Hybrid propulsion system for use during uncommanded thrust loss and method of operating

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043399-B2
Application number	US-202318163957-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A hybrid-electric propulsion system includes a propulsor, a turbomachine, and an electrical system having an electric machine coupled to the turbomachine. A method for operating the propulsion system includes operating, by one or more computing devices, the turbomachine to rotate the propulsor and generate thrust for the aircraft; receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an un-commanded loss of the thrust generated from the turbomachine rotating the propulsor; and providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine to add power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both in response to receiving the data indicative of the un-commanded loss of thrust.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for operating a turbomachine of a hybrid-electric propulsion system of an aircraft, the hybrid-electric propulsion system comprising a propulsor, a turbomachine, and an electrical system having an electric machine coupled to the turbomachine, the method comprising:
operating, by one or more computing devices, the turbomachine to rotate the propulsor and generate thrust for the aircraft;
receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of an un-commanded loss of the thrust generated from the turbomachine rotating the propulsor, wherein the data indicative of an un-commanded loss of thrust includes data indicating that the loss of thrust is a partial or temporary loss of thrust, wherein receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the un-commanded loss of the thrust comprises receiving data indicative of an un-commanded increased vibration of one or more components of the turbomachine, of the propulsor, or both; and
providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine to add mechanical power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both in response to receiving the data indicative of the un-commanded loss of thrust.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the un-commanded increased vibration of one or more components of the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both includes receiving data indicative of a vibration of the propulsor being above a predetermined threshold, a vibration of a low pressure compressor of the turbomachine being above a predetermined threshold, a vibration of one or more support members within the turbomachine being above a predetermined threshold, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine to add mechanical power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both in response to receiving the data indicative of the un-commanded loss of thrust comprises providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine to add mechanical power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both in response to receiving the data indicative of the un-commanded loss of thrust to make up for the un-commanded loss of thrust.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical system further comprises an electric energy storage unit, and wherein providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine comprises providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine from the electric energy storage unit.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the turbomachine is a first turbomachine, wherein the electric machine is a first electric machine, wherein the hybrid-electric propulsion system further comprises a second turbomachine, wherein the electrical system further comprises a second electric machine coupled to the second turbomachine, and wherein providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine comprises providing, by the one or more computing devices, generated electrical power to the first electric machine from the second electric machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the un-commanded loss of the thrust comprises receiving, by one or more computing devices, data indicative of an un-commanded reduced pressure within the turbomachine.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
terminating, by the one or more computing devices, the provision of electrical power to the electric machine to add mechanical power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a restoration of engine operability equal to that prior to the un-commanded loss of thrust, and wherein terminating, by the one or more computing devices, the provision of electrical power to the electric machine comprises terminating, by the one or more computing devices, the provision of electrical power to the electric machine in response to receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the restoration of engine operability.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the restoration of engine operability equal to that prior to the un-commanded loss of thrust comprises receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a restoration of the thrust generated from the turbomachine rotating the propulsor, and wherein the data indicative of the restoration of the thrust comprises data indicative of an operability parameter of the turbomachine being within a certain operability range.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of the restoration of engine operability comprises receiving, by the one or more computing devices, data indicative of a restoration of the thrust generated from the turbomachine rotating the propulsor, and wherein the data indicative of the restoration of the thrust comprises data indicative of at least one of a rotational speed of the turbomachine being above a determined threshold or a pressure within the turbomachine being above a determined threshold.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine comprises transferring, by one or more computing devices, at least ten amps of electrical power to the electric machine.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine comprises providing, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power to the electric machine such that the electric machine provides at least fifteen horsepower of mechanical power to the turbomachine.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating, by the one or more computing devices, the turbomachine to rotate the propulsor and generate thrust for the aircraft comprises extracting, by the one or more computing devices, electrical power from the electric machine.

14. A hybrid-electric propulsion system for an aircraft comprising:
a propulsor;
a turbomachine coupled to the propulsor for driving the propulsor and generating thrust;
an electrical system comprising an electric machine, the electric machine coupled to the turbomachine; and
a controller configured to receive data indicative of an un-commanded loss of thrust generated from the turbomachine driving the propulsor, wherein the controller is further configured for receiving, by one or more computing devices, data indicative of an increased vibration of one or more components of the turbomachine, wherein the data indicative of an un-commanded loss of thrust includes data indicating that the loss of thrust is a partial or temporary loss of thrust, the controller further configured to provide electrical power to the electric machine to add mechanical power to the turbomachine, the propulsor, or both in response to receiving the data indicative of the un-commanded loss of the thrust.

15. The hybrid-electric propulsion system of claim 14 , wherein the electrical system further comprises an electric energy storage unit, and wherein in providing electrical power to the electric machine, the controller is configured to provide electrical power to the electric machine from the electric energy storage unit.

16. The hybrid-electric propulsi

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Gansler Michael Thomas
• Hon Robert Charles

Classifications

• B64D31/10 Primary

  for preventing asymmetric thrust · CPC title

• B64D27/35

  Arrangements for on-board electric energy production, distribution, recovery or storage · CPC title

• B64D27/31

  within, or attached to, wings · CPC title

• B64D35/023

  of series-parallel type · CPC title

• B64D27/33

  Hybrid electric aircraft · CPC title