Posted on May 26th, 2010
Originally posted at FlightGlobal.com by John Croft
JetOptions has learned that Cessna has applied for a US patent for a module that attaches to a turbofan engine to provide electrical power to aircraft systems, eliminating the need for traditional geared power generators.
The Wichita-based company proposes to add a free-spinning turbine wheel to an engine specifically installed to spin up a generator to supply electrical, hydraulic, or other power varieties to an aircraft.
Engineers say the device would be able to run at a constant speed using variable pitch stator vanes just ahead of the turbine. From a maintenance perspective, Cessna says the unit would attach the engine as an independent low-pressure turbine module, but that it would not affect the balance of the existing LPT since the two are not connected via a shaft.
According to the filing, the electrical services turbine could be placed at various locations throughout the engine, although the application shows the new turbine as the last stage in the engine, just forward of the exit nozzle.
Click here to read the full article in FlightGlobal
Tags: jet charter, Cessna
