F01D21/00

METHOD FOR DETERMINING ANGULAR POSITIONS OF MULTIPLE COMPRESSOR GUIDE VANES
20170306789 · 2017-10-26 · ·

A method is for determining the angular positions of multiple compressor guide vanes. The method includes measuring the positions of at least two points on the circumference of the actuating ring, via at least two linear position sensors fixed on the compressor casing, and pointing at the actuating ring vertically at a time when the actuating ring deviates from its original position where the ring center coincides with the casing center; calculating the ring center offset based on the measured positions of the at least two points and the radius of the actuating ring; measuring the angle of one of the multiple guide vanes at the same time when measuring the positions of the at least two points; and calculating the angles of the multiple guide vanes based on the ring center offset and the angle of the guide vane. An actuation apparatus for multiple compressor guide vanes is included.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONDITION BASED MONITORING OF A GAS TURBINE FILTER HOUSE

In one embodiment, a computing device includes one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the one or more processors to acquire pressure data measured by at least one pressure sensor disposed proximate to a filter house in an intake of a gas turbine engine system, derive an airflow or an air mass flow through a duct of the intake using a thermodynamic model of the gas turbine engine system based at least on the pressure data, derive an intake pressure drop in the duct using at least the pressure data, derive a loss parameter of the filter house by combining the air mass or air mass flow, and the intake pressure drop, derive a pressure loss model based on the loss parameter over a period of time, and determine a condition of the filter house based on the pressure loss model.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EVALUATION OF ENGINE CONDITION
20170307583 · 2017-10-26 ·

There is described herein methods and systems for comparing an engine fluid signature of a first engine with engine fluid signatures of other engines of a same engine family. A delta signature is obtained via the comparison and delta signatures below a given threshold are considered similar. Historical data for each engine having a similar signature may then be used to determine the condition and the future states of the first engine.

Equipment health monitoring method and system and engine

An Equipment Health Monitoring method for an engine and an Equipment Health Monitoring system for performing the method are provided. At least some of the following units are used: an Engine Simulation Unit, a Possibilistic Drift Computation Unit, a Fuzzy String Generator Unit, an Experience-based String Matching Unit and an Information Fusion and Prognosis Unit.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING TURBOMACHINE ENGINE SAFE START CLEARANCES FOLLOWING A SHUTDOWN OF THE TURBOMACHINE ENGINE

System and methods for predicting a turbomachine engine safe start clearance following a shutdown of the turbomachine engine is provided. The system includes a controller operatively connected to a plurality of temperature detecting means (TDM). The TDMs are arranged at an upper and lower part of the engine casing, and are configured to sense parameters of the engine and to transmit the sensed parameters to the controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensed parameters and to determine, via a control application of the controller, whether components of the engine have sufficient clearance. The controller is further configured to transmit the clearance information, e.g., to a user. Based on the clearance information, the turbomachine engine is restarted.

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GAS TURBINE ENGINE SHAFT COOLING
20170335772 · 2017-11-23 ·

A method of cooling a shaft of a gas turbine engine includes moving a control valve towards a position that inhibits fluid flow from a high pressure air source to an air turbine starter and enables fluid flow from a blower motor to the air turbine starter, in response to a gas turbine engine shutdown. The method further includes operating the blower motor to provide air to the air turbine starter.

Method for efficient fan control for electric or gas furnaces and heat pumps in heating mode
09797405 · 2017-10-24 ·

A method for controlling heater ventilation fan operation increases fan speed from low to high after a short delay after turn-on, and continues fan operation for a period of time based on duration of operation, after turn-off. The higher fan speed improves heat transfer and efficiency while the heating system is operating. Continuing fan operation after turn-off maximizes recovery of additional heat from the heat exchanger. Known methods do not provide sufficient air flow to efficiently transfer heat from the heat exchanger to the air, and leave high temperature air (i.e., 110 to 200° F.) in the heat exchanger after turn-off.

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR NOTIFYING AN AUTHORIZATION TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AN AIRCRAFT GAS TURBINE ENGINE

A method of notifying an authorization to shut down completely an aircraft gas turbine engine, the method being applied after detecting that the engine has passed to an idling speed, and including a) an evaluation step of using a value of a first operating parameter of the engine to evaluate a value for a second parameter T45MG wherein a thermal behavior of a part of the engine that might be subjected to coking; b) a comparison step (E30) of comparing the value of the second parameter T45MG with a predefined threshold value T45thresh corresponding to a value of the second parameter that does not lead to coking of the part; and c) a notification step of notifying authorization to shut down completely the engine if the value of the second parameter T45MG is lower than the value of the predefined threshold T45thresh, else reiterating steps a) to c).

COMBUSTION STAGING SYSTEM
20170298839 · 2017-10-19 · ·

A combustion staging system for fuel burners of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The system has pilot and mains fuel manifolds respectively distributing fuel to pilot and mains stages of the burners. The system further has a plurality of check valves through which the mains manifold feeds fuel to the respective burners. The check valves are arranged to open when the fuel pressure within the mains manifold exceeds a predetermined fuel pressure relative to gas pressure in the combustor. The system further has a splitting unit which receives a metered fuel flow and controllably splits the received fuel flow into pilot and mains flows which are sent respectively to the pilot and mains fuel manifolds to perform staging control of the combustor. The splitting unit is operable to select the pilot manifold and to deselect the mains manifold for pilot-only operation in which there is a pilot supply to the combustor but no mains supply to the combustor from the burners. It is also operable to select both the pilot and mains manifolds for pilot and mains operation in which there are pilot and mains supplies to the combustor from the burners. The system further has a cooling flow recirculation line having a delivery section arranged to provide a cooling flow of fuel to the mains manifold when that manifold is deselected so that the deselected mains manifold remains primed with relatively cool fuel, and a return section arranged to collect the cooling flow from the mains manifold. The system further has a gas pressure sensor configured to measure gas pressure in the combustor, a speed sensor which measures a rotation speed of a rotor of the engine, and a control unit which, when the mains manifold is deselected for pilot-only operation, (i) compares the measured rotation speed with a predicted rotation speed for the metered fuel flow, and compares the measured gas pressure with a predicted gas pressure for the metered fuel flow, and (ii) is adapted to close off the recirculation line when the results of these comparisons are indicative of leakage of fuel from the cooling fuel flow into the combustor through one or more of the check valves.

Turbomachine comprising a monitoring system comprising a module for engaging a protection function of the turbomachine and monitoring method

An aircraft turbine engine including at least one spool rotating at speed N1 and a monitoring system including: a regulating module including at least one regulation measurement channel to obtain a measurement of the speed N1 and a mechanism to compare the obtained speed measurement with a thrust setpoint to provide a thrust status; and a module for engaging a protection function of UHT or ATTCS type of the turbine engine. The turbine engine further includes a system for protection against overspeed to prevent ejection of high-energy debris outside the turbine engine, the protection system including at least one overspeed measurement channel to obtain an overspeed of the rotating spool of the turbine engine. The engagement module compares at least one overspeed obtained with at least one reference speed defined according to the protection function to be engaged, to engage the protection function according to results of the comparison.