Method of determining whether to replace a high pressure pump in a hydraulic regulation system of a turbomachine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309882-B2
Application number	US-201214344777-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2012
Priority date	Sep 13, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A method tracking positive displacement efficiency of a high pressure positive displacement pump in a hydraulic regulator system of a turbomachine delivering a flow rate based on an engine speed of the turbomachine, the flow rate delivered to an actuator actuating variable geometry vanes of the turbomachine and to a bypass valve feeding engines of the turbomachine, the method including: starting engines of the turbomachine at a low engine speed, the valve being closed; using a computer to order a movement of the actuator; progressively increasing the engine speed until the flow rate reaches a predetermined value sufficient for opening the valve; storing in the computer a position of the actuator and the engine speed corresponding to opening of the valve; repeating the preceding operations at successive instants during a lifetime of the engines; and replacing the high pressure positive displacement pump when the engine speed exceeds a predetermined value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of determing when to replace a high pressure pump in a hydraulic regulator system of a turbomachine including a high pressure positive displacement pump delivering a flow rate that is a function of an engine speed of the turbomachine as defined by a control computer, the flow rate being delivered to an actuator for actuating variable geometry vanes of the turbomachine and to a bypass valve arranged in a feed pipe for feeding fuel to engines of the turbomachine, the method comprising:
starting the engines of the turbomachine at a low engine speed, the valve being closed;
using the control computer to order a movement of the actuator;
progressively increasing the engine speed until the flow rate reaches a predetermined value that is sufficient for opening the valve;
storing in the control computer a position of the actuator and the engine speed corresponding to the opening of the valve;
repeating the preceding operations at successive instants during a lifetime of the engines of the turbomachine; and
replacing the high pressure positive displacement pump when the engine speed exceeds a predetermined value.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the position of the actuator is measured by an LVDT sensor of the actuator.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value for the flow rate corresponds to a rated threshold of a spring of the valve.

Assignees

• Potel Nicolas
• Gomes Nicolas
• Snecma

Inventors

• Potel Nicolas
• Gomes Nicolas

Classifications

• F04D29/563

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• G01D5/2291

  Linear or rotary variable differential transformers (LVDTs/RVDTs) having a single primary coil and two secondary coils · CPC title

• G01M15/14

  Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines · CPC title

• F04D27/001

  Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring · CPC title

• F04B51/00 Primary

  Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations · CPC title