Turbine engine operational testing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111814-B2
Application number	US-201715848644-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for conditionally performing engine operational tests for a turbine engine are provided. A system comprising at least one processor can be configured to obtain sensor data associated with at least one sensor for a turbine engine. The sensor data identifies a current fuel flow associated with the turbine engine. The system can determine a predicted fuel flow of the turbine engine based at least in part on the current fuel flow and a fuel flow reduction associated with an engine operational test. The system can compare the predicted fuel flow to at least one threshold. The system can selectively initiate the engine operational test based on comparing the predicted fuel flow to the at least one threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method of reducing combustor blowout during turbine engine testing, comprising:
receiving, by a system comprising at least one processor, sensor data associated with at least one sensor for a turbine engine, the sensor data identifying a current fuel flow associated with the turbine engine;
determining, by the system, a predicted fuel flow of the turbine engine based at least in part on the current fuel flow and a fuel flow reduction associated with an engine operational test, the engine operational test being thrust control test;
comparing, by the system, the predicted fuel flow to at least one threshold;
selectively executing, by the system, the engine operational test in response to comparing the predicted fuel flow to the at least one threshold; and
generating, by the system, an identifier in response to the engine operational test being skipped when the predicted fuel flow is below the at least one threshold.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
selectively executing the engine operational test comprises selectively initiating a thrust control malfunction accommodation (TCMA) function.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
comparing the predicted fuel flow to at least one threshold comprises determining that the predicted fuel flow satisfies the at least one threshold; and
selectively executing the engine operational test comprises selectively initiating the engine operational test in response to the predicted fuel flow satisfying the at least one threshold and selectively skipping the engine operational test comprises skipping the engine operational test in response to the predicted fuel flow failing to satisfy the at least one threshold.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein:
the at least one threshold includes a minimum fuel flow for a lean blowout margin; and
determining that the predicted fuel flow satisfies the at least one threshold comprises determining that the predicted fuel flow is at or above the minimum fuel flow.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein:
selectively initiating the engine operational test comprises selectively actuating a flow reduction valve associated with a thrust control malfunction accommodation (TCMA) system of the turbine engine.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 , wherein:
activating the reduction valve reduces a fuel flow rate associated with the turbine engine over a range of fuel metering valve positions.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor data includes a plurality of engine parameters;
the current fuel flow is represented by a first engine parameter;
the plurality of engine parameters comprises at least one additional engine parameter representing a fuel split ratio to two or more fuel nozzles, a fuel temperature, an engine core speed, or a high pressure compressor discharge pressure; and
determining the predicted fuel flow of the turbine engine is based at least in part on the at least one additional engine parameter.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein:
the at least one threshold includes a plurality of thresholds corresponding to a plurality of different engine operating states; and
comparing the predicted fuel flow to at least one threshold comprises comparing the predicted fuel flow to a first threshold in response to a first engine operating state and comparing the predicted fuel flow to a second threshold in response to a second engine operating state, the first threshold and the second threshold are different.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Jastrzembowski Steven James
• Zieg Thomas Edward
• Utah Jared
• Seager Jeremy
• Houpt Michael

Classifications

• F05D2270/306

  Mass flow · CPC title

• F05D2270/092

  in particular blow-out and relight · CPC title

• F05D2270/44

  active, predictive, or anticipative · CPC title

• F02C9/00 Primary

  Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants (controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05) · CPC title

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title