ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLLER

Abstract

An Electronic Engine Controller (EEC) for a gas turbine engine. The EEC is configured to be connected to a solenoid valve, and configured to control the solenoid valve by providing a driving signal to either a first solenoid winding or a second solenoid winding of the solenoid valve, the first and second solenoid windings being magnetically coupled to one another by an armature of the solenoid valve. The armature is movable under the action of the driving signal to operate the solenoid valve. The solenoid winding of the first and second solenoid windings provided with the driving signal is a driving winding and the other solenoid winding of the first and second solenoid windings is a pick-up winding. When the EEC controls the solenoid valve via the driving winding by providing the driving signal thereto, it is further configured to sense a position of the solenoid valve via the pick-up winding by detecting a signal induced in the pick-up winding by the magnetic coupling.

Claims

1. An electronic engine controller (EEC) for a gas turbine engine, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to be connected to a solenoid valve, and configured to control the solenoid valve by providing a driving signal to either a first solenoid winding or a second solenoid winding of the solenoid valve, the first and second solenoid windings being magnetically coupled to one another by an armature of the solenoid valve; wherein the armature is movable under the action of the driving signal to operate the solenoid valve; the solenoid winding of the first and second solenoid windings provided with the driving signal is a driving winding and the other solenoid winding of the first and second solenoid windings is a pick-up winding; and wherein, when the electronic engine controller controls the solenoid valve via the driving winding by providing the driving signal thereto, it is further configured to sense a position of the solenoid valve via the pick-up winding by detecting a signal induced in the pick-up winding by the magnetic coupling.

2. The electronic engine controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to control the driving winding via a pulse width modulated driving signal.

3. The electronic engine controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to sense a position of the solenoid valve based on an amplitude of the signal induced in the pick-up winding.

4. The electronic engine controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to sense a position of the solenoid valve based on a comparison between a first area under the driving signal provided to the driving winding, and a second area under the signal induced in the pick-up solenoid winding.

5. The electronic engine controller of claim 4, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to begin measuring the first area and the second area at a same time.

6. The electronic engine controller of claim 4, wherein the comparison between the first area and the second area is the determination of a ratio of the first area to the second area.

7. The electronic engine controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine controller is a full authority digital engine controller (FADEC).

8. The electronic engine controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic engine controller is configured to control the driving winding via a square-wave driving signal.

9. A combination of an electronic engine controller of claim 1 and a solenoid valve connected thereto.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the solenoid valve is configured to control the flow of fuel into a combustion chamber of the gas turbine engine.

11. A gas turbine engine for an aircraft, the gas turbine engine comprising the combination of the electronic engine controller and the connected solenoid valve of claim 9.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11, further comprising: an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; and a gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft.

13. The gas turbine engine according to claim 12, wherein: the turbine is a first turbine, the compressor is a first compressor, and the core shaft is a first core shaft; the engine core further comprises a second turbine, a second compressor, and a second core shaft connecting the second turbine to the second compressor; and the second turbine, second compressor, and second core shaft are arranged to rotate at a higher rotational speed than the first core shaft.

14. A method of controlling a solenoid valve in a gas turbine engine by an electronic engine controller, the solenoid valve including a first solenoid winding and a second solenoid winding which are magnetically coupled to one another by an armature of the solenoid valve, the method comprising the steps of: providing, to one of the first solenoid winding and the second solenoid winding, a driving signal to move the armature and thereby operate the solenoid valve; and sensing, from a signal induced in the other winding of the first solenoid winding and the second solenoid winding by the magnetic coupling, the position of the armature.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the Figures, in which:

[0054] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a gas turbine engine;

[0055] FIG. 2 is a close up sectional side view of an upstream portion of a gas turbine engine;

[0056] FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view of a gearbox for a gas turbine engine;

[0057] FIG. 4 is a schematic of a solenoid valve and EEC according to the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 5A is a plot of amplitude against time of a driving signal provided to a driving solenoid winding; and

[0059] FIG. 5B is a plot of amplitude against time of a signal induced in a pick-up solenoid winding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will now be discussed with reference to the accompanying figures. Further aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0061] FIG. 1 illustrates a gas turbine engine 10 having a principal rotational axis 9. The engine 10 comprises an air intake 12 and a propulsive fan 23 that generates two airflows: a core airflow A and a bypass airflow B. The gas turbine engine 10 comprises a core 11 that receives the core airflow A. The engine core 11 comprises, in axial flow series, a low pressure compressor 14, a high-pressure compressor 15, combustion equipment 16, a high-pressure turbine 17, a low pressure turbine 19 and a core exhaust nozzle 20. A nacelle 21 surrounds the gas turbine engine 10 and defines a bypass duct 22 and a bypass exhaust nozzle 18. The bypass airflow B flows through the bypass duct 22. The fan 23 is attached to and driven by the low pressure turbine 19 via a shaft 26 and an epicyclic gearbox 30.

[0062] In use, the core airflow A is accelerated and compressed by the low pressure compressor 14 and directed into the high pressure compressor 15 where further compression takes place. The compressed air exhausted from the high pressure compressor 15 is directed into the combustion equipment 16 where it is mixed with fuel and the mixture is combusted. The resultant hot combustion products then expand through, and thereby drive, the high pressure and low pressure turbines 17, 19 before being exhausted through the core exhaust nozzle 20 to provide some propulsive thrust. The high pressure turbine 17 drives the high pressure compressor 15 by a suitable interconnecting shaft 27. The fan 23 generally provides the majority of the propulsive thrust. The epicyclic gearbox 30 is a reduction gearbox.

[0063] An exemplary arrangement for a geared fan gas turbine engine 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The low pressure turbine 19 (see FIG. 1) drives the shaft 26, which is coupled to a sun wheel, or sun gear, 28 of the epicyclic gear arrangement 30. Radially outwardly of the sun gear 28 and intermeshing therewith is a plurality of planet gears 32 that are coupled together by a planet carrier 34. The planet carrier 34 constrains the planet gears 32 to precess around the sun gear 28 in synchronicity whilst enabling each planet gear 32 to rotate about its own axis. The planet carrier 34 is coupled via linkages 36 to the fan 23 in order to drive its rotation about the engine axis 9. Radially outwardly of the planet gears 32 and intermeshing therewith is an annulus or ring gear 38 that is coupled, via linkages 40, to a stationary supporting structure 24.

[0064] Note that the terms “low pressure turbine” and “low pressure compressor” as used herein may be taken to mean the lowest pressure turbine stages and lowest pressure compressor stages (i.e. not including the fan 23) respectively and/or the turbine and compressor stages that are connected together by the interconnecting shaft 26 with the lowest rotational speed in the engine (i.e. not including the gearbox output shaft that drives the fan 23). In some literature, the “low pressure turbine” and “low pressure compressor” referred to herein may alternatively be known as the “intermediate pressure turbine” and “intermediate pressure compressor”. Where such alternative nomenclature is used, the fan 23 may be referred to as a first, or lowest pressure, compression stage.

[0065] The epicyclic gearbox 30 is shown by way of example in greater detail in FIG. 3. Each of the sun gear 28, planet gears 32 and ring gear 38 comprise teeth about their periphery to intermesh with the other gears. However, for clarity only exemplary portions of the teeth are illustrated in FIG. 3. There are four planet gears 32 illustrated, although it will be apparent to the skilled reader that more or fewer planet gears 32 may be provided within the scope of the claimed present disclosure. Practical applications of a planetary epicyclic gearbox 30 generally comprise at least three planet gears 32.

[0066] The epicyclic gearbox 30 illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 2 and 3 is of the planetary type, in that the planet carrier 34 is coupled to an output shaft via linkages 36, with the ring gear 38 fixed. However, any other suitable type of epicyclic gearbox 30 may be used. By way of further example, the epicyclic gearbox 30 may be a star arrangement, in which the planet carrier 34 is held fixed, with the ring (or annulus) gear 38 allowed to rotate. In such an arrangement the fan 23 is driven by the ring gear 38. By way of further alternative example, the gearbox 30 may be a differential gearbox in which the ring gear 38 and the planet carrier 34 are both allowed to rotate.

[0067] It will be appreciated that the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is by way of example only, and various alternatives are within the scope of the present disclosure. Purely by way of example, any suitable arrangement may be used for locating the gearbox 30 in the engine 10 and/or for connecting the gearbox 30 to the engine 10. By way of further example, the connections (such as the linkages 36, 40 in the FIG. 2 example) between the gearbox 30 and other parts of the engine 10 (such as the input shaft 26, the output shaft and the fixed structure 24) may have any desired degree of stiffness or flexibility. By way of further example, any suitable arrangement of the bearings between rotating and stationary parts of the engine (for example between the input and output shafts from the gearbox and the fixed structures, such as the gearbox casing) may be used, and the disclosure is not limited to the exemplary arrangement of FIG. 2. For example, where the gearbox 30 has a star arrangement (described above), the skilled person would readily understand that the arrangement of output and support linkages and bearing locations would typically be different to that shown by way of example in FIG. 2.

[0068] Accordingly, the present disclosure extends to a gas turbine engine having any arrangement of gearbox styles (for example star or planetary), support structures, input and output shaft arrangement, and bearing locations.

[0069] Optionally, the gearbox may drive additional and/or alternative components (e.g. the intermediate pressure compressor and/or a booster compressor).

[0070] Other gas turbine engines to which the present disclosure may be applied may have alternative configurations. For example, such engines may have an alternative number of compressors and/or turbines and/or an alternative number of interconnecting shafts. By way of further example, the gas turbine engine shown in FIG. 1 has a split flow nozzle 18, 20 meaning that the flow through the bypass duct 22 has its own nozzle 18 that is separate to and radially outside the core exhaust nozzle 20. However, this is not limiting, and any aspect of the present disclosure may also apply to engines in which the flow through the bypass duct 22 and the flow through the core 11 are mixed, or combined, before (or upstream of) a single nozzle, which may be referred to as a mixed flow nozzle. One or both nozzles (whether mixed or split flow) may have a fixed or variable area. Whilst the described example relates to a turbofan engine, the disclosure may apply, for example, to any type of gas turbine engine, such as an open rotor (in which the fan stage is not surrounded by a nacelle) or turboprop engine, for example. In some arrangements, the gas turbine engine 10 may not comprise a gearbox 30.

[0071] The geometry of the gas turbine engine 10, and components thereof, is defined by a conventional axis system, comprising an axial direction (which is aligned with the rotational axis 9), a radial direction (in the bottom-to-top direction in FIG. 1), and a circumferential direction (perpendicular to the page in the FIG. 1 view). The axial, radial and circumferential directions are mutually perpendicular.

[0072] FIG. 4 is schematic view of an electronic engine controller, EEC, 400 according to the present disclosure. The EEC is connected, via separate channels, to a solenoid valve 410 containing a first solenoid winding 401 and a second solenoid winding 402. The windings are magnetically coupled by armature 403. In response to a driving signal, provided to either of the solenoid windings, the armature 403 moves in direction 404 so as to open or close a valve. The solenoid winding to which a driving signal is provided is referred to as the driving winding. The solenoid winding which is not receiving a driving signal is referred to as the pick-up winding.

[0073] FIG. 5A shows a plot of amplitude against time for a driving signal provided to the driving winding of the two windings, the other winding being the pick-up winding. As has been discussed previously, the driving winding can be either of the first and second solenoid windings. The driving signal is a pulse width modulated signal, and has a square wave form. The use of a pulse width modulated signal can reduce the electrical power consumption of the valve, minimise the heat generated in the coils, and proportionally control the force applied to, and therefore position of the armature.

[0074] As the driving winding is magnetically coupled to the pick-up winding via the armature 403, a signal is induced in the pick-up winding in response to the driving signal. This induced signal is shown in FIG. 5B. The induced signal shown in FIG. 5B and the driving signal shown in FIG. 5A are cotemporaneous i.e. they share the same time axis.

[0075] The mark to space ratio of the driving signal is used by the EEC to determine the force applied to the armature. The position of the solenoid valve can be determined based on an amplitude of the signal induced in the pick-up winding. The amplitude may be used as a raw value, or so as to calculate an area under the curve defining the induced signal and the ratio of this area to the area under the driving signal is used to determine the position of the armature. When calculating the area under the respective curves, the EEC may be configured to start and stop the integrations at the same time. For example, when the driving signal is a pulse width modulated signal, the rising edge of the driving signal may be the start trigger, and the falling edge may be the stop trigger.

[0076] Advantageously, such an EEC negates the need for a discrete position sensor to be coupled with the solenoid valve. Moreover, the solenoid valve does not need to be augmented, and so no mass is added. Further, as discussed previously, the wiring complexity is reduced as only four leads are required for the solenoid valve. This also reduces the risk of leakage from the solenoid valve. Additionally, there is no need for a discrete measurement electronics block (with the associated grounding and wiring concerns) and instead a single drive block can be provided. Further, such an EEC removes the failure modes associated with additional electrical connectors.

[0077] Embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in the figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

[0078] The term “computer readable medium” may represent one or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic disk storage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/or other machine readable mediums for storing information. The term “computer-readable medium” includes, but is not limited to portable or fixed storage devices, optical storage devices, wireless channels and various other mediums capable of storing, containing or carrying instruction(s) and/or data.

[0079] Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a computer readable medium. One or more processors may perform the necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, etc.

[0080] It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein.