Patent classifications
F02C7/262
Electric power assist for in-flight engine re-start
A hybrid electric propulsion system including: a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool and a high speed spool, the low speed spool comprising a low pressure compressor and a low pressure turbine, and the high speed spool comprising a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine; an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the high speed spool or the low speed spool; and a controller to: detect an in-flight windmill re-start condition of the gas turbine engine; and cause power to be supplied from a power source to the electric motor in order to augment rotational power of the high speed or the low speed spool during the detected in-flight windmill re-start condition.
Methods and systems for detecting and responding to an engine disturbance
Methods and systems for detecting and responding to an engine disturbance are described. The method comprises monitoring a rate of change of a combustor pressure of an engine, detecting an engine disturbance when the rate of change of the combustor pressure falls below an event detection threshold, initiating an engine recovery sequence in response to detecting the engine disturbance, confirming a surge event when the rate of change of the combustor pressure increases above a surge confirmation threshold within a flameout confirmation time period after having crossed the event detection threshold, applying a surge recovery sequence in response to confirming the surge event, confirming a flameout event when the flameout confirmation time period expires and the rate of change of the combustor pressure remains below the surge confirmation threshold after having crossed the event detection threshold, and applying a flameout recovery sequence in response to confirming the flameout event.
Methods and systems for detecting and responding to an engine disturbance
Methods and systems for detecting and responding to an engine disturbance are described. The method comprises monitoring a rate of change of a combustor pressure of an engine, detecting an engine disturbance when the rate of change of the combustor pressure falls below an event detection threshold, initiating an engine recovery sequence in response to detecting the engine disturbance, confirming a surge event when the rate of change of the combustor pressure increases above a surge confirmation threshold within a flameout confirmation time period after having crossed the event detection threshold, applying a surge recovery sequence in response to confirming the surge event, confirming a flameout event when the flameout confirmation time period expires and the rate of change of the combustor pressure remains below the surge confirmation threshold after having crossed the event detection threshold, and applying a flameout recovery sequence in response to confirming the flameout event.
GEAR TRAIN FOR GAS GEARED GAS TURBINE ENGINE
A gas turbine engine including a fan and an oil pump operatively connected to the fan by a main input drive gear, the drive gear rotating when the fan rotor rotates in either a first or second direction of the fan. Further included is a gear train intermediate the main input drive gear and the oil pump, the gear train including a first and second pinion gear, the first and second pinion gear each driven by the main input drive gear, the first pinion gear driving a first gear through a first clutch, the second pinion gear driving a second gear through a second clutch. Only one of the clutches transmits rotation from the respective pinion gear to the respective gear when the fan is rotating in the first direction, with the only the other clutch transmitting rotation when the fan is rotating in the second direction.
Engine relight visualization methods and systems
Methods and systems are provided for presenting an energy state associated with an aircraft with respect to an operating envelope region for a procedure to restart an engine of the aircraft. One method involves providing a graphical user interface display having a first reference axis corresponding to a first energy state parameter and a second reference axis corresponding to a second energy state parameter different from the first energy state parameter, providing a graphical representation of an operating envelope region associated with a procedure for starting an engine of the aircraft with respect to the first and second reference axes, obtaining current values for the first and second energy state parameters for the aircraft, and providing a graphical representation of the aircraft positioned with respect to the first and second reference axes based on the current values for the first and second energy state parameters.
Automated Initiation of Starter Motor Operation for Starting an Aircraft Engine
An aircraft includes an aircraft engine, a starter motor, an engine fuel delivery system, an engine ignition system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the starter motor, engine fuel delivery system, and engine ignition system. The controller is configured to automatically initiate operation of the starter motor as needed to start the aircraft engine while the aircraft engine is not running. Optionally, the controller may be configured to execute operations in accordance with either or both of two modes of operation. In the first mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is in flight. In the second mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is on ground. These operations can be done by a single, multi-position control.
Automated Initiation of Starter Motor Operation for Starting an Aircraft Engine
An aircraft includes an aircraft engine, a starter motor, an engine fuel delivery system, an engine ignition system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the starter motor, engine fuel delivery system, and engine ignition system. The controller is configured to automatically initiate operation of the starter motor as needed to start the aircraft engine while the aircraft engine is not running. Optionally, the controller may be configured to execute operations in accordance with either or both of two modes of operation. In the first mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is in flight. In the second mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is on ground. These operations can be done by a single, multi-position control.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING AND RESPONDING TO AN ENGINE DISTURBANCE
Methods and systems for detecting and responding to an engine disturbance are described. The method comprises monitoring a rate of change of a combustor pressure of an engine, detecting an engine disturbance when the rate of change of the combustor pressure falls below an event detection threshold, initiating an engine recovery sequence in response to detecting the engine disturbance, confirming a surge event when the rate of change of the combustor pressure increases above a surge confirmation threshold within a flameout confirmation time period after having crossed the event detection threshold, applying a surge recovery sequence in response to confirming the surge event, confirming a flameout event when the flameout confirmation time period expires and the rate of change of the combustor pressure remains below the surge confirmation threshold after having crossed the event detection threshold, and applying a flameout recovery sequence in response to confirming the flameout event.
Gear train for gas geared gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine including a fan and an oil pump operatively connected to the fan by a main input drive gear, the drive gear rotating when the fan rotor rotates in either a first or second direction of the fan. Further included is a gear train intermediate the main input drive gear and the oil pump, the gear train including a first and second pinion gear, the first and second pinion gear each driven by the main input drive gear, the first pinion gear driving a first gear through a first clutch, the second pinion gear driving a second gear through a second clutch. Only one of the clutches transmits rotation from the respective pinion gear to the respective gear when the fan is rotating in the first direction, with the only the other clutch transmitting rotation when the fan is rotating in the second direction.
Fuel flow control system and method for engine start
Systems and methods for controlling fuel flow to an engine during start are provided. Fuel is caused to be injected into a combustor of the engine according to a first fuel schedule defining a minimum fuel flow limit required to achieve light-off of the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit set at an initial value. Following light-off of the engine, at least one operating parameter of the engine is monitored. Based on the at least one operating parameter, occurrence of flameout in the engine is detected. In response to detecting occurrence of flameout in the engine, the minimum fuel flow limit is increased from the initial value to a first value to obtain an adjusted fuel schedule, and fuel is caused to be injected into the combustor according to the adjusted fuel schedule.