Torsional damping for gas turbine engines

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine assembly having a compressor configured to increase pressure of incoming air, a combustion chamber, at least one turbine coupled to a generator, a torsional damper, and a controller. The combustion chamber is configured to receive a pressurized air stream from the compressor. Further, fuel is injected into the pressurized air in the combustion chamber and ignited so as to raise a temperature and energy level of the pressurized air. The turbine is operatively coupled to the combustion chamber so as to receive combustion products that flow from the combustion chamber. The generator is coupled to the turbine via a shaft. Thus, the torsional damper is configured to dampen torsional oscillations of the generator. Moreover, the controller is configured to provide additional damping control to the generator.

1 . A gas turbine engine assembly, comprising:
 a compressor configured to increase pressure of incoming air;   a combustion chamber configured to receive a pressurized air stream from the compressor, wherein fuel is injected into the pressurized air stream and ignited so as to raise a temperature and energy level of the pressurized air;   a turbine operatively coupled to the combustion chamber so as to receive combustion products that flow from the combustion chamber;   a generator coupled to a shaft system of the turbine via a shaft;   a mechanical torsional damper, integrated with the generator, configured to dampen torsional oscillations of the shaft system of the generator; and   a controller configured to provide additional damping control to the generator.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical torsional damper comprises a viscous damper. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a power converter comprising one or more electrical circuits, wherein the electrical damper comprises a resistor integrated into one of the electrical circuits of the power converter. 
     
     
         6 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the resistor so as to prohibit the generator from having a constant power load at frequencies of torsional interaction. 
     
     
         7 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a power bus damper configured to prohibit the generator from having a constant power load at frequencies of torsional interaction. 
     
     
         8 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the power bus damper comprises at least one of an active load, a controlled resistive load, or an energy storage device. 
     
     
         9 . The gas turbine engine assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control a power factor of the generator so as to provide torsional damping of the generator by decreasing the power factor and creating losses internal to windings of the generator and connecting cables. 
     
     
         10 . An electrical power system, comprising:
 a first inertia system connected to a second inertia system via a shaft, the first inertia system being larger than the second inertia system, the second inertia system comprising a negative ratio of delta torque and delta speed; and   a torsional damper configured to dampen torsional oscillations between the first and second inertia systems.   
     
     
         11 . The electrical power system of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller configured to provide additional damping control for the first and second inertia systems. 
     
     
         12 . The electrical power system of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical power system comprises at least one of gas turbine engine, a wind turbine, or a steam turbine. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical power system of  claim 12 , wherein the first inertia system comprises a generator and the second inertia system comprises a generator driver, the generator driver comprising at least one of a low-pressure shaft system, a high-pressure shaft system, or one or more rotor blades. 
     
     
         14 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The electrical power system of  claim 13 , wherein the torsional damper comprises at least one of a mechanical damper or an electrical damper. 
     
     
         22 . The electrical power system of  claim 21 , wherein the mechanical damper comprises a viscous damper. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical power system of  claim 22 , wherein the viscous damper is positioned circumferentially around the shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The electrical power system of  claim 23 , wherein the viscous damper is positioned circumferentially around the shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical power system of  claim 13 , further comprising a power converter comprising one or more electrical circuits, wherein the electrical damper comprises a resistor integrated into one of the electrical circuits of the power converter. 
     
     
         26 . The electrical power system of  claim 25 , wherein the controller is configured to control the resistor so as to prohibit the generator from having a constant power load at frequencies of torsional interaction. 
     
     
         27 . The electrical power system of  claim 26 , further comprising a power bus damper configured to prohibit the generator from having a constant power load at frequencies of torsional interaction, wherein the power bus damper comprises at least one of an active load, a controlled resistive load, or an energy storage device.