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88 Gas Turbine Handbook: Principles and Practices<br />

these accessory gearboxes are located under the gas generator, it is a<br />

hostile (temperature) environment for an electric motor.<br />

Once the gas generator has reached self-sustaining speed, the<br />

motor is de-energized and mechanically disengaged through a clutch<br />

mechanism. In some applications a clutch mechanism is not included<br />

and the motor is simply de-energized. In applications where the<br />

clutch mechanism is not provided, the gas generator must carry the<br />

motor load throughout its operation. This imposes additional wear on<br />

the motor.<br />

Direct Current<br />

Where AC power is not available, such as black start applications,<br />

direct current (DC) motors may be used. The source of power<br />

for the DC motor is a battery bank of sufficient capacity to carry the<br />

cranking and starting loads of the gas generator. DC starting motors<br />

are more commonly used with small gas turbines and aeroderivativetype<br />

gas turbines (where stating torque is relatively low). As in the<br />

AC starter motor application, the DC starter motor may be configured<br />

with a clutch mechanism to dis-engage the motor from the gas generator.<br />

Another approach is to convert the DC motor (electrically) into a<br />

electric generator to charge the battery system. This is a convenient<br />

arrangement where large battery packs are also used to provide direct<br />

power for other systems (controls, motorized valve operators, etc.).<br />

Battery powered DC motor starters are predominately used in small,<br />

self-contained, gas turbines under 500 brake horsepower (BHP).<br />

Electric motors require explosion proof housings and connectors<br />

and must be rated for the area classification in which they are<br />

installed. Typically this is Class I, Division 2, Group D. See Appendix<br />

C-4 for more details on area classifications.<br />

Pneumatics Motors<br />

Pneumatic starter motors may be either impulse-turbine or vane<br />

pump type. These motors utilize air or gas as the driving (motive)<br />

force, and are coupled to the turbine accessory drive gear with an<br />

overriding clutch. The overriding clutch mechanism disengages when<br />

the drive torque reverses (that is when the gas turbine self-accelerates<br />

faster than the starter) and the air supply is shutoff. The housing<br />

of this type starter must be sufficiently robust to sustain the high<br />

gas generator speeds in the event the mechanism fails to disengage.

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