Electric generator in turbine engine
A turbine engine includes at least one turbine, combustion equipment, and at least one compressor. The at least one compressor includes a compressor stage. The compressor stage includes a plurality of compressor blades configured to input work into a core airflow flowing through the turbine engine. The turbine engine includes an electrical generator. The electrical generator includes a rotor carried on an outer diameter of the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage and mechanically rotated by the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage and configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine. The electrical generator further includes a stator.
1 . A turbine engine comprising:
at least one turbine;
a combustor;
a casing, the casing bifurcating an inlet airflow entering the turbine engine into a bypass airflow and the core airflow;
at least one compressor, the at least one compressor comprising a compressor stage, wherein the compressor stage includes a plurality of compressor blades configured to input work into a core airflow flowing through the turbine engine; and
an electrical generator, the electrical generator comprising:
a rotor carried on an outer diameter of the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage and mechanically rotated by the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage, the rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine; and
a stator, wherein at least a portion of the stator is at least partially integrated into the casing or positioned radially outside the casing, wherein the stator is configured to be cooled by the bypass airflow.
2 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the stator is positioned radially outward of the rotor.
3 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the compressor stage is a first stage of a first compressor downstream of a fan.
4 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the stator includes one or more stator windings mechanically supported by a stator frame, and
wherein the one or more stator windings protrude from the casing into the bypass airflow to be cooled by the bypass airflow.
5 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the stator includes one or more stator windings mechanically supported by a stator frame, wherein the stator frame is profiled to match the casing wall, and
the turbine engine further comprising a casing duct that routes bypass air from the bypass airflow to the stator windings to cool the stator windings.
6 . The turbine engine of claim 5 , wherein the casing duct is outlet into the bypass air flow.
7 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a hoop rim attached to or integral with the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage.
8 . The turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein the hoop rim completely circumferentially surrounds the compressor stage.
9 . The turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the hoop rim includes one or more magnets and a composite structure.
10 . The turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the one or more magnets include a plurality of magnets,
wherein the plurality of magnets includes a first magnet, and wherein the first magnet includes a retention feature to radially secure the magnet in the hoop rim.
11 . The turbine engine of claim 10 , wherein the one or more magnets include a plurality of magnets, and wherein the plurality of magnets define a Halbach array.
12 . The turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the hoop rim further comprises a back iron radially inboard of the magnets.
13 . The turbine engine of claim 1 , wherein the turbine engine is a two-spool turbine engine including a low-pressure spool and a high-pressure spool.
14 . The turbine engine of claim 13 , wherein the electrical generator is concentric with at least one of the low-pressure spool or the high-pressure spool.
15 . The turbine engine of claim 14 , further comprising a fan as a low-pressure compressor driven by the low-pressure spool and a high-pressure compressor driven by the high-pressure spool.
16 . The turbine engine of claim 15 , wherein the electrical generator is axially positioned within the high-pressure compressor.
17 . An airframe comprising:
a first turbine engine of one or more turbine engines, the first turbine engine comprising:
at least one turbine;
a combustor;
a casing, the casing bifurcating an inlet airflow entering the turbine engine into a bypass airflow and the core airflow;
at least one compressor, the at least one compressor comprising a compressor stage, wherein the compressor stage includes a plurality of compressor blades configured to input work into a core airflow flowing through the turbine engine; and
an electrical generator, the electrical generator comprising:
a rotor carried on an outer diameter of the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage and mechanically rotated by the plurality of compressor blades of the compressor stage, the rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the turbine engine; and
a stator, wherein at least a portion of the stator is at least partially integrated into the casing or positioned radially outside the casing, wherein the stator is configured to be cooled by the bypass airflow.
18 . The airframe of claim 17 , wherein the stator is positioned radially outward of the rotor.