Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Douglas A Parsons

Kenneth Marks

Gregory I Rozman

James R Gustafson

Leo J Veilleux, Jr

Charles H Falke

Peter L Jalbert

Constantine Semyanko

Kevin E Alstrin

Richard J Lapointe

Peter Jalbert

Oil system components for a turbine engine are used to provide a vacuum system for a fuel stabilization unit (FSU). A vacuum system pulls oxygen and other contaminants from fuel into a vacuum chamber within the FSU. The vacuum system pumps the discharge through a vacuum outlet in the FSU toward a vacuum pump. Due to the quality of vacuum required, a two-stage vacuum pump is used. A first stage vacuum pump is an oil system scavenge pump for the turbine engine and the second stage vacuum is provided by a second stage vacuum pump. The discharge flows from the vacuum chamber through to the second stage vacuum pump and is then added to the oil supply. The oil and discharge mixture is sent through an oil system de-oiler and a de-aerator to clean the oil supply prior to pumping the oil back through the oil system.

Vacuum system for membrane fuel stabilization unit

A fuel system for a turbine engine is provided. The fuel system includes a positive displacement pump driven by an electric motor. The pump is rotated in a first direction to deliver fuel to the turbine engine, and a second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine. A shut-off check valve is open in a first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump in the first direction. The shut-off check valve is biased to a closed position when the pump is rotating in the second direction. An ecology check valve is biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump. The check valves open and close automatically in response to the pressures generated by the positive displacement pump in each of the first and second rotational directions. In this manner, simple, reliable valves are utilized to regulate the flow of fuel in the fuel system.

Gas turbine fuel metering unit

A fuel system includes first and second drive assemblies that are independently drivable relative to one another. The second drive assembly has a speed that is selectively controlled based upon a desired fuel flow. A non-positive displacement pump is driven by the first drive assembly. The non-positive displacement pump provides a desired fuel pressure for the fuel system. A positive displacement pump is driven by the second drive assembly. The positive displacement pump meters a desired volume in response to the speed of the second drive assembly in a first rotational direction. The fuel flows from the pumps and passes through a bypass valve that acts as a minimum pressure shut-off valve. During shut-down of the first drive assembly, the bypass valve is opened by a solenoid and the rotational direction of the second drive assembly is reversed to a second rotational direction to evacuate fuel from the system with the positive displacement pump and return the fuel to the fuel tank.

Metering demand fuel system

A microwave position sensing system includes a plurality of target components that each move between multiple positions. A microwave generator produces a microwave frequency signal. A divider receives the microwave frequency signal and splits the microwave frequency signal into a plurality of position sensing signals. The position sensing signals are respectively sent to the plurality of target components to determine a position of each of the target components. Each position sensing signal may also be calibrated. In one example, first and second frequencies are transmitted through a common wave guide. The first frequency is reflected prior to reaching the target component to produce a calibration signal. The second signal, which is used to detect the position of the target component, is calibrated using the first frequency.

Microwave position sensing for a turbo machine

The present invention provides a fuel system for an engine including a water supply source for providing water and a fuel supply source for providing fuel. A centrifugal pump is fluidly connected to the water and fuel supply sources, respectively at water and fuel inputs. The pump receives the water and the fuel from the inputs and produces a homogeneous mixture without using other pumps or mixing devices. A metering device is arranged between the pump and one of the supply sources, preferably the water supply source, to produce the desired ratio of water and fuel. The speed of the pump is varied to deliver the desired total volume and pressure of fuel and water to the engine through the pump output. The water metering device may be closed to deliver only fuel to the engine during special conditions such as engine startup and rapid load dumps. Operation of the system is simplified because only one pump and metering device is used.

Fuel system utilizing dual mixing pump

A metering pump incorporates a method of relating inner loop current to a pump output pressure. Pump/motor speed, which correlates to current, is measured and controlled by a system controller. System temperature is also measured by the system controller. The controller monitors the measured system temperature and provides for compensation for system losses, including inductive-resistive (IR) losses, and for density and viscosity shifts, within a pre-determined allowable system temperature operating range. An initial system calibration is conducted using a 'shut-off' test, where the metering pump is run at a very slow known speed while the system is shut-off. After initial start-up, a health-monitoring feature continues to monitor the current as an indicator of pump performance and continuously adjusts a motor speed to maintain a desired level of pump performance. This provides the system with the ability to compensate for performance losses, including performance losses due to variations in operating conditions, and to compensate for pump wear.

Metering pump with self-calibration and health prediction

An integrated skid system integrates the functions of multiple skids into a single skid to reduce the skid footprint and the complexity of the overall system. A multi-motor controller monitors the devices on the integrated skid to maintain proper temperature, pressure and current draw in the devices. Base on this information, the multi-motor controller can make decisions on faults and fault accommodation and communicate with a main controller regarding the operating states of the skid devices via a single serial or Ethernet-type connection.

Integrated skid with multiple-motor controller

An electric engine starting system includes a permanent magnet motor that is used to start the engine and then to generate power for powering a load while the engine is running. A disclosed system includes a first phase controlled rectifier in series with a power converter and a second phase controlled rectifier. During an engine starting operation, the first phase controlled rectifier is switched to couple the permanent magnet motor to a power source for starting the engine. Once the engine is running, the first phase controlled rectifier is switched off and the second phase controlled rectifier is switched on. The second phase control rectifier converts variable AC power from the motor into DC power. The power converter converts the DC power into an appropriate power for driving the load. One disclosed example includes a filter between the power converter and the load to ensure that the load receives a selected quality of power.

Power converter for an electric engine start system

An electric motor has at least one component that is submerged in a cooling fluid held in a fluid-filled cavity. The stator, rotor, and rotor shaft bearings are all possible components that may be submerged. The cooling fluid floods the stator, rotor, and/or bearings to cool the components. The fluid may have a high electrical resistance to isolate the motor components from any contact with flammable gasses as well as prevent arcs or sparks. The cavity holding the fluid also ensures continuous lubrication by preventing fluid from leaking or evaporating out of the motor.

Fluid-submerged electric motor

An electric start system () includes a controller () that controls operation of a motor () used to start a device such as a gas turbine engine (). In one example, the controller () determines when an acceleration rate of the motor () is outside of a desired range and dynamically controls the acceleration rate. In another example, the controller () determines when the motor () is disengaged from the engine () and controls a torque reference value to facilitate smoother reengagement. In another example, the controller () provides an initial starting torque value that allows for soft starting capabilities of the motor ().

Electric motor control strategies

A fuel system includes a turbine engine, and an electric motor that are independently drivable relative to one another. The electric motor has a speed that is selectively controlled based upon a desired fuel flow. A centrifugal pump is driven by the turbine engine. The centrifugal pump provides a desired fuel pressure for the fuel system. A positive displacement pump is driven by the electric motor The positive displacement pump is in fluid communication with the centrifugal pump, for example in a series arrangement. The positive displacement pump meters a desired volume in response to the speed of the second drive assembly.

Metering demand fuel system for gas turbine engines

A turbine engine inspection arrangement utilizes a motor that is otherwise utilized for starting the engine. An inspection interface allows for communicating with a motor controller to operate the motor in an inspection mode. During inspection, the motor moves the components of the engine very slowly or in an incremental fashion to facilitate visual inspection of the engine components, such as the turbine blades.

Electric engine start system with inspection mode

A fluid scavenging system is provided for a lubrication system including a gas turbine engine having bearing compartments. A valve includes a housing with an outlet and a plurality of fluid inlets respectively in fluid communication with the bearing compartments. The valve includes a rotationally driven member arranged within the housing with the member having a plurality of ports arranged thereon each defining an arcuate slot. Each of the ports are selectively in fluid communication with one of the fluid inlets through the arcuate slot during rotation of the member for selectively permitting fluid flow between the opening of one of the fluid inlets through one of the corresponding ports in the member. A fluid pump is fluidly connected to the outlet for drawing fluid from each of the plurality of fluid compartments during fluid rotation of the member. The driven member rotates about an axis 360&#xb0;, and preferably, the ports are respectively aligned with the fluid inlets for approximately at least 360&#xb0; such that the pump does not run dry. The arcuate slots may overlap during a range of degrees such that more than one compartment is scavenged. The size of the arcuate slot and degrees through which the arcuate slot is in communication with its respective inlet determines the duration that a particular bearing compartment is scavenged and the volume of bearing fluid that may be removed from the compartment.

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Canton, CT, United States of America

Douglas A Parsons