Re-expansion Patents (Class 60/791)
  • Publication number: 20040168427
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine. The method also comprises coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas turbine engine upstream from the core engine turbine, and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: John B. Truco, Gary Craig Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 6775987
    Abstract: There is provided a low-emission, staged-combustion power generation system and associated method for generating power. The power generation system and method combust a carbonaceous fuel with an oxidizing fluid, both of which are substantially free of nitrogen and sulfur, to generate power, for example, in the form of electricity, without the formation of nitrous oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Efficiency is enhanced using a multi-staged combustion, in which the carbonaceous fuel is partially combusted before passing through a first power take-off device and subsequently reheated and passed through one or more additional power take-off devices. Additionally, exhaust gases from one or more of the power take-off devices can be extracted and processed to provide quantities of useful products such as hydrogen and methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Sprouse, James A. Hartung
  • Publication number: 20040144099
    Abstract: An improved turbine engine topology, wherein the improvement comprises a repositioning, with respect to a conventional intercooled regenerative turbine engine topology, of exhaust gas output from a low pressure turbine stage to a regenerator, to an exhaust gas output from a high pressure turbine stage to the regenerator. The engine topology may additionally employ, as an intermediate stage between the high pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine, a feedback control system, whereby the exhaust gas output from the high pressure turbine stage to the regenerator flows through the feedback control. The engine topology may advantageously also employ an additional cooler and an additional exhaust gas output in the feedback control, whereby exhaust gas flows from the feedback control through the additional cooler to a high pressure compressor stage, or the exhaust gas can flow from the feedback control through a bottoming cycle to the high pressure compressor stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Richard R. Coleman, Thelma Coleman
  • Patent number: 6735951
    Abstract: An APU system includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure spool, a high pressure spool and an electrical generator. The electrical generator is driven by the high pressure spool which is governed to a constant speed. Conversely, the low pressure spool is not governed at all, but is allowed to seek a speed that balances the power developed by the low pressure turbine (LPT) and power absorbed by the low pressure compressor (LPC). A step increase/decrease in electrical power demand is met with a step increase/decrease in fuel flow, which results in an overshoot/undershoot of the new equilibrium turbine inlet temperature TIT. The TIT returns to the new equilibrium when the LP spool has achieved it's new shaft speed and new equilibrium power balance. The HP Spool and generator maintain essentially constant speed and frequency, while the LP Spool responds to restore equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6729139
    Abstract: A power turbine speed control system for a helicopter is disclosed which includes components for generating a power turbine speed signal based upon a demanded rotor speed, a high-order filter for filtering the power turbine speed signal by effectuating a rapid attenuation of main and tail rotor torsional frequencies in the power turbine speed signal without compromising phase at low frequencies, and a governor for providing isochronous power turbine speed and rotor speed control based upon the filtered power turbine speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Goodrich Pump & Engine Control Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mihir C. Desai, Tomasz J. Stanecki, Jeffrey S. Mattice
  • Publication number: 20040079084
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a means for improving gas turbine engine performance by applying fluid flow control to the inter-turbine duct joining a high-pressure turbine spool and an associated low-pressure turbine spool, allowing the low-pressure turbine spool to have a relatively larger diameter than the high-pressure turbine spool. One or more unobstructed fluid flow paths between one or more boundary layer suction ports disposed within the upstream end of the outer-body surface of the inter-turbine duct and the suction side of the associated low-pressure turbine nozzle are provided. Advantageously, the natural static pressure difference between these points results in a self-aspirating assembly. The fluid flow control provided by the respective suction and blowing forces generated allows for a relatively larger diameter low-pressure turbine spool and/or relatively fewer low-pressure turbine nozzles to be used than is possible with conventional systems, assemblies, and methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Kirtley, Paolo Graziosi
  • Publication number: 20030167750
    Abstract: A multi-spool turbofan engine has a plurality of circumferentially spaced poppet valves with diverters secured thereto for precisely controlling bleed of combustion gas aft of the high pressure turbine whereby the high pressure spool operates at high idle RPM so as to power accessories and the low pressure spool operates at low RPM so as to minimize noise and fuel consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Melody Bornhoft, David Jarrell
  • Publication number: 20030126864
    Abstract: An APU system includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure spool, a high pressure spool and an electrical generator. The electrical generator is driven by the high pressure spool which is governed to a constant speed. Conversely, the low pressure spool is not governed at all, but is allowed to seek a speed that balances the power developed by the low pressure turbine (LPT) and power absorbed by the low pressure compressor (LPC). A step increase/decrease in electrical power demand is met with a step increase/decrease in fuel flow, which results in an overshoot/undershoot of the new equilibrium turbine inlet temperature TIT. The TIT returns to the new equilibrium when the LP spool has achieved it's new shaft speed and new equilibrium power balance. The HP Spool and generator maintain essentially constant speed and frequency, while the LP Spool responds to restore equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Robert G. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20030121270
    Abstract: An engine core rotor shaft structure for gas turbine engine is disclosed, which includes an outer annular shaft body, an inner annular shaft body, high pressure turbine (HPT) rotor blades radially connected between the outer annular shaft body and the inner annular shaft body to hold the inner annular shaft body in the rear section of the outer annular shaft body, and a can type combustor mounted in a receiving chamber inside the outer annular shaft body to enlarge the diameter of the core shaft, to avoid vibration due to resonance, to save space occupation, to eliminate dissipation of heat, and to improve the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Applicant: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chii-Rong Kuo, Ta-Wei Wang, Jia-Ruey Wu, Ling-Chia Weng, Tao-Pang Hsiung, Chia-Yang Chang
  • Publication number: 20030097844
    Abstract: An aircraft engine turbine frame includes a first structural ring, a second structural ring disposed co-axially with and radially spaced inwardly of the first structural ring about a centerline axis. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart struts extend between the first and second structural rings. Forward and aft sump members having forward and aft central bores are fixedly joined to forward and aft portions of the turbine frame respectively. A frame connecting means for connecting the engine to an aircraft is disposed on the first structural ring. The frame connecting means may include a U-shaped clevis. The frame may be an inter-turbine frame axially located between first and second turbines of first and second rotors of a gas turbine engine assembly. An axial center of gravity of the second turbine passes though or very near a second turbine frame bearing supported by the aft sump member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Jorge F. Seda
  • Publication number: 20030094001
    Abstract: A power turbine speed control system for a helicopter is disclosed which includes components for generating a power turbine speed signal based upon a demanded rotor speed, a high-order filter for filtering the power turbine speed signal by effectuating a rapid attenuation of main and tail rotor torsional frequencies in the power turbine speed signal without compromising phase at low frequencies, and a governor for providing isochronous power turbine speed and rotor speed control based upon the filtered power turbine speed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Mihir C. Desai, Tomasz J. Stanecki, Jeffrey S. Mattice
  • Publication number: 20030079465
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bypass turbojet comprising a primary duct, a secondary duct, a low-pressure compressor, a high-pressure compressor, and a structural intermediate casing arranged axially between said low-pressure compressor and said high-pressure compressor, said intermediate casing being equipped at its periphery with a plurality of support arms having platforms which internally delimit the secondary duct, in which bleed-off means are provided, allowing some of the gaseous stream delivered by the low-pressure compressor to be tapped off and led to the secondary duct. Said bleed-off means comprise means for tapping air from said primary duct which are arranged upstream of said intermediate casing and means for removing the air tapped from said secondary duct downstream of said support arms, these means comprising conduits arranged around said intermediate casing under said platforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: SNECMA MOTEURS
    Inventors: Bruno Beutin, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Pascal Gerard Gervais, Monique Andree Thore
  • Patent number: 6442945
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor, a combustor mounted downstream of the compressor, power turbine mounted downstream of the combustor, a counter-rotating compressor turbine having a temperature sensor at its outlet, a temperature control system for controlling the temperature at the outlet of the compressor turbine, and a fuel supply control system for supplying fuel to the combustor. The engine has a drive motor for causing the compressor to rotate and a motor control system having a motor power-up module with an input connected to the fuel supply control system, and a motor power output control module having a first input connected to the motor power-up module, a second input connected to the temperature sensor, and an output which is connected to the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: ALM Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoly Rakhmailov