US 12,448,112 B1
Power generation and transfer using variable-pitch propeller
Stefan Joseph Cafaro, Chapel Hill, NC (US); and Joel James Lau, Deerfield Township, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Aug. 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/802,246.
Int. Cl. B64C 11/30 (2006.01); B64D 31/06 (2024.01); B64D 35/04 (2006.01); B64D 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 11/30 (2013.01) [B64D 31/06 (2013.01); B64D 35/04 (2013.01); B64D 41/007 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving an indication of an energy goal, the energy goal being at least one of a bowed rotor motoring, an engine start for a first engine, an engine start for a second engine, energy storage onboard in an electric battery, or energy storage offboard in a power grid;
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is the bowed rotor motoring:
identifying either the first engine or the second engine associated with the bowed rotor motoring; and
causing a first electrical energy to be transferred to a first shaft associated with the identified engine;
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is the engine start for the first engine, causing a second electrical energy to be transferred to the first engine;
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is the engine start for the second engine, causing a third electrical energy to be transferred to the second engine;
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is energy storage onboard in the electric battery:
generating a fourth electrical energy; and
transferring the generated fourth electrical energy to the electrical battery; and
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is energy storage offboard in the power grid:
generating a fifth electrical energy; and
transferring the generated fifth electrical energy to the power grid;
determining a pitch value based on at least the energy goal;
adjusting a pitch of a plurality of variable-pitch propeller blades based on the pitch value, the plurality of variable-pitch propeller blades being part of a variable-pitch propeller; and
in response to receiving the indication of the energy goal that is one or more of the bowed rotor motoring, the engine start for the first engine, or the engine start for the second engine:
in response to a rotation of the plurality of variable-pitch propeller blades about a central axis based on the pitch of the plurality of variable-pitch propeller blades, activating an electric brake to reduce a speed of the rotation; and
transferring a sixth electrical energy generated by the electric brake reducing the speed of the rotation to a component.