TURBINE ENGINE HAVING TWO OFF-AXIS SPOOLS WITH VALVING-ENABLED MODULATION BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW POWER MODES

摘要

A turbine engine particularly suited for VTOL aircraft is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the core of the turbine engine includes two spools—a low pressure (LP) spool and a high pressure (HP) spool—where the LP spool is independently mounted remote to the HP spool. The engine may be modulated for operation by a modulation diverter valve assembly and through the fuel flow to the engine. The power output from the engine can be modulated from high levels to low levels and vice versa through control of the air flow through the engine using the modulation diverter valve assembly. In lift mode operation both the LP and HP spools may be operational, while during the forward flight cruise mode of operation the HP spool is operational and the LP spool may or may not be operational depending upon the power required for the flight condition. For HP spool only operation, the LP spool may be shut down using the modulation diverter valve assembly and an inlet flow diverter valve assembly. The convertible configuration may be achieved by the diverter valving-enabled modulation of the engine airflow direction to produce a characteristic for one embodiment having shaft power output for the vertical lift mode to propulsive thrust output for forward flight mode.