FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a gas turbine engine having an embedded electric machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical aircraft propulsion systems include one or more gas turbine engines. For certain propulsion systems, the gas turbine engines generally include a fan and a core arranged in flow communication with one another. Additionally, the core of the gas turbine engine generally includes, in serial flow order, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. In operation, air is provided from the fan to an inlet of the compressor section where one or more compressors progressively compress the air until it reaches the combustion section. Fuel is mixed with the compressed air and burned within the combustion section to provide combustion gases. The combustion gases are routed from the combustion section to the turbine section. The flow of combustion gasses through the turbine section drives the turbine section and is then routed through the exhaust section, e.g., to atmosphere.

Additionally, certain gas turbine engines are coupled to an electric machine, such as an electric generator, such that the gas turbine engine may drive the electric machine during operation to provide electric power to the aircraft or other components of the propulsion system. For at least certain applications, the electric generator may need to generate a baseline amount of electric power regardless of whether the gas turbine engine is operating under idle conditions, cruise conditions, or maximum power conditions. In order to provide such baseline electric power across such a wide array of engine speeds, it is sometimes necessary to oversize, or over-engineer, the electric machine.

However, such may lead to a relatively heavy electric machine generating more power than necessary during at least certain engine conditions. Accordingly, a gas turbine engine and electric machine capable of generating a baseline amount of electric power across a wide array of engine speeds without being unnecessarily oversized would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction and an axial direction is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section including a first compressor and a second compressor, and a turbine section including a first turbine and a second turbine. The compressor section and the turbine section together define at least in part a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine also includes a first spool rotatable with the first turbine and the first compressor, and a second spool rotatable with the second turbine and the second compressor. The gas turbine engine also includes an electric machine positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along the radial direction, and a gear assembly mechanically coupling the first spool and second spool to the electric machine for driving the electric machine.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section including a first turbine and a second turbine, the turbine section defining at least in part a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine also includes a first spool rotatable with the first turbine, a second spool rotatable with the second turbine, and an electric machine positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along the radial direction. The gas turbine engine also includes an epicyclic gear assembly coupled to the first spool, the second spool, and the electric machine such that both the first spool and second spool are configured for driving the electric machine.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

