US Patent 7624592 Flexible power and thermal architectures using a common machine

A power and cooling management system configured to flexibly couple various adaptive modules to an integrated power and cooling unit to suit any aircraft platform is provided. The integrated power and cooling unit has a compressor(s), power turbine(s), cooling turbine(s) and integral starter generator(s) mounted to the shaft of the power and cooling turbine. The integrated power and cooling unit may be pneumatically and/or pneumatically coupled to an adaptive module that comprises an additional compressor and an additional turbine or electrically coupled to a fuel cell which provides the main power after entering the full operation mode. When the engine includes an integral starter generator mounted thereto, the integral starter generator of the integrated power and cooling unit is operative to receive electric power from the engine mounted generator. Alternatively, a motor/generator may be mounted to the shaft of the additional turbine of the adaptive module.