Hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025250943-A1
Application number	US-202318993434-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2023
Priority date	Jul 20, 2022
Publication date	Aug 7, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system including a turbine engine including a high-pressure spool and a low-pressure spool, the low-pressure spool including reduction gear, the reduction gear forming part of a transmission gearbox which is positioned axially at a front end of the propulsion system; —first and second electric machines mechanically and respectively connected to the high-pressure and low-pressure spools, the electric machines being configured to operate in modes referred to as motor and generator, the first and second electric machines being fixed to the transmission gearbox; —a control system which is configured to allow the transfer of power between the high-pressure and low-pressure spools via the first and second electric machines.

First claim

1 . A hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft comprising:
a turboshaft engine comprising a high-pressure spool and a low-pressure spool movable in rotation, the high-pressure spool comprising a compressor and an expansion turbine mechanically connected to each other by a high-pressure shaft, the low-pressure spool comprising a power turbine which drives a power take-off in rotation via a reduction gear, the reduction gear forming part of a transmission gearbox which is arranged axially at a front end of the propulsion system; first and second electric machines mechanically connected to the high-pressure and low-pressure spools respectively, the electric machines being configured to operate in so-called motor and generator modes, the first and second electric machines being attached to the transmission gearbox; a control system which is configured to allow power to be transferred between the high-pressure and low-pressure spools via the first and second electric machines.

2 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second electric machines are attached to a front face of the transmission gearbox.

3 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the first electric machine is connected to the high-pressure spool via a first transmission mechanism arranged in the transmission gearbox, the first transmission mechanism preferably being a gear mechanism.

4 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the second electric machine is connected to the low-pressure spool via a second transmission mechanism arranged in the transmission gearbox, the second transmission mechanism preferably being a gear mechanism.

5 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the power turbine and the reduction gear are mechanically connected to each other by a low-pressure shaft, the low-pressure and high-pressure shafts being coaxial, the low-pressure shaft passing internally through the high-pressure shaft.

6 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the power take-off is able to drive a main transmission gearbox of the aircraft.

7 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second electric machines are high-voltage electric machines which are connected to a high-voltage electrical network of the control system.

8 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the first electric machine is configured to start the turboshaft engine.

9 . The propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein it is configured to operate according to one of the following operating modes:
a first hybrid operating mode wherein the first electric machine operates in generator mode and the second electric machine operates in motor mode, the electrical energy produced by the first electric machine being used to supply electrical energy to the second electric machine, so as to transfer power from the high-pressure spool towards the low-pressure spool; a second hybrid operating mode wherein the first electric machine operates in motor mode and the second electric machine operates in generator mode, the electrical energy produced by the second electric machine being used to supply electrical energy to the first electric machine, so as to transfer power from the low-pressure spool towards the high-pressure spool.

10 . An aircraft comprising a hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Safran Helicopter Engines

Inventors

• Thiriet Romain Jean Gilbert
• Serghine Camel
• Drouin Thomas

Classifications

• F05D2220/76

  an electrical generator · CPC title

• B64D35/022

  of hybrid-electric type · CPC title

• B64D27/33

  Hybrid electric aircraft · CPC title

• B64D35/023

  of series-parallel type · CPC title

• B64D27/14

  within, or attached to, fuselages · CPC title