Abstract:
An auxiliary power unit (APU) includes a compressor, a turbine, a combustor, and a starter-generator unit all integrated within a single containment housing. The turbine has an output shaft on which the compressor is mounted, and the starter-generator unit is coupled to the turbine output shaft without any intervening gears. The rotating components are all rotationally supported within the containment housing using bearings that do not receive a flow of lubricating fluid.
Abstract:
A radial turbine with a novel inlet and a outlet is combined with a centrifugal compressor, also having novel inlet and outlet, so as to obtain a turbocompressor unit wherein the respective inlets and/or exhausts of which are improved. The combination of above improves the overall efficiency of the turbocompressor unit. In addition, the combination limits the axial bulk of such a unit at the cost of a limited increase both in the cross section and the weight and structural complexity of the turbocompressor unit. Such a turbomachine: a radial turbine with an optional centrifugal compressor can be produced using two-microelectronic dimensional machining techniques of the microelectronic type.
Abstract:
A hybrid propulsion system for vehicles having an electronic storage and drive system for driving a vehicle and a thermal engine for charging and energizing the electrical storage and drive system, the thermal engine having a thermal energy source with a compressor and turbine combination operating in a Brayton cycle with the compressor being driven by an electrical motor and the turbine driving a generator, the compressor compressing the motive gas which is thermally heated by the thermal energy source and the heated gas expanding in the turbine.
Abstract:
A microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. Rotating components of the turbine, compressor and electrical generator are secured together by a tie-bolt. The tie-bolt is pre-stressed such that faces of the rotating components of the turbine, electrical generator and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system. The tie-bolt includes a thermally less conductive short portion that is secured to the rotating component of the turbine wheel, and an elongated portion that extends through the rotating components of the compressor and electrical generator. The short, thermally less conductive portion of the tie-bolt inhibits heat from propagating from the turbine end towards the compressor. The short, thermally less conductive portion can be a titanium rod that is inertia-welded between the elongated portion of the tie-bolt and the rotating component of the turbine.
Abstract:
A bearing system for use in a gas turbine engine includes a hermetically isolated bearing chamber formed in the vicinity of a high temperature portion of the main shaft of the engine. A dynamic pressure type gas bearing mounted in the bearing chamber frictionlessly supports the main shaft without lubricant when air is introduced into the bearing chamber from an air passage communicating the bearing chamber with the compressor of the turbine engine. Means for discharging air from the bearing chamber includes means forming a labyrinthine outlet flow path operating to regulate the flow rate of the discharged air.
Abstract:
An aircraft engine, has: a high-pressure spool having a high-pressure turbine drivingly engaged to a high-pressure compressor; and a low-pressure spool having: a first low-pressure turbine downstream of the high-pressure turbine; and a second low-pressure turbine downstream of the first low-pressure turbine, one or more of the first low-pressure turbine and the second low-pressure turbine drivingly engaged to a rotatable load, the first low-pressure turbine and the second low-pressure turbine radially offset from one another relative to a central axis of the aircraft engine.
Abstract:
Embodiments of a forward-swept impeller are provide, as are embodiments of a gas turbine engine containing a forward-swept impeller. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes a shaft and a forward-swept impeller mounted to the shaft. The forward-swept impeller includes, in turn, an inboard impeller section, an outboard impeller section circumscribing the inboard impeller section, and a plurality of hub flow paths extending over the forward-swept impeller from the inboard impeller section to the outboard impeller section. The plurality of hub flow paths each have a flow path exit that is tilted in a forward direction, as taken along a line tangent to the flow path exit.
Abstract:
A compression pump for an engine is provided. The pump may include a first pump impeller operatively coupled to a main shaft of the engine, a first inlet configured to at least partially receive bypass airflow, and a first outlet configured to direct compressed air to a thermal management system. The first pump impeller may be rotatably fixed about a common axis of the compression pump. Additionally the compression pump may extend radially to one exterior side of the engine. Furthermore the compression pump can be coupled to the main shaft of the engine by an engine towershaft. A first intake manifold may be coupled to a first inlet of the compression pump and a first discharge manifold may be couple to a first outlet of the compression pump which may have one or more heat exchangers.
Abstract:
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a fuel injector assembly is provided for a gas turbine engine with a compressor section and a combustion section. The fuel injector assembly includes a stem defining a fuel path for fuel and a flow guide coupled to and extending along the stem. The flow guide receives an air flow. The assembly further includes a swirler apparatus coupled to the stem and configured to receive the fuel. The swirler apparatus is further coupled to the flow guide and configured to receive the air flow. The swirler apparatus is configured to mix the fuel and the air flow and direct the mixture into a combustor of the combustor assembly.