Axial Magnetic Flux Airflow Integrated Compressor-Generator-Motor Turbojet Design

Innovators at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center have developed a compressor-generator-motor turbojet design concept that integrates the generator with the aerodynamic blade structures of the compression section of turbomachinery. This reduces weight and volume compared with conventional turbine generator arrangements in which the turbojet or turbofan drives a separate shaft-driven generator. All conventional turbomachinery designs suffer from some type of system inefficiencies: Conventional side-mounted generators add the weight of a 90-degree gearbox; a rear-mounted generator is difficult to cool. The Armstrong design improves existing configurations with a flight-weight electromagnetic turbo-generator that is suitable for application to distributed turboelectric systems on aircraft, and aids in cooling the system. This technology may enable new aircraft configurations and future TurboElectric Distributed Propulsion (TeDP) aircraft designs.