Systems and methods for turbomachine control based upon magnetostrictive sensor measurements are provided. A turbomachine (e.g., a compressor) can be instrumented with at a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter, and a magnetostrictive sensor configured to acquire a torsional measurement (e.g., torsional vibration and/or torque) of a turbomachine shaft. An analyzer can receive the operating parameter measurement and torsional measurement and determine an updated operating parameter limit and/or an updated exclusion zone based upon the torsional measurement for control of the operating parameter.

A jet engine which includes: a fan provided with a plurality of stages of rotor blades; a compressor which compresses air which is sent from the fan; a combustor which generates combustion gas by using compressed air generated by the compressor; a turbine which generates a driving force from the combustion gas; and a nozzle which discharges the combustion gas, the jet engine further includes: a variable guide vane which is disposed upstream of the rotor blades of a second and later stage of the rotor blades of the fan and which adjusts an inlet angle of air flow against the second and later stage of the rotor blades; a fluid resistance adjusting device which adjusts a fluid resistance at the nozzle; and a controller which controls the variable guide vane such that the inlet angle at the time of cruise flight is smaller than the inlet angle at the time of acceleration and controls the fluid resistance adjusting device such that increase in the fluid resistance, due to an increase in a volume flow at an outlet of the fan corresponding to a reduction in the inlet angle, is suppressed.

Systems and method for synchrophasing aircraft engines are disclosed. One method comprises receiving data indicative of a sensed vibration level associated with a first aircraft engine and a second aircraft engine operating at a substantially same operating speed and commanding one or more momentary changes in operating speed of the second aircraft engine until the sensed vibration level substantially reaches a target vibration level. The momentary changes in operating speed of the second aircraft engine is commanded irrespective of phase information associated with imbalances of the first and second aircraft engines.

The gas turbine power generation system of the present invention repeats either the supply or absorption of power, in addition to generating power. The gas turbine power generation system is provided with a first rotation shaft, a compressor, a combustor, a first turbine upon which combustion gasses impinge, thereby causing the first turbine to rotate, and driving the first rotation shaft, a rotating electrical machine connected to the first rotation shaft, a speed adjustment mechanism for controlling the speed of the compressor by adjusting an air volume, a frequency converter for converting a frequency of power, the frequency converter being connected between the rotating electrical machine and a power system via a power line, and a controller for obtaining a request for an output from the gas turbine power generation system and controlling the combustor on the basis of the request. With respect to the frequency converter, the controller performs frequency converter control for changing the rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine on the basis of the request. The rotating electrical machine supplies or absorbs power in accordance with the change in the rotational speed. With respect to the speed adjustment mechanism, the controller performs speed adjustment mechanism control for setting the rotational speed to a reference value.

A method and control system for an aircraft engine comprising a gas turbine driving a fan propeller with a mechanical gear-train and a dedicated pitch change mechanism for the fan propeller includes a fuel flow signal input; a pitch change mechanism signal input; a controlled plant for relating a pitch change mechanism pitch angle (BetaP) and a fuel flow (Wf) to at least two controlled outputs and a set of constraints. A decoupling control decoupling the controlled plant and/or the constraints into two separate single-input single-output (SISO) control loops for the first and second controlled outputs and a decoupling control decoupling the constraints from the decoupled controlled outputs and the constraints from one another provide gas turbine and fan propeller coordinate control while coordinately controlling constraints and outputs. A feedforward control can compensate the load change effect on engine speed and fan propeller rotor speed control.

According to one aspect, a clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.

A method of operating a turbine engine that includes actuating a starter motor of the turbine engine such that a motoring speed of the turbine engine increases, and actuating a plurality of variable stator vanes of the turbine engine such that the plurality of variable stator vanes are at least partially open to control the motoring speed of the turbine engine.

A turbine engine including a fan, a nacelle circumscribing at least the fan, a compressor section downstream of the fan, and a conduit defined, at least in part, by the nacelle. The conduit includes a first opening at the compressor section, a second opening downstream of the fan and upstream of the compressor section, and a third opening upstream of the fan. Pressure sensors coupled to the nacelle are communicatively coupled to at least one actuator. The at least one actuator can adjust airflow between the first opening and the second opening, or between the first opening and the third opening. The pressure sensors can provide outputs for generating commands that control the at least one actuator.

Systems and methods for turbomachine control based upon magnetostrictive sensor measurements are provided. A turbomachine (e.g., a compressor) can be instrumented with at a sensor configured to measure an operating parameter, and a magnetostrictive sensor configured to acquire a torsional measurement (e.g., torsional vibration and/or torque) of a turbomachine shaft. An analyzer can receive the operating parameter measurement and torsional measurement and determine an updated operating parameter limit and/or an updated exclusion zone based upon the torsional measurement for control of the operating parameter.

A thrust demand signal is provided to a processor of a gas turbine engine and is modified, according to growth time constants of a rotor and/or a casing of the engine, in order to control the rotational speed or the rate of change of rotational speed of the engine so as to prevent contact between the rotor and the casing.