Temperature control system for gas combustion engines and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019032575-A1
Application number	US-201715664534-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2017
Priority date	Jul 31, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of managing the thermal output of a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones uses a temperature control system integrated with the engine to provide digital thermal signals to a control unit. The control unit determines when to adjust an engine operating parameter based on an analysis of the thermal signals. The temperature control system includes a plurality of smart thermal sensors with at least one sensor for each combustion zone, a communication bus, and a control unit. Each smart thermal sensor converts the measured temperature from an analog thermal signal to a digital thermal signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A temperature control system integrated with a gas combustion engine that includes a plurality of combustion zones; the temperature control system comprising:
a plurality of smart thermal sensors, wherein the smart thermal sensors are located such that at least one smart thermal sensor measures a temperature in real-time for each of the combustion zones; a communication bus through which a thermal signal from each of the smart thermal sensors is transmitted; and a control unit that receives the thermal signals from the communication bus; wherein the control unit uses the thermal signals to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas combustion engine.

2 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the smart thermal sensor outputs a digital signal to the communication bus.

3 . The temperature control system according to claim 2 , wherein the smart thermal sensor comprises a thermocouple element, an analog to digital signal converter, and optionally, a protective sheath.

4 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas combustion engine is a gas turbine engine or a gas piston engine.

5 . The temperature control system according to claim 4 , wherein the gas combustion engine is a gas turbine engine.

6 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein number of combustion zones ranges from 2 to 18.

7 . The temperature control system according to claim 6 , wherein the number of combustion zones ranges from 4 to 16.

8 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is an electronic control unit (ECU), an electronic engine control (EEC) unit, or a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC).

9 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit identifies a failure with one or more of the thermal sensors.

10 . The temperature control system according to claim 1 , wherein the gas combustion engine further comprises a plurality of fuel injectors, such that fuel flows through at least one fuel injector into each of the combustion zones.

11 . The temperature control system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit decreases the flow of fuel through one or more of the fuel injectors into at least one combustion zone when the control unit determines the temperature in that at least one combustion zone is higher than the temperatures measured for the other combustion zones.

12 . The temperature control system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit increases the flow of fluid through one or more of the fuel injectors into at least one combustion zone when the control unit determines the temperature in that at least one combustion zone is lower than the temperatures measured for the other combustion zones.

13 . A method of managing the thermal output of a combustion engine; wherein the method comprises:
providing the gas combustion engine; the gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones; providing one or more temperature control systems integrated with the gas combustion engine, the temperature control system comprising:
a plurality of smart thermal sensors, wherein at least one smart thermal sensor is located in each of the combustion zones;
a communication bus; and
a control unit;
measuring the temperature in each of the combustion zones with the smart thermal sensors; transmitting a thermal signal from each of the smart thermal sensors to the communication bus; and allowing the control unit to perform the following functions:
receive the thermal signals from the communication bus;
use the thermal signals to determine the need to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas combustion engine; and
adjust the one or more of the operating parameters.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the smart thermal sensor comprises a thermocouple element, an analog to digital converter, and optionally, a protective sheath;
wherein the smart thermal sensor converts the measured temperature from an analog thermal signal to a digital thermal signal prior to transmission of the thermal signal to the communication bus.

15 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the gas combustion engine is a gas turbine engine or a gas piston engine with the plurality of combustion zones ranging from 2 to 18.

16 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit is an electronic control unit (ECU), an electronic engine control (EEC) unit, or a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC).

17 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the control unit identifies a failure with one or more of the thermal sensors.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the gas combustion engine further comprises a plurality of fuel injectors, such that fuel flows through at least one fuel injector into each of the combustion zones;
wherein the control unit decreases the flow of fuel through one or more of the fuel injectors into at least one combustion zone when the control unit determines the temperature in that at least one combustion zone is higher than the temperatures measured for the other combustion zones; wherein the control unit increases the flow of fluid through one or more of the fuel injectors into at least one combustion zone when the control unit determines the temperature in that at least one combustion zone is lower than the temperatures measured for the other combustion zones.

19 . The use of a temperature control system comprising a plurality of smart thermal sensors integrated with a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones according to claim 1 ;
wherein measured thermal signals are used to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas combustion engine.

20 . The use of a temperature control system comprising a plurality of smart thermal sensors integrated with a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones according to the method of claim 13 .

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Corp

Inventors

• Dalley Robert C
• Costello John J

Classifications

• F05D2270/52

  by electrical means, e.g. relays or switches · CPC title

• F02D41/222

  relating to the failure of sensors or parameter detection devices · CPC title

• F02C9/28 Primary

  Regulating systems responsive to plant or ambient parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, rotor speed (F02C9/30 - F02C9/38, F02C9/44 take precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2270/303

  Temperature · CPC title

• F01B25/04

  Sensing elements · CPC title