Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a gas generating core engine generates an exhaust gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section, a power turbine driven by the exhaust gas flow, a propulsor coupled to the power turbine, a hydrogen fuel system configured to supply hydrogen fuel to the combustor through a fuel flow path, a condenser arranged along the core flow path and configured to extract water from the exhaust gas flow, and an evaporator arranged along the core flow path receiving a portion of the water extracted by the condenser to generate a steam flow that is injected into the core flow path upstream of the turbine section.

Abstract: An engine system includes a turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section having a burner, a turbine section, and a nozzle in an open-loop configuration. The engine system also includes a bottom-cycle apparatus and an exhaust heat exchanger downstream of the turbine section of the turbine engine configured to reject heat from the turbine engine to the bottoming-cycle apparatus and create a cooled turbine exhaust in the turbine engine. The engine system further includes an exhaust compressor arranged downstream of the exhaust heat exchanger and upstream of the nozzle of the turbine engine configured to compress the cooled turbine exhaust stream and increase a pressure of the cooled turbine exhaust stream prior to exiting the nozzle of the turbine engine.

Abstract: A powerplant is provided that includes a flowpath, a combustor and a water extraction system. The combustor is configured to generate combustion products and direct the combustion products through the flowpath. The combustion products are configured from or otherwise include water vapor. The water extraction system is arranged with the flowpath downstream of the combustor. The water extraction system includes a condensation seeder and a collector. The condensation seeder is configured to direct a plurality of small water droplets into the flowpath to promote condensation of the water vapor to grow the small water droplets into a plurality of large water droplets. The collector is configured to collect the large water droplets.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a core engine that includes a core flow path where air is compressed in a compressor section, communicated to a combustor section, mixed with a hydrogen based fuel and ignited to generate a core gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section. The propulsion system includes a hydrogen fuel system that is configured to supply hydrogen fuel to the combustor through a fuel flow path, a condenser that is arranged along the core flow path and configured to condense water within the core gas flow, and a separator that includes an inlet, a primary water outlet and an exit that includes a plurality of exit guide vanes for straightening the core gas flow that proceeds through the exit. The exit guide vanes include a secondary water outlet for removing condensed water in the core gas flow that proceeds through the exit.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a core engine that includes a core flow path where a core flow is compressed in a compressor section, communicated to a combustor section, mixed with a hydrogen-based fuel and ignited to generate a gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section. A fuel system is configured to supply a hydrogen based fuel to the combustor through a fuel flow path. A condenser is arranged along the core flow path and configured to extract water from the gas flow. An intercooling system receives a portion of water from the condenser for cooling a portion of the core flow at a first location within the compressor section. Heated water from the intercooling system is exhausted to a second location within the core flow path downstream of the first location.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a core engine that includes a core flow path where a core flow is compressed in a compressor section, communicated to a combustor section, mixed with a hydrogen-based fuel and ignited to generate a gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section. A fuel system is configured to supply a hydrogen based fuel to the combustor through a fuel flow path. A condenser is arranged along the core flow path and configured to extract water from the gas flow. An intercooling system receives a portion of water from the condenser for cooling a portion of the core flow at a first location within the compressor section. Heated water from the intercooling system is exhausted to a second location within the core flow path downstream of the first location.

Abstract: A system includes a top cycle and a bottoming cycle. The top cycle is an engine having a combustor. The combustor receives a fuel. The combustor is capable of igniting a mix of fuel and a gas, and creating products of combustion. Products of the combustion pass downstream through a first heat exchanger. The bottoming cycle has a bottoming cycle working fluid receiving a first amount of heat through the first heat exchanger. The bottoming cycle produces work from the first amount of heat. The bottoming cycle working fluid then passes through a second heat exchanger and rejects a second lesser amount of heat. A source housing fuel is delivered to the combustor via the second heat exchanger. The bottoming cycle working fluid provides heat to the fuel being delivered to the combustor. The source is configured to maintain the fuel at a temperature equal to or below 0° F.

Abstract: An energy supply system includes a source of gas which is at a pressure that is equal to or greater than an atmospheric pressure. The source of gas is configured to deliver the gas into a combustor where it is mixed with a fuel. The combustor is also connected to receive a source of steam. The combustor is operable to provide combustion. Products of the combustion downstream of the combustor are connected to be delivered across a turbine rotor. The turbine rotor is provided with a shaft. The turbine shaft drives a generator. An evaporator downstream of the turbine receives the products of the combustion. The evaporator is operable to heat a source of water. The source of water downstream of the evaporator is the source of steam delivered into the combustor. The gas includes greater than 80% oxygen and the fuel includes hydrogen.

Abstract: A disclosed drive assembly for an auxiliary power unit includes a first drive shaft driven by an auxiliary power unit, a second drive shaft driven by a first electric motor, a differential gear system including a ring gear driven by the second drive shaft, a and planet gears supported within a carrier attached to the ring gear. The first drive shaft and an output shaft are coupled to the planet gears and a generator is driven by the output shaft. The electric motor and the auxiliary power unit combine to drive the output shaft.

Abstract: Turbine engine systems include a core assembly having a compressor section, a burner section, and a turbine section arranged along a shaft, with a core flow path through the turbine engine such that exhaust from the burner section passes through the turbine section and exits through a nozzle. A core condenser is arranged downstream of the turbine section and upstream of the nozzle and configured to condense water from the core flow path. A fuel cell is operably connected to the core assembly. A fuel source is configured to supply a fuel to each of the burner section for combustion and the fuel cell for reaction to generate electricity. At least one electric motor is operably coupled to the core assembly and configured to impart power to a portion of the core assembly and the fuel cell is configured to supply electrical power to the at least one electric motor.

Abstract: Aircraft engine systems include a core assembly having at least a burner section and a fuel cell configured to generate electrical power. A cryogenic fuel source is configured to supply a fuel through a fuel supply line to each of the burner section and the fuel cell for reaction to generate the electrical power. A system controller is configured to direct fuel to each of the combustor section and the fuel cell. The controller determines if an amount of fuel in the fuel supply line is in excess of that necessary for operation of the core assembly and, based on a determination that excess fuel is present, the controller is configured to direct at least a portion of the excess fuel from the fuel supply line to the fuel cell to generate the electrical power.

Abstract: A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

Abstract: A powerplant is provided that includes an engine and a water recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system includes a hydrogen reservoir and an oxygen reservoir. The hydrogen reservoir is configured to store fluid hydrogen as liquid hydrogen. The oxygen reservoir is configured to store fluid oxygen as liquid oxygen. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide the fluid hydrogen and the fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The water recovery system is configured to extract water from the combustion products. The water recovery system is configured to provide the water to a component of the powerplant.

Abstract: A turbine engine assembly includes a core engine generating a high energy gas flow that is expanded through a turbine section, a hydrogen fuel system supplying hydrogen fuel to a combustor through a fuel flow path, a condenser extracting water from the high energy gas flow, an evaporator inputting thermal energy into the water extracted by the condenser to generate a steam flow, and at least one superheater receiving the steam flow from the evaporator and input thermal energy for heating the steam flow. The steam flow from the at least one superheater is injected into the core flow path upstream of the turbine section.

Abstract: A propulsion system includes a core engine generating a high energy gas flow, a condenser configured to extract water from the high energy gas flow and an evaporator transforming the extracted water into a steam flow. The steam flow is injected into a core flow path of the core engine increase mass flow.

Abstract: Aircraft engines and methods of operation include a core assembly having a compressor section, a burner section, and a turbine section arranged along a shaft, with a core flow path through the turbine engine such that exhaust from the burner section passes through the turbine section. A core condenser is arranged downstream of the turbine section of the core assembly along the core flow path, the core condenser being configured to condense water from the core flow path. A refrigeration system is operably coupled to the core condenser and configured to direct a cold stream flow path into thermal interaction with the core flow path at the core condenser and configured to control a delta temperature at which heat exchange occurs between the core flow path and the cold stream flow path.

Abstract: Aircraft engines include a turbine engine comprising a compressor section, a burner section, and a turbine section arranged along a shaft, with a core flow path through the turbine engine such that exhaust from the burner section passes through the turbine section, a condensing assembly arranged downstream of the turbine section of the turbine engine along the core flow path, and an exhaust compressor arranged downstream of the condensing assembly along the core flow path. The condensing assembly is configured to reduce a mass flow of the exhaust compressor by condensing water vapor from the core flow and removing liquid water from the core flow.

Abstract: A method is provided during which an aircraft powerplant is provided. The aircraft powerplant includes a combustor and a water recovery system. The water recovery system includes a condenser and a reservoir. Fuel is combusted within the combustor to provide combustion products. Water is extracted from the combustion products using the condenser. The water recovery system is operated in one of a plurality of modes based on likelihood of contrail formation. The modes include a first mode and a second mode, where the water is collected within the reservoir during the first mode, and where the water passes through the water recovery system during the second mode.

Abstract: A powerplant is provided for an aircraft. This powerplant includes an engine and an energy recovery system. The engine includes an engine combustor, an engine turbine, a flowpath and a fluid delivery system. The flowpath extends out of the engine combustor and through the engine turbine. The fluid delivery system is configured to provide fluid hydrogen and fluid oxygen for combustion within the engine combustor to produce combustion products within the flowpath. The energy recovery system includes an energy recovery system condenser, an energy recovery system pump, an energy recovery system evaporator and an energy recovery system turbine. The energy recovery system pump is configured to pump liquid water from the energy recovery system condenser to the energy recovery system evaporator.

Abstract: Aircraft engines include a turbine engine comprising a compressor section, a burner section, and a turbine section arranged along a shaft, with a core flow path through the turbine engine such that exhaust from the burner section passes through the turbine section, a condensing assembly arranged downstream of the turbine section of the turbine engine along the core flow path, and an exhaust compressor arranged downstream of the condensing assembly along the core flow path. The condensing assembly is configured to reduce a mass flow of the exhaust compressor by condensing water vapor from the core flow and removing liquid water from the core flow.