Patent ID: 11933232
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. A method of operating a hybrid-electric gas turbine engine having a core including a casing enclosing a compressor, combustor, and turbine, with at least first and second spools, the first spool defined by a first set of compressor blades and a first set of turbine blades coupled to a rotatable first shaft, and a first electric machine rotatably coupled the rotatable first shaft, and the second spool defined by a second set of compressor blades and a second set of turbine blades coupled to a rotatable second shaft, the method comprising:
receiving an input indicative of a change in thrust demand to the hybrid-electric gas turbine engine;
determining a first rate of change of thrust attributable to combustion in the combustor and a second rate of change of thrust attributable to the first electric machine to cooperatively satisfy the change in thrust demand;
determining a current first clearance between the casing and at least one of the first set of turbine blades and the first set of compressor blades;
determining that operation of the combustor in accordance with the first rate of change of thrust and operation of the first electric machine in accordance with the second rate of change of thrust will cause the current first clearance to exceed a predetermined first differential threshold;
determining a third rate of change of thrust attributable to the first electric machine to satisfy the change in thrust demand in cooperation with the first rate of change of thrust, that will satisfy the change in thrust demand and not exceed the first differential threshold; and
operating the combustor according to the first rate of change of thrust and operating the first electric machine according to the third rate of change of thrust.