Air turbine starters and systems for gas turbine engines
A system including an air turbine starter having a housing defining an air flow path between an inlet and an outlet. A turbine shaft located in the housing and a plurality of blades coupled to the turbine shaft and disposed in the primary air flow path. An electric motor within the housing, and an outer surface of the electric motor defining a portion of the primary air flow path, the electric motor having a drive shaft. A clutch assembly within the housing to selectively couple the electric machine drive shaft and the turbine shaft. Further, a valve to, when opened, fluidly couple an ambient air supply to the inlet and a controller to, when the electric motor is activated, open the valve to enable ambient air to flow through the primary air flow path and over the outer surface of the electric motor.
1 . A system comprising:
an air turbine starter including:
a housing defining a primary air flow path between an inlet and an outlet;
a turbine shaft in the housing;
a plurality of blades coupled to the turbine shaft and disposed in the primary air flow path;
an electric motor within the housing, an outer surface of the electric motor defining a portion of the primary air flow path, the electric motor having an electric machine drive shaft;
a clutch assembly within the housing to selectively couple the electric machine drive shaft and the turbine shaft;
a valve to, when opened, fluidly couple an ambient air supply to the inlet; and
a controller to, when the electric motor is activated, open the valve to enable ambient air to flow through the primary air flow path and over the outer surface of the electric motor.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve is an ambient air valve, the system further including a pressurized air valve to, when opened, fluidly couple a pressurized air supply to the inlet, the system further including a starter air valve between the inlet and both of the ambient air valve and the pressurized air valve.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve, wherein the controller is configured to actuate each of the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve between a respective open position and a respective closed position.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft are axially spaced.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the clutch assembly is axially located between the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft.
6 . A system comprising:
an air turbine starter comprising:
a housing defining an interior and an exterior;
an electric motor having an electric machine drive shaft, wherein the electric motor is located at the interior of the housing, and wherein the electric motor includes an outer surface spaced from an inner surface of the housing;
a turbine member located axially aft of the electric motor having a plurality of blades, wherein the turbine member is coupled to a turbine shaft;
a clutch assembly selectively coupling the electric machine drive shaft and the turbine shaft; and
a primary air flow path coupling an inlet and an outlet, wherein the primary air flow path, the inlet, and the outlet are defined by at least a portion of the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the primary air flow path is further defined by the outer surface of the electric motor;
a valve selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet; and
a controller operatively coupled to the valve.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the valve is an ambient air valve, the system further including a pressurized air valve to, when opened, fluidly couple a pressurized air supply to the inlet, the system further including a starter air valve between the inlet and both of the ambient air valve and the pressurized air valve.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve, wherein the controller is configured to actuate each of the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve between a respective open position and a respective closed position.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is in communication with the clutch assembly to selectively couple the electric machine drive shaft and the turbine shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to control electrical energy to the electric motor.
10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the primary air flow path has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is defined from the inlet to an upstream face of the turbine member, and the second portion is defined from the upstream face of the turbine member to the outlet.
11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft are axially spaced.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the clutch assembly is axially located between the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft.
13 . The system of claim 6 , wherein a dome wall is disposed in the interior, wherein the dome wall is configured to guide air from the inlet to the turbine member.
14 . A turbine engine comprising:
an engine core having a compression section, a combustion section, and a turbine in serial flow arrangement, the engine core having an engine drive shaft; and
a system comprising:
an air turbine starter, the air turbine starter comprising:
a housing defining an interior;
a turbine member located within the interior and having a turbine shaft and a plurality of blades coupled to the turbine shaft;
an electric motor within the interior and having an electric machine drive shaft;
a clutch assembly within the interior and selectively coupling the turbine shaft to the electric machine drive shaft; and
a primary air flow path coupling an inlet and an outlet, wherein the primary air flow path, the inlet, and the outlet are defined by at least a portion of the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the primary air flow path is further defined by an outer surface of the electric motor;
a valve selectively fluidly coupled to the inlet; and
a controller operatively coupled to the valve.
15 . The turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the valve is an ambient air valve, the system further including a pressurized air valve to, when opened, fluidly couple a pressurized air supply to the inlet, the system further including a starter air valve between the inlet and both of the ambient air valve and the pressurized air valve.
16 . The turbine engine of claim 15 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve, wherein the controller is configured to actuate each of the starter air valve, the ambient air valve, and the pressurized air valve between a respective open position and a respective closed position.
17 . The turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein a dome wall is disposed in the interior, wherein the dome wall is configured to guide air from the inlet to the turbine member.
18 . The turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft are axially spaced.
19 . The turbine engine of claim 18 , wherein the clutch assembly is axially located between the turbine shaft and the electric machine drive shaft.
20 . The turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the air turbine starter further comprises an output shaft coupled to the turbine shaft, wherein the output shaft is selectively coupled to the engine drive shaft.