Patent attributes
A system for generating supplemental electrical power from the low-pressure (LP) turbine spool of a turbofan engine includes a high-speed, high magnetic pole count, generator, a gearbox, a controller and a power converter. The LP turbine spool is mechanically coupled to the generator portion by the gearbox for driving the generator portion. The controller portion has a speed-sensing element for sensing the LP turbine speed. The controller portion disables the power converter when the generator exceeds a predetermined speed, and enables the power converter when the generator portion is less or equal to the predetermined speed. The effective load on the generator is reduced to approximately zero when the LP turbine spool exceeds the predetermined speed, permitting the generator to be electrically bound up to the predetermined speed and mechanically bound in excess of the predetermined speed.
