DE102019117913A1 - Device for starting and / or maintaining jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft (Stationary Air Power Unit - SAPU) - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for starting and / or maintaining jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft and, if necessary, for air conditioning the aircraft and other aircraft with at least one compressor (10) and at least one electric motor (14) which drives the at least one compressor (10). Such devices (1) are also called Stationary Air Power Units (SAPU). The compressor (10) consists of one or more compressor stages, the electric motor (14) and the compressor (10) having low-loss bearings for the rotating elements or parts. In a particular embodiment it is proposed to integrate an electrical power supply into the device (1) in order to be able to cover all functions of an auxiliary power unit (APU) contained in the aircraft or aircraft.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for starting and / or maintaining jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft according to the preamble of the main claim 1 . Such devices are required to supply compressed air to start the turbines or the jet engines. It can also be used for air conditioning an aircraft, in which the necessary compressed air is generated by the device and fed to the aircraft.

To start a jet engine, it must be accelerated to a certain speed before the jet engine's own propulsion can start. Normally, the jet engine must be accelerated to a speed of around 15-20% of the maximum speed. Such an acceleration is usually done with the help of an on-board starting device (auxiliary power unit, APU).

The known APUs generate noise and pollutant emissions when used. Due to current requirements, precisely these pollutant and noise emissions must be avoided or at least reduced. For this purpose, an external device (Stationary Power Unit, SAPU) can be used, which is arranged outside the aircraft or aircraft.

The present device describes such a SAPU. In addition, such devices are sometimes used to save or reduce maintenance costs for on-board start-up devices. To this end, the SAPU according to the invention fulfills all functions which an on-board APU also includes.

Previous APUs consist of a fuel-operated gas turbine or a compressor driven by a diesel engine, which makes compressed air available by removing at least part of the compressed air flow so that the jet engine can be started. Just as for starting the engine, such a ground launch device can also be required for servicing an engine and / or for air conditioning an aircraft.

The DE 34 09 378 A1 discloses a supply system for the aerospace industry. The compressors in this publication are driven by internal combustion engines. The same drive is used to generate electrical energy via generators.

The EP 1 655 222 A1 also discloses an APU in which a compressor is driven by internal combustion engines. The internal combustion engine should ensure that the APU can be used independently of other supplies.

In the aforementioned publications, drives with fossil fuels are used. The emitted emissions (pollutants, particles and noise) are considerable and are included in the overall emissions balance of the respective airport. The number of aircraft authorized to take off depends directly on the overall emissions balance of the airport, which the APU is allowed to have as low as possible.

This is also possible through the DE 20 2008 015 623 U1 a ground start device is known which is supplied with electrical energy and in which compressed air is generated by the electrical energy. Here, compressors are operated with a fuel cell, which supplies electrical energy to drive the compressors.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to show a device for starting, air-conditioning and servicing jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft, which can take over the function of a stationary ground starter (SAPU) with low emissions. In particular, noise emissions and emissions caused by the combustion of fossil fuels are to be reduced.

This task is with the features of the main claim 1 solved, namely that the inventive device for starting, air conditioning and servicing jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft is equipped with a compressor for generating compressed air, which can be driven by an electric motor.

The electric motor means that fossil fuels can be completely dispensed with when operating the device. This keeps emissions as low as possible, since electric motors have less operating noise than internal combustion engines and do not generate any exhaust gases.

According to the invention, the device has means for low-loss rotary bearings. These means ensure a low friction loss when supporting the rotating parts of the electric motor and its directly coupled compressors. The electric motor drives the compressor via at least one rotatable shaft, whereby bearings are provided for the rotatable shaft. These bearings are now designed in such a way that they cause fewer friction losses during storage than known roller or plain bearings. A particularly high reduction in friction losses is achieved through a structural unit made up of an electric motor and compressor.

For this purpose, the means for the low-loss rotary bearing can comprise magnetic bearings. Such magnetic bearings store the rotatable shaft in a magnetic field and, because there is no physical contact with the bearing, are provided with less friction loss than the aforementioned known bearings.

These magnetic bearings can be designed to be active or passive. Active magnetic bearings generate their magnetic field using at least one electromagnet, passive bearings using at least one permanent magnet. It has been shown that active, magnetic bearings have the lowest losses during storage.

The means for the low-loss rotary bearing can also represent eddy current bearings. The rotating parts are stored in a bearing that supports the shaft by generating eddy currents. In this bearing, too, no physical contacts between rotating parts and the bearing are provided.

Corresponding means for low-loss rotary bearings enable rotating parts to be supported without material contact and hold the rotating parts by magnetic and / or electrical forces. As a result of this configuration, there is almost no frictional force when the rotating parts move in the bearings, so that the electric motor can work with as little loss as possible and with a high degree of efficiency.

In a preferred embodiment, the compressor has several compression stages, but at least two. These are driven by the electric motor, the device having the aforementioned means for low-loss mounting in which the rotating elements of the electric motor are mounted, such as the drive shaft.

When using at least two compressor stages, the compressed air is generated in that air is compressed by a first compressor stage and the air compressed in this way is fed to at least a second compressor stage in order to be further compressed. There are also more than two consecutive compressor stages conceivable. This multi-stage compression process enables higher pressures for the compressed air to be generated.

In principle, it is also possible to arrange several compression units, consisting of at least one electric motor with at least one integrated compressor stage, in order to be able to cover different performance requirements in a modular manner with one device.

The compressed air generated in this way can be used to start and / or maintain jet engines, but also to drive the aircraft's air conditioning system. For this purpose, the compressed air is fed to the air conditioning system of the aircraft or aircraft.

The device according to the invention should preferably be used on a passenger boarding bridge or in stationary check-in facilities. The devices according to the invention are then attached to the passenger boarding bridge or the handling facility and use the voltage supply supplied there to supply the electric motor and thus to drive the compressor.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed to integrate an electrical power supply into the device according to the invention in order to be able to cover all the functionalities of the on-board APU with the device according to the invention. The power supply of the aircraft or aircraft for electrical energy can be guaranteed by the connection options provided for this purpose.

A typical power supply (Ground Power Unit, GPU) uses an electrical voltage of 115V and an alternating current frequency of 400 Hz. Should the voltage supply through the passenger boarding bridge have other voltages and / or other frequencies, it is proposed to use appropriate transformers and / or inverters in the invention Provide device.

Depending on the existing infrastructure of the airport, modular energy storage systems, such as commercially available systems integrated in sea containers, can be used to reduce the electrical connection load and integrated into the connection line in a suitable manner. As a result, one or more inventive devices (SAPUs) can be supplied.

It is preferably proposed that the compressor stages be designed as radial compressors. Radial compressors are compressors in which gas is accelerated outward by a rotating impeller and converted into pressure in a subsequent diffuser. Centrifugal compressors are characterized by good efficiency and low wear.

In a preferred embodiment, an air inlet is provided through which air can be supplied to the device. The air inlet is thus connected to the first compressor stage of the compressor so that air from the first compressor stage can be sucked in and compressed through the air inlet, preferably ambient air.

An air conditioning unit can be assigned to the air inlet according to the invention. For the controllability of different mass flows to the device, it is proposed that a rotatably mounted paddle wheel is arranged in the air inlet for air treatment and that the rotatably mounted paddle wheel has pre-swirl blades. An air treatment of this kind then sets the rotatably mounted paddle wheel in motion when the air is sucked in through the air inlet and the pre-swirl blades on the paddle wheel can then move the sucked air in a kind of vortex and / or swirl in order to set different mass flows with a slight change in the pressure ratio to be able to. This allows the system efficiency to be optimized for different operating modes.

In a particular embodiment, the pre-swirl blades are rotatably mounted, so that the individual pre-swirl blades can be rotated and locked in order to be able to be optimized differently for the aforementioned operating modes. Depending on the rotation of the pre-swirl blades, different eddies or swirls arise in the sucked in air.

Likewise in a preferred embodiment it is proposed that the diffuser blades of the diffuser of the compressor stages also be rotatably mounted. Through this pivot bearing, the diffuser blades can be set at different angles to the compressor stage in order to ensure a corresponding mass flow as required or to enable an expansion of the characteristic map.

For assembly purposes, it is proposed that the device comprise a frame on which the parts of the device can be attached. For this purpose, the device comprises the compressor and the electric motor. In further embodiments it is proposed to additionally mount at least one electronic unit and / or at least one cooling system on the frame. According to the invention, the frame can be covered by at least one maintenance hood, preferably by two maintenance hoods.

The maintenance hoods make it possible to protect the device according to the invention against the unwanted influence of foreign materials, for example against dirt and water.

In a further embodiment according to the invention, at least one operating element is proposed, via which the device can be controlled. The generation of compressed air can then be started, regulated and / or ended via this control element.

The aforementioned electronics unit is used to control the electric motor and thus to start up and brake the electric motor. The cooling system cools the components of the device, for example the electric motor and / or the electronics unit.

According to the invention, air is supplied to the first compressor stage through the air inlet and is compressed by this. The subsequently compressed air can be transported from the first compressor stage to the second compressor stage, preferably through a connection provided for this purpose. In the second compressor stage, the compressed air is compressed further.

In one embodiment it is proposed to provide the device with an air outlet in order to lead out of the device the air compressed by the last compressor stage and thus the compressed air generated by the device. The air discharged in this way can then be fed to the jet engines via a distributor and / or at least one connection. The distribution can be a simple connection from the air outlet to the connection, but it is preferably proposed to use a hose system which can be pulled out and consists of at least one hose. The aforementioned connection should then be provided correspondingly frequently, both in the number and in the distribution hoses. By using the connections, the corresponding jet engine can be adapted in order to supply the compressed air generated by the device to the jet engine.

According to the invention, the electric motor has a stator and a rotor, the rotor being designed as a motor shaft. The stator and motor shaft are enclosed in a housing. The motor shaft is then one of the rotating elements according to the invention for which the means for the low-loss rotary bearing are provided. The compressor can also be accommodated in the housing in order to form a structural unit comprising an electric motor and a compressor. The bearing of the rotating parts of the compressor then also has the low-loss rotary bearing according to the invention. This structural unit significantly reduces the friction loss.

In a further preferred embodiment, the air preparation contains at least one cover so that it is protected from external influences. An adjusting ring can also be provided by means of which the pre-swirl blades can be rotated. This makes it possible to rotate all pre-swirl blades equally and it is prevented that each blade has to be rotated individually.

The noise level of the device can be reduced by the low-loss rotary bearing. The rotating noise of the device is therefore considerably less than with conventional APUs. This results from a significantly reduced friction on the bearing and a largely vibration-free system through the use of low-loss rotary bearings without mechanical bearings. An additional noise level reduction can also be achieved by using noise protection elements such as insulation, additional housings and / or noise protection hoods.

The device described above makes it possible to reduce the noise produced to such an extent that, in the preferred case, the ground staff does not have to wear noise protection caps to operate the GAPU.

A device for starting and / or maintaining jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft and possibly for air conditioning the aircraft and other aircraft with at least one compressor and at least one electric motor which drives the at least one compressor is provided. Such devices are also called Stationary Air Power Units (SAPU). The compressor consists of one or more compressor stages, the electric motor and the compressor having low-loss bearings for the rotating elements or parts of the at least one electric motor and / or the at least one compressor. In a particular embodiment it is proposed to integrate an electrical power supply into the device in order to be able to cover all functions of an auxiliary power unit (APU) contained in the aircraft or aircraft.

Figure list

• 1 : A perspective view of a device according to the invention on a passenger boarding bridge;
• 2 : A detailed representation of the device according to the invention from 1 ;
• 3 : A perspective view of the frame of the device with attached maintenance hoods;
• 4th : A perspective view of a device according to the invention without attached maintenance hoods;
• 5 : A perspective view of the compressor according to the invention;
• 6th : A section through the compressor according to the invention 5 ;
• 7th : An air treatment according to the invention with pre-swirl blades;
• 8th : A detailed representation of the diffuser blades of the diffuser from a compressor stage,

1 shows a device according to the invention 1 for starting and / or maintaining jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft and preferably also for air conditioning aircraft and other aircraft. The device according to the invention 1 is here at a passenger boarding bridge 40 arranged. Passenger boarding bridges 40 are used wherever passengers reach the aircraft via a footpath (not shown in detail). The passenger boarding bridge 40 has a dock 43 on, by means of which the passenger boarding bridge 40 can be docked in the area of the door of the aircraft. Alternatively, the passenger boarding bridge can be provided for mobile use in an outside parking lot of an airport, for example in the form of an aircraft staircase. An additional energy supply would have to be provided here.

The device according to the invention 1 is in the landing gear area of a passenger boarding bridge 42 on a rack 41 of the chassis 42 appropriate. As the passenger boarding bridge 40 is also supplied with electrical energy and has corresponding connections, electrical energy of the device according to the invention can be very easily generated by this arrangement 1 be added.

The device 1 has a distribution 2 , here as a hose system. These are on the device 1 two hoses attached, which can be pulled out over drums. By using the drums, the distance to the aircraft can be overcome.

2 shows the aforementioned hose system as a distribution 2 detailed. It can also be seen that at the ends of the hoses the distribution 2 connections 3 are provided to adapt the hoses to the aircraft.

3 shows a perspective view of a device according to the invention 1 . The components of the device are for this purpose 1 on a frame 4th appropriate. This frame 4th can have a first and a second maintenance hood 6th , 7th be covered. The maintenance hoods are used for assembly and / or maintenance purposes 6th , 7th to open.

As part of 4th at least one control element is also arranged 5 . The at least one control element 5 serves to start, stop and / or control the device according to the invention 1 . At least one control element can do this 5 as part of 4th be let in. But it can also be removable and act like a remote control.

Will the two maintenance hoods 6th , 7th open, are in 4th the elements of the device 1 to recognize. On the frame 4th are a compressor 10 with a corresponding air inlet 11 , an electronics unit 12th and a cooling system 13th arranged. The electronics unit 12th is used to control the compressor 10 or the electric motor 14th . The cooling system 13th serves to cool the electric motor 14th and the electronics unit 12th .

5 shows a compressor according to the invention 10 detailed. So again is the air inlet 11 to recognize via which air is sucked in and a first compressor stage 16 can be fed. The first compression stage 16 compresses the supplied air and guides it through a connection 17th to the second compressor stage 15th . This compresses the air further and leads it to the air outlet 18th at which the compressed air can be tapped. Both compressor stages 15, 16 can be powered by an electric motor 14th are driven.

The 6th shows a section through a compressor according to the invention 10 and thus also shows the air inlet 11 and the air treatment inside 30th . This will be shown in detail later. After the air through the air inlet 11 and air treatment 30th has been drawn in, it goes to the first compressor stage 16 . This is driven, just like the second compressor stage 15th , from the electric motor 14th .

The electric motor 14th includes a motor shaft 20th , a stator 22nd and a case 21st The case 21st surrounds the aforementioned engine parts.

So that the rotating parts of the electric motor 14th , so the motor shaft 20th , can be stored as loss-free as possible, an active magnetic storage 19th proposed as a means for low-loss rotary bearing. The electric motor 14th and the compressor stages 15, 16 driven by it now compress the air into the desired compressed air, which passes through the air outlet 18th from the compressor 10 is led out.

The aforementioned air treatment 30th is detailed in 7th shown. It can be seen that the air treatment 30th consists of an impeller, which pre-swirl blades 33 having. The pre-swirl blades 33 are rotatably mounted so that different positions can be rotated. As a result, a swirl and / or eddy is generated in the sucked in air, whereby the compressed air to be generated can be conditioned accordingly.

For setting the pivoted pre-swirl blades 33 becomes a collar 32 suggested. By turning the adjusting ring 32 can be a position of the front scoops 33 can be determined in total. To protect the air treatment 30th it is also proposed a cover 31 to be provided.

Last shows 8th a diffuser of the compressor stages 15th , 16 . The compressor stages 15th , 16 are designed as radial compressors and each have a diffuser. It is proposed according to the invention, diffuser blades 34 adjustable. Thus, the individual diffuser blades can 34 can be changed in their position, for example to position 34 '.

By adjusting the diffuser blades, the generation of compressed air can be further optimized with regard to different operating points of the compressor map and adjusted to requirements. The diffuser effect can also be adapted to the air conditioning, which is generated by the air treatment.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned features. Rather, further configurations are conceivable. It is proposed that the means for the low-loss rotary bearing be implemented not only in the axial direction but also in the radial direction in order to be able to absorb both types of forces. Alternatively, air storage is proposed, with an air stream that is branched off from the compressed air generated. It is also possible to control the speed via the electronics unit 14th and at least one control element 5 to realize. A further air or water circuit could be provided for cooling the components of the device according to the invention, with a cooler, which is regulated as required by the self-heating of the individual components and the ambient conditions.

List of reference symbols

1

contraption

2

distribution

3

connection

4th

frame

5

Control element

6

First maintenance hood

7th

Second maintenance cover

10

compressor

11

Air inlet

12

Electronics unit

13

Cooling system

14th

Electric motor

15th

Compressor stage 2

16

Compressor stage 1

17th

connection

18th

Air outlet

19th

Pivot bearing

20th

Motor shaft from 14

21st

Housing from 14

22nd

Stator from 14

30th

Air treatment

31

cover

32

Adjusting ring

33

Pre-swirl scoop

34

Diffuser blade

40

Passenger boarding bridge

41

frame

42

landing gear

43

dock

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 3409378 A1 [0006]
• EP 1655222 A1 [0007]
• DE 202008015623 U1 [0009]

Claims (25)

Device (1) for starting and / or servicing jet engines of aircraft and other aircraft and, if necessary, for air-conditioning the aircraft and other aircraft, with at least one compressor (10) for generating compressed air and at least one electric motor (14) which controls the at least can drive a compressor (10), characterized in that the at least one electric motor (14) and / or the at least one compressor (10) means for low-loss rotary bearings (19) for rotating parts of the at least one electric motor (14) and / or the has at least one compressor (10). Device (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the electric motor (14) forms a structural unit with the compressor (10). Device (1) according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the compressor (10) and the electric motor (14) are arranged in a housing (21). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , characterized in that the compressor (10) has at least two compressor stages (15, 16). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the electric motor (14) and the compressor (10) form a compression unit, and that several compression units are provided in the device (1). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the electric motor has active and / or passive magnetic bearings as means for low-loss rotary bearings (19). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the compressor has active and / or passive magnetic bearings as means for low-loss rotary bearings (19). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , characterized in that an air inlet (11) is provided, via which air can be supplied to the compressor (10) and that an air preparation device (30) is assigned to the air inlet (11). Device according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the air preparation (30) includes a rotatably mounted paddle wheel and that the rotatably mounted paddle wheel has pre-swirl blades (33). Device according to one of the Claims 1 to 9 , characterized in that the compressor (15, 16) is designed as a radial compressor, which has a compressor wheel and a diffuser with diffuser blades (34). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 10 , characterized in that an energy feed is provided in order to supply the electric motor (14) with electrical energy. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that an energy supply is provided by means of which an aircraft or aircraft can be supplied with electrical energy. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 12th , characterized in that the device (1) comprises a frame (4) for assembly which can be covered by means of at least one maintenance hood (6, 7). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 13th , characterized in that an operating element is provided via which the device (1) can be controlled. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 14th , characterized in that the device (1) contains at least one electronics unit (12) and / or at least one cooling system (13). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 8 to 15th , characterized in that the air inlet (11) leads air to the first compressor stage (16) and at least one connection (17) is provided which leads the air from one compressor stage (16) to a further compressor stage (15). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 16 , characterized in that an air outlet (18) is provided which leads the compressed air generated by the compressor (10) out of the device (1). Device (1) according to Claim 17 , characterized in that a distribution (2) and / or at least one connection (3) is provided for discharging the compressed air, which can be connected to the air outlet (18). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 18th , characterized in that the compressor (10) is designed as a radial compressor which is driven by the electric motor (14), the electric motor (14) having a motor shaft (20) and a stator (22). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 8 to 19th , characterized in that the air preparation (30) includes at least one cover (31). Device (1) according to one of the Claims 8 to 19th , characterized in that the pre-swirl vanes (33) and / or the diffuser vanes (34) are rotatably mounted and are designed to be lockable. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 9 to 21st , characterized in that at least one adjusting element, preferably at least one adjusting ring (32) is provided, by means of which the pre-swirl blades (33) can be rotated. Device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 22nd , characterized in that noise protection elements are used. Use of a device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 23 as a Stationary Air Power Unit (SAPU), characterized in that the device (1) comprises all functions of a conventional, on-board Air Power Unit (APU). Passenger boarding bridge or aircraft stairs with a device (1) according to one of the Claims 1 to 23 .

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