Patent classifications
F02C9/00
Gas turbine engine communication gateway with integral antennas
A communication adapter of a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes a housing configured to be coupled to the gas turbine engine, a plurality of antennas integrated in the housing, a memory system and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to establish communication with an engine control mounted on the gas turbine engine, establish wireless communication between the communication adapter and an offboard system external to the aircraft through at least one of the antennas integrated in the housing of the communication adapter, and authenticate communication requests at the communication adapter for data sent between the offboard system and the engine control.
Hybrid gas turbine engine starting control
A system includes a gas turbine engine having a low speed spool, a high speed spool, and a combustor. The system also includes a low spool motor configured to augment rotational power of the low speed spool. The system further includes a controller configured to cause fuel flow. The controller is operable to control the low spool motor to drive rotation of the low speed spool responsive to a thrust command while the controller does not command fuel flow to the combustor.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH A FUEL CELL
A gas turbine engine includes a fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell stack and defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter, a fuel source, and a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel source and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell stack. A controller is configured to perform operations including receiving data indicative of system operation conditions, determining a set of fuel cell operating conditions to move the system emission output into or maintain the system emission output within an emissions range, and controlling the fuel cell assembly operating parameter according to the determined set of fuel cell operating conditions.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING EMISSIONS WITH A FUEL CELL
A gas turbine engine includes a fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell stack and defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter, a fuel source, and a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel source and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell stack. A controller is configured to perform operations including receiving data indicative of system operation conditions, determining a set of fuel cell operating conditions to move the system emission output into or maintain the system emission output within an emissions range, and controlling the fuel cell assembly operating parameter according to the determined set of fuel cell operating conditions.
VERSATILE CONTROL OF A PROPULSION SYSTEM WITH A FUEL CELL
A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell, and a turbomachine, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell. A controller is configured to receive data indicative of an engine constraint of the turbomachine, determine that the engine constraint has achieved a fuel cell trim threshold; and perform a fuel cell corrective action with the fuel cell assembly in response to determining that the engine constraint has achieved the fuel cell trim threshold.
VERSATILE CONTROL OF A PROPULSION SYSTEM WITH A FUEL CELL
A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a fuel cell assembly, the fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell, and a turbomachine, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell. A controller is configured to receive data indicative of an engine constraint of the turbomachine, determine that the engine constraint has achieved a fuel cell trim threshold; and perform a fuel cell corrective action with the fuel cell assembly in response to determining that the engine constraint has achieved the fuel cell trim threshold.
Aircraft with an engine control device in the engine compartment and method to obtain such aircraft
A method to modify an aircraft including: disconnecting a first engine control device from command cables and transmission cables, wherein the first engine control device is in a fuselage section forward of a pressure bulkhead; replacing the engine control device with a jumper connector positioned in the fuselage section, wherein the jumper connector electrically connects the command cables to the transmission cables; installing a second engine control device in the fuselage aft of the pressure bulkhead, wherein the second engine control device is in an engine compartment of the fuselage; connecting the second engine control device to transmission cables at a location at or near the pressure bulkhead; connecting sensor cabling directly to the second engine control device, and connecting the engine control device directly to the engine.
Automated engine vibration monitoring and control system
An engine vibration monitoring and control system includes an aircraft autopilot and a flight management system (FMS). The FMS is in operable communication with the aircraft autopilot and is configured to determine when the aircraft autopilot is engaged and disengaged. The FMS is also adapted to receive vibration data from an engine vibration data source and is configured, upon determining that the aircraft autopilot is engaged, to: process the vibration data to determine when engine vibrations exceed one or more first thresholds, and when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more first thresholds, supply commands to the autopilot that cause the autopilot to take corrective actions to reduce the engine vibrations below the one or more first thresholds.
Automated engine vibration monitoring and control system
An engine vibration monitoring and control system includes an aircraft autopilot and a flight management system (FMS). The FMS is in operable communication with the aircraft autopilot and is configured to determine when the aircraft autopilot is engaged and disengaged. The FMS is also adapted to receive vibration data from an engine vibration data source and is configured, upon determining that the aircraft autopilot is engaged, to: process the vibration data to determine when engine vibrations exceed one or more first thresholds, and when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more first thresholds, supply commands to the autopilot that cause the autopilot to take corrective actions to reduce the engine vibrations below the one or more first thresholds.
Method and system for determining an engine temperature
Methods and systems for determining an engine temperature for a gas turbine engine are provided. An estimated combustor temperature is determined based on at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine and an estimated vane mass flow. A corrected vane mass flow is determined based on the estimated combustor temperature, the estimated vane mass flow, and a combustor pressure. The corrected vane mass flow is compared to a reference vane mass flow to obtain the mass flow correction factor. When a condition associated with the mass flow correction factor is not satisfied, the estimated combustor temperature is adjusted based on the mass flow correction factor to produce an adjusted combustor temperature; and the mass flow correction factor is updated based on the adjusted combustor temperature. When the condition associated with the mass flow correction factor is satisfied, the estimated combustor temperature is assigned as the engine temperature.