A computer-implemented method of enabling optimisation of derate for a propulsion system of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a derate for the propulsion system of the vehicle using: an algorithm; a vehicle model defining path constraints for the vehicle through space; a propulsion system model defining parameters of the propulsion system; an objective function defining one or more objectives; and controlling output of the determined derate.

The method can include determining a mass flow rate W of working fluid circulating through the compressor stage, determining a control parameter value associated to the geometrical configuration of the variable geometry element based on the determined value of mass flow rate W; and changing the geometrical configuration of the variable geometry element in accordance with the determined control parameter value.

A control system for turbine systems configured to utilize an intelligent model of particulate presence and accumulation within turbine systems to address engine maintenance, erosion, corrosion, and parts failure mitigation is disclosed. The control system may build an intelligent model of fluid flow based on the data value measured by at least one sensor and based on a database of known data values to provide an estimation of amount of ingress of air intake particles into the turbine system, fouling within the turbine system, erosion of at least a portion of the turbine system, and performance degradation rate of the turbine system.

A measuring system is provided that includes a turbine engine thrust estimator that computes “virtual measurements” of dynamic engine thrust and other parameters of interest from test cell data in a very short amount of time. The measuring system ‘tunes’ a user's engine model, in a numerical propulsion system simulation, by optimizing system biases and health parameters to match the sensor outputs of a set of steady state data points across the operating range. The tuned model is then utilized by the measuring system to create a constant gain extended Kalman filter that is added directly within a code of the numerical propulsion system simulation. Results, including thrust, from the numerical propulsion system simulation with Kalman filter are then presented as ‘actual’ corrected data.

A control system for a gas turbine includes a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to receive a plurality of signals comprising a temperature signal, a pressure signal, a speed signal, a mass flow signal, or a combination thereof, from sensors disposed in the gas turbine system. The processor is further configured to apply the plurality of signals as input to a heating value model. The processor is also configured to execute the heating value model to derive a heating value for a fuel combusted by the gas turbine system. The processor is additionally configured to control operations of the gas turbine system based on the heating value for the fuel.

In an embodiment, a system includes a gas turbine controller. The gas turbine controller is configured to receive a plurality of sensor signals from a fuel composition sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, or a combination thereof, included in a gas turbine engine system. The controller is further configured to execute a gas turbine model by applying the plurality of sensor signals as input to derive a plurality of estimated gas turbine engine parameters. The controller is also configured to execute a flame holding model by applying the plurality of sensor signals and the plurality of estimated gas turbine engine parameters as input to derive a steam flow to fuel flow ratio that minimizes or eliminates flame holding in a fuel nozzle of the gas turbine engine system.

A control system for a gas turbine system includes a virtual filter. The virtual filter is configured to receive a power signal of the gas turbine system having a spray intercooler. The virtual filter is configured to substantially remove sensor noise in the power signal and filter transient power changes of the gas turbine system to provide a filtered power signal. The virtual filter is configured to provide the filtered power signal to a controller of the spray intercooler, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the spray intercooler based on the filtered power signal.

A method of operating an aircraft that includes a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine and a fuel tank arranged to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine. The method includes: determining at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel arranged to be provided to the gas turbine engine; and controlling the propulsion system based on the at least one fuel characteristic.

An aircraft propulsion system comprises first and second thrust producing gas turbine engines. The system comprises a controller configured to determine a required overall propulsion system thrust level, and determine an engine core power level contribution from each aircraft gas turbine engine such that the overall propulsion system produces a minimum overall noise level and meets the required overall propulsion system thrust level. In meeting the minimum overall noise level, at least the first and second gas turbine engines are operated at different engine core power settings.

A method and a system for synthesizing output power provided by an engine are provided. The engine comprising a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section in serial fluid flow communication. The engine is operated and, during the operating of the engine, a pressure of fluid at an exit of the compressor section, a temperature upstream of the exit of the compressor section, and a fuel flow rate to the engine are determined. A synthesized value of output power provided by the engine is determined based on a product of at least a first factor, a second factor, and a third factor, the first factor being a function of the pressure, the second factor being a function of the temperature, and the third factor being a function of the fuel flow rate. The synthesized value of output power provided by the engine is output.