cool the stator windings to reduce conduction losses in the stator windings.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: increasing an angular velocity of a low pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the low pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a first threshold pressure; in response to determining that the exit pressure of the low pressure compressor is equal to or greater than the first threshold pressure, controlling rotation of the low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine, to increase angular velocity of the high pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a second threshold pressure.

Abstract: An engine system comprises first and second electrical generators coupled to lower and higher pressure (LP, HP) shafts respectively of a gas turbine engine. A controller is arranged to receive a signal corresponding to a total electrical power demand P1 and to output control signals to the electrical generators in response thereto such that the first and second electrical generators output electrical powers (1?y)P1 and yP1 respectively when P1?Pm1, where 0.5<y?1 and Pm1 is the maximum electrical output power of the first electrical generator. By satisfying the demand P1 mostly by extraction of electrical power from the first electrical generator when possible, the additional mechanical stress on the gas turbine engine resulting from electrical power extraction is reduced compared to the case where 50% or more of the demand P1 is satisfied by the second electrical generator.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least a part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: controlling rotation of a low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine to increase angular velocity of the low pressure compressor; and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine to restrict angular velocity of the high pressure compressor while the angular velocity of the low pressure compressor is increased.

Abstract: Electrical systems for connecting rotary electric machines with gas turbine spools are provided. One such electrical system comprises: a first rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a first gas turbine spool and a second rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a second gas turbine spool, each said electric machine having an identical even number N?4 of phases, each phase having a respective index n=(1, . . .

Abstract: Fault-tolerant four-phase electric drive systems are provided. One such system comprises: a rotary electric machine having a permanent magnet rotor and an alternate-wound stator having eight evenly-spaced coils arranged in pairs, each coil in each pair being separated by 180 degrees; a first phase (?A) comprising a first one of the coil pairs and a first phase drive circuit connected therewith; a second phase (?B) separated by +45 degrees from the first phase and comprising a second one of the coil pairs and a second phase drive circuit connected therewith; a third phase (?C) separated by +90 degrees from the first phase and comprising a third one of the coil pairs and a third phase drive circuit connected therewith; a fourth phase (?D) separated by +135 degrees from the first phase and comprising a fourth one of the coil pairs and a fourth phase drive circuit connected therewith; and a controller connected with the first, second, third and fourth phase drive circuits to control operation thereof.

Abstract: Electrical systems for connecting rotary electric machines with gas turbine spools are provided. One such electrical system comprises: a first rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a first gas turbine spool and a second rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a second gas turbine spool, each said electric machine having an identical even number N?4 of phases, each phase having a respective index n=(1, . . .

Abstract: Electrical systems for connecting rotary electric machines with gas turbine spools are provided. One such electrical system comprises: a first dual-wound rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a first gas turbine spool and comprising a first three-phase sub-machine and a second three-phase submachine; a second dual-wound rotary electric machine mechanically coupled with a second gas turbine spool and comprising a third three-phase sub-machine and a fourth three-phase submachine; and a set of N=4 bidirectional converter circuits for conversion of alternating current (ac) to and from direct current (dc), each of which has an associated index n=(1, . . . , N), and for all n, the ac side of the nth bidirectional converter circuit is connected with the nth three-phase sub-machine. The dc side of the first converter circuit is connected with the dc side of the third converter circuit, and the dc side of the second converter circuit is connected with the dc side of the fourth converter circuit.

Abstract: A hybrid aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a gas turbine engine having a turbine system comprising first and second turbine sections. The gas turbine engine further comprises a first combustor provided upstream in core flow from the turbine system, and a second combustor provided between the first and second turbine sections. The hybrid aircraft propulsion system further comprises an energy storage system and an electric propulsion system electrically coupled to the energy storage system.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: determining when a flame in a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine is extinguished, during a start-up process or re-light process or during operation; purging the combustion chamber by controlling rotation of a low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine, and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine, the combustion chamber downstream of the low pressure compressor and high pressure compressor; and controlling rotation of the low pressure compressor using the first electrical machine, and controlling rotation of the high pressure compressor using the second electrical machine to restart the start-up process or perform the re-light process.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: controlling ignition within a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine; controlling rotation of a low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine, and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine, the combustion chamber downstream of the low pressure compressor and high pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a self-sustaining threshold pressure; and in response to determining that the exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than the self-sustaining threshold pressure, ceasing controlling rotation of the low pressure compressor using the first electrical machine, and/or the high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine.

Abstract: A method of controlling at least part of a start-up or re-light process of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: increasing an angular velocity of a low pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the low pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a first threshold pressure; in response to determining that the exit pressure of the low pressure compressor is equal to or greater than the first threshold pressure, controlling rotation of the low pressure compressor using a first electrical machine and controlling rotation of a high pressure compressor using a second electrical machine, to increase angular velocity of the high pressure compressor; determining if an exit pressure of the high pressure compressor is equal to or greater than a second threshold pressure.

Abstract: An electric machine including a stator having a fully non-magnetic core and stator windings formed of a non-superconducting transposed conductor to reduce eddy current losses. It further includes a rotor having a fully non-magnetic core and superconducting windings or superconducting magnets which produce a magnetic field for interaction with the stator windings. A cryogenic cooling system is arranged to cool the stator windings to reduce conduction losses in the stator windings.

Abstract: An engine system comprises first and second electrical generators coupled to lower and higher pressure (LP, HP) shafts respectively of a gas turbine engine. A controller is arranged to receive a signal corresponding to a total electrical power demand P1 and to output control signals to the electrical generators in response thereto such that the first and second electrical generators output electrical powers (1?y)P1 and yP1 respectively when P1?Pm1, where 0.5<y?1 and Pm1 is the maximum electrical output power of the first electrical generator. By satisfying the demand P1 mostly by extraction of electrical power from the first electrical generator when possible, the additional mechanical stress on the gas turbine engine resulting from electrical power extraction is reduced compared to the case where 50% or more of the demand P1 is satisfied by the second electrical generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for a gas turbine engine, the apparatus comprising: a low pressure compressor; a high pressure compressor; a first electrical machine configured to provide torque to the low pressure compressor; a second electrical machine configured to receive torque from the high pressure compressor; and wherein the high pressure compressor does not comprise a sub-idle bleed valve.