Drive trains are often used in gas turbine energy conversion facilities and in turbine compressor test facilities for transferring torque to or from components connected to the drive train. Integrated drive trains may include components such as starting motors, gearboxes, compressors, shafts, etc. Most of the drive train components are connected to a common rotating shaft or coupled to the shaft, for example, via gearboxes. Certain components on the drive train may supply torque while other components may consume torque. For example, an electric motor may be used to supply starting torque for the drive train, while a compressor may consume part of the torque provided by the motor. To complicate matters, a gas turbine, for example, may consume torque during ramp-up to full speed and before being fired, but once the combustors begin to burn fuel at a sufficient rate, the gas turbine may begin to supply torque to the drive train.
The positive (supply) or negative (consumption) torque coordination to the drive train from multiple torque producing components on large integrated drive trains have, in the past, resulted in torque oscillations and marginally stable operations, often requiring manual adjustments.