US 12,345,204 B2
Methods for power transfer in cryogenic fuel applications
Gary D. Roberge, Tolland, CT (US)
Assigned to RTX Corporation, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/877,566.
Application 17/877,566 is a division of application No. 16/734,925, filed on Jan. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,434,823.
Prior Publication US 2023/0145878 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. F02C 7/224 (2006.01); F02C 3/20 (2006.01); F02C 3/22 (2006.01); F02C 9/56 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/224 (2013.01) [F02C 3/20 (2013.01); F02C 3/22 (2013.01); F02C 9/56 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling a fuel power transfer system for an engine, the fuel power transfer system comprising:
a fuel pump,
a multi-position valve in fluid communication with the fuel pump and a combustion chamber of the engine,
a fuel turbine operatively coupled to the fuel pump and a gearbox via a common shaft and having a primary discharge port in fluid communication with the combustion chamber,
a primary heat exchanger in fluid communication between the multi-position valve and the fuel turbine,
the gearbox operatively coupled to the fuel turbine and the fuel pump and configured to transfer power from the fuel turbine to the engine via a power transfer shaft and a power transfer clutch, and
a motor-generator operatively coupled to the gearbox via an accessory shaft and an accessory clutch and selectively configurable to operate in a motor mode or in a generator mode,
the method comprising:
determining, by a processor, a startup condition in response to an engine start command;
selecting, by the processor, the motor mode of the motor-generator in response to the startup condition;
controlling, by the processor, the multi-position valve to enable fluid communication between the fuel pump and the combustion chamber of the engine by directing an output of the fuel pump to the combustion chamber and bypass the output from the primary heat exchanger in response to the startup condition;
controlling, by the processor, the accessory clutch to engage the motor-generator selected in the motor mode to provide operative force to the fuel pump via the gearbox in response to the startup condition;
determining, by the processor, an auxiliary heat condition;
controlling, by the processor, the multi-position valve to direct at least a portion of the output of the fuel pump to an auxiliary heat exchanger in fluid communication with the combustion chamber of the engine in response to the auxiliary heat condition;
determining, by the processor, an intermediate operating power condition;
controlling, by the processor, at least one of the accessory clutch or the power transfer clutch in response to the intermediate operating power condition; and
controlling, by the processor, at least one of a primary turbine discharge valve or a secondary turbine discharge valve of the fuel turbine in response to the intermediate operating power condition.