Distributed fuel control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317082-B2
Application number	US-201414457373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2014
Priority date	Aug 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

Distributed fuel control system and methods are disclosed. A distributed fuel control system may comprise a controller, a fuel delivery system, and fuel delivery system sensors and combustion sensors. The controller may output a control signal in response to at least one of the fuel delivery system sensor or the combustion sensors. In response, the fuel flow to individual multiplex fuel delivery unit may be controlled according to various methods. One such method includes determining a desired fuel pressure differential, directing a torque motor to set a pressure regulator to a position corresponding to the desired fuel pressure differential, determining a sensed fuel pressure differential, and adjusting the torque motor in response to a difference between the sensed fuel pressure differential and the desired fuel pressure differential.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of distributed fuel control comprising:
determining, by a controller for distributed fuel control comprising a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory, a desired fuel pressure differential;
directing, by the controller, a torque motor in mechanical communication with a pressure regulator to set the pressure regulator to a position corresponding to the desired fuel pressure differential;
determining, by the controller, a sensed fuel pressure differential between a sensed diffuser pressure from a diffuser pressure sense sensor and a sensed manifold pressure from a manifold pressure sense sensor;
adjusting, by the controller, the torque motor in response to a difference between the sensed fuel pressure differential and the desired fuel pressure differential;
terminating, by the pressure regulator and a shutoff valve, a fuel flow in response to a fluidic pressure provided by an over speed sensor deviating from a nominal value.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, by the controller, an indication of a fault condition; and altering, by the controller, the fuel flow in response to the receiving.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller, an engine stall;
decreasing, by the controller, a fuel flow to a main nozzle in response to the engine stall;
determining, by the controller, an engine stall recovery; and
increasing, by the controller, the fuel flow to the main nozzle in response to the determining.

4. A distributed fuel control system comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory;
a fuel delivery system disposed in fluidic communication with a fuel supply containing fuel and with an engine;
fuel delivery system sensors;
combustion sensors;
a torque motor in mechanical communication with a pressure regulator;
an over speed sensor in fluidic communication with the pressure regulator and a shut off valve in fluid communication with the fuel supply; and
a diffuser pressure sense line in communication with a diffuser and the pressure regulator, whereby a first diffuser sense pressure is provided to the pressure regulator;
wherein the torque motor is configured to set the pressure regulator to a position corresponding to a desired fuel pressure differential;
wherein the controller is in logical communication with the combustion sensors and the fuel delivery system sensors,
wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the fuel delivery system in response to at least one of the combustion sensors and the fuel delivery system sensors.

5. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 4 , wherein the control signal comprises control instructions to the pressure regulator.

6. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is in logical communication with an aircraft data source, and the control instructions are further in response to the aircraft data source.

7. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 6 , wherein the aircraft data source provides aircraft status data comprising at least one of an engine status, an engine throttle setting, an engine temperature, or an engine maintenance status.

8. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 7 , wherein the aircraft data source comprises a full authority digital engine control.

9. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 4 , wherein the pressure regulator comprises a delta-P regulator.

10. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 4 comprising:
a manifold;
a multiplex fuel delivery unit array whereby the fuel is expelled into the engine,
wherein the manifold distributes the fuel from the pressure regulator to the multiplex fuel delivery unit array.

11. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 10 , wherein the fuel delivery system sensors comprise:
a mass flow meter whereby mass flow data is provided to the controller;
a manifold pressure sense line whereby a first manifold sense pressure is provided to the pressure regulator; and
a manifold pressure sense sensor whereby manifold pressure sense signal data is provided to the controller.

12. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 10 , wherein the combustion sensors comprise:
a multiplex fuel delivery unit array flow meter array disposed between the manifold and the multiplex fuel delivery unit array, whereby individual multiplex fuel delivery unit flow data is provided to the controller; and
a diffuser pressure sense sensor whereby diffuser pressure sense signal data is provided to the controller.

13. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 10 ,
wherein the multiplex fuel delivery unit array comprises at least one first multiplex fuel delivery unit comprising a fixed orifice whereby the fuel may be expelled into the engine, and
wherein the fixed orifice comprises a primary nozzle and has a fixed flow rate.

14. The distributed fuel control system according to claim 13 ,
wherein the multiplex fuel delivery unit array comprises at least one second multiplex fuel delivery unit comprising an electric valve orifice whereby the fuel may be expelled into the engine,

wherein the electric valve orifice comprises a main nozzle and has a flow rate variable in response to the control signal.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Mcbrien Gary M

Classifications

• F05D2270/306

  Mass flow · CPC title

• F05D2270/304

  Spool rotational speed · CPC title

• F05D2270/3015

  differential pressure · CPC title

• F05D2270/09

  to cope with emergencies · CPC title

• F05D2240/40

  Use of a multiplicity of similar components · CPC title