Engine air inlet temperature and pressure sensor with icing detection and deicing functions

Abstract

The invention discloses an engine air inlet temperature and pressure sensor with icing detection and deicing functions. The sensor comprises an anti-icing air entraining channel, a total temperature measuring probe, a total pressure measuring probe and a static pressure measuring channel. When the total temperature measuring probe measures the total temperature of air inlet, the total temperature can be led to the corresponding total pressure measuring probe and the static pressure measuring channel through a special pipeline so as to measure the total pressure and the static pressure, and the measuring result is transmitted to an engine controller. The engine controller calculates the difference value of the total air inlet pressure and the static pressure and controls a valve on the air entraining anti-icing pipeline to be opened to introduce hot air for deicing when the deviation between the difference value of the total air inlet pressure and the static pressure and a preset difference value is larger than a threshold value; and after the deviation between the difference value of the air inlet total pressure and the static pressure and the preset difference value is smaller than the threshold value, the engine controller controls the valve on the air entraining anti-icing pipeline to be closed, hot air is not introduced any more, and deicing is finished.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an aircraft engine control system sensor, and in particular to an engine intake air temperature and pressure sensor with ice detection and deicing functions and an ice detection and deicing method performed at the sensor. Background Art

[0002] Aircraft engines need to measure the temperature and pressure of the engine intake air in real time to achieve stable control of the engine. However, under extremely low temperature intake conditions, the air intake of the engine intake temperature and pressure sensors will freeze, affecting the accuracy of the sensor measurement and even causing sensor failure in extreme cases.

[0003] To prevent icing at the air intake of aircraft engine intake temperature and pressure sensors, the traditional method is to heat and de-ice the engine intake temperature and pressure sensors by drawing engine hot air through the bleed air pipeline. However, this method cannot control the engine bleed air. Continuous bleed air heating not only wastes heat energy, but also affects the accuracy of sensor measurement.

[0004] The intake temperature sensors currently used in aircraft engines are generally divided into total temperature measurement probes and bleed air anti-icing channels. The pressure is generally led to the corresponding gas pressure sensor through a dedicated pipeline for static pressure measurement, and is carried out separately from the temperature measurement, resulting in the inability to judge the icing status of the sensor's air inlet.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for methods and systems that can improve upon the deficiencies in the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce some concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] In response to the technical problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a sensor that integrates temperature and pressure measurement and actively identifies the icing state of the air intake, thereby realizing de-icing of the air intake according to actual needs and improving the measurement accuracy of the intake sensor, thereby solving the problem that the existing engine intake temperature and pressure sensors cannot identify the icing state of the air intake and the de-icing function wastes engine heat.

[0008] Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor for measuring engine intake temperature and pressure is provided, comprising:

[0009] a total temperature measuring probe configured to measure the total intake air temperature;

[0010] a total pressure measuring probe configured to measure the intake total pressure;

[0011] a static pressure measurement channel configured to measure static pressure; and

[0012] The anti-icing bleed air passage is configured to introduce hot air for de-icing when the difference between the measured intake total pressure and the static pressure deviates from a preset difference by more than a threshold value, and to stop introducing hot air to end de-icing when the deviation does not exceed the threshold value.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the total temperature measurement probe is further configured to face the direction of airflow.

[0014] In the above embodiment of the present invention, the total temperature measurement probe is further configured to guide the airflow into the dual redundant temperature sensor in the inner cavity of the sensor to measure the total temperature and convert the measured total temperature into an electrical signal to transmit to the engine controller.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the measured intake total pressure and static pressure are transmitted to an engine controller, which is configured to:

[0016] Calculate the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure in real time;

[0017] When the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the air inlet of the sensor is iced and the valve on the anti-icing air bleed passage is controlled to open so as to introduce hot air for deicing; and

[0018] When the deviation does not exceed the threshold, the valve is controlled to close to end the de-icing.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the preset difference is the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure which is obtained by measurement and calculation under normal non-icing conditions and changes with the engine operating state, and is preset in the generator controller.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the total pressure measurement probe is further configured to face the airflow direction and introduce the airflow into the total pressure measurement pipeline and the terminal pressure sensor for real-time total pressure measurement.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the static pressure measurement channel is further configured to allow airflow to be introduced into the static pressure measurement pipeline and the terminal pressure sensor through a hole opened in the sensor for real-time static pressure measurement.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for detecting and deicing air inlet icing is provided, the method being performed at a sensor for measuring engine intake air temperature and pressure, the sensor comprising a total temperature measurement probe, a total pressure measurement probe, a static pressure measurement channel, and an anti-icing bleed air channel, the method comprising:

[0023] The total pressure measuring probe is used to measure the total intake pressure and transmit the measured total intake pressure to the engine controller;

[0024] Measuring the static pressure through the static pressure measurement channel and transmitting the measured static pressure to the engine controller;

[0025] Calculating the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure by an engine controller;

[0026] When the difference between the difference and the preset difference exceeds a threshold, hot air is introduced through the anti-icing air bleed passage to perform de-icing; and

[0027] When the deviation does not exceed the threshold, the introduction of hot gas is stopped to terminate the de-icing.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the calculation of the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure is performed in real time, and the method further comprises:

[0029] When the difference value and the preset difference value deviate from each other by more than the threshold value, the engine controller determines that the air inlet of the sensor is frozen and controls the valve on the anti-icing air bleed passage to open so as to introduce hot air for deicing; and

[0030] When the deviation does not exceed the threshold, the engine controller controls the valve to close to end the de-icing.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the preset difference is the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure which is obtained by measurement and calculation under normal non-icing conditions and changes with the engine operating state, and is preset in the generator controller.

[0032] After studying the description of the specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, other aspects, features and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Although features of the present invention may be discussed below with respect to certain embodiments and accompanying drawings, all embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, although one or more embodiments may be discussed to have certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used according to the various embodiments of the present invention discussed herein. In a similar manner, although exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system or method embodiments, it should be appreciated that such exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to understand in detail the manner in which the above-stated features of the present disclosure are used, a more particular description of the content briefly summarized above may be made with reference to various aspects, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only certain typical aspects of the present disclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, as the description may admit to other equally effective aspects.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a sensor for measuring engine intake air temperature and pressure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0035] Figure 2 A flow chart is shown of a method for air intake ice detection and de-icing performed at a sensor for engine intake air temperature and pressure measurement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The various embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings that form part of the present invention and illustrate various specific exemplary embodiments. However, the various embodiments can be implemented in many different forms and should not be interpreted as limiting the various embodiments set forth herein; on the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of these embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art. The various embodiments may be implemented in accordance with methods, systems, or devices. Therefore, these embodiments may be implemented in hardware, in full software, or in a combination of software and hardware. Therefore, the following specific embodiments are not limiting.

[0037] The steps in each flow chart may be performed by hardware (e.g., processor, engine, memory, circuit), software (e.g., operating system, application, driver, machine / processor executable instructions), or a combination thereof. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the methods involved in each embodiment may include more or fewer steps than shown.

[0038] In view of the defects in the prior art, the present invention discloses an engine intake temperature and pressure sensor with ice detection and deicing functions. The sensor includes an anti-icing air bleed channel, a total temperature measuring probe, a total pressure measuring probe and a static pressure measuring channel. While the total temperature measuring probe measures the total intake temperature, it can be led to the corresponding total pressure measuring probe and the static pressure measuring channel through a dedicated pipeline to measure the total pressure and static pressure, and transmit the measurement results to the engine controller. The engine controller calculates the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure, and controls the valve on the bleed air anti-icing pipeline to open when the deviation between the intake total pressure and the static pressure and the preset difference is greater than a threshold value to introduce hot air for deicing; after the deviation between the intake total pressure and the static pressure and the preset difference is less than the threshold value, the engine controller controls the valve on the bleed air anti-icing pipeline to close, no longer introduce hot air, and deicing ends.

[0039] The various aspects of the present disclosure will be described in more detail and more comprehensively through block diagrams and method flow charts below.

[0040] Figure 1 A schematic block diagram of a sensor 10 for engine intake air temperature and pressure measurement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown, the sensor 10 for measuring the engine intake temperature and pressure includes a static pressure measurement channel 110, a total pressure measurement probe 120, a total temperature measurement probe 130, an anti-icing bleed air channel 140, and dual redundant temperature sensors (131a, 131b) located in the sensor cavity.

[0042] In one embodiment of the present invention, the total temperature measurement probe 130 can be configured to face the airflow direction, so as to be used for directing the airflow into the dual redundant temperature sensors (131a, 131b) of the sensor cavity, so as to measure the total temperature and convert the measured total temperature into an electrical signal to transmit to the engine controller. In this embodiment of the present invention, the total temperature measurement probe 130 can be configured to measure the total temperature in real time. In other embodiments of the present invention, the total temperature can also be measured in any other suitable manner.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, while measuring the total intake air temperature, the air flow can be guided to the corresponding gas pressure sensor through a dedicated pipeline to measure the total pressure and static pressure.

[0044] Specifically, the total pressure measuring probe 120 can be configured to measure the total pressure of the intake air, and further configured to face the direction of the airflow, and introduce the airflow into the total pressure measuring pipeline and the pressure sensor at the terminal for total pressure measurement and transmit the measured total pressure to the engine controller. In this embodiment of the present invention, the total pressure measuring probe 120 can be configured to measure the total pressure in real time. In other embodiments of the present invention, the total pressure can also be measured in any other suitable manner.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the static pressure measuring probe 110 may be configured to measure static pressure. In this embodiment of the present invention, a static pressure measuring hole may be reserved on the sensor 10 for measuring the engine intake temperature and pressure in the present invention, so that while measuring the total intake temperature, the airflow may be led to the corresponding gas pressure sensor through a dedicated pipeline for measuring the static pressure. In the above embodiment of the present invention, the static pressure measuring channel 110 may be further configured to open a hole (i.e., a static pressure measuring hole) on the sensor 10 to introduce the airflow into the static pressure measuring pipeline and the terminal pressure sensor for measuring the static pressure and transmitting the measured static pressure to the engine controller. In this embodiment of the present invention, the static pressure measuring probe 110 may be configured to measure the static pressure in real time. In other embodiments of the present invention, the static pressure may also be measured in any other suitable manner.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, the anti-icing air bleed passage 140 may be configured to introduce hot air for deicing when the difference between the measured total intake pressure and the static pressure exceeds a threshold value and the preset difference value, and to stop introducing hot air to end deicing when the deviation does not exceed the threshold value. In this embodiment of the present invention, the anti-icing air bleed passage 140 may be arranged near the air inlet to heat the air inlet structure to achieve deicing. In addition, a valve may be added to the bleed air anti-icing pipeline 140 to control whether to bleed air to control the start and end of deicing.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, the valve on the bleed air anti-icing line 140 can be controlled by the engine controller (not in Figure 1 In this embodiment, when the static pressure measured by the static pressure measurement channel 110 and the intake total pressure measured by the total pressure measurement probe 120 are transmitted to the engine controller, the engine controller can be configured to calculate the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure in real time, and when the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds a threshold, determine that the air inlet of the sensor is frozen and control the valve on the anti-icing air bleed channel 140 to open to introduce hot air for deicing, and when the deviation does not exceed the threshold, control the valve to close to end deicing.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the preset difference is the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure obtained by measurement and calculation under normal non-icing conditions, which changes with the engine operating state and is preset in the generator controller. When the air inlet of the sensor is iced, the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure will deviate from the preset difference, and the engine controller can track the deviation in real time. When the deviation is tracked to exceed the specified threshold, the valve on the anti-icing air bleed channel 140 can be controlled to open to introduce hot air for deicing, and when the deviation is tracked to not exceed the threshold, the valve can be controlled to close to end deicing. As a result, the present invention realizes real-time monitoring of the icing state of the air inlet of the sensor, so that timely deicing can be achieved to maintain the sensing and measurement accuracy of the sensor, and the introduction of hot air can be stopped in time after the deicing is completed, so as to avoid wasting heat energy and maintain the accuracy of sensor measurement.

[0049] As can be understood by those skilled in the art, the tracking of the deviation between the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure and the preset difference can be in real time, or the deviation can be tracked or monitored in any suitable manner. In addition, the setting of the threshold can also be set by those skilled in the art according to actual needs, rather than being limited to any specific threshold.

[0050] As can be understood by those skilled in the art, Figure 1 The schematic diagram of the engine intake air temperature and pressure sensor architecture shown in is only one of the embodiments of the engine intake air temperature and pressure sensor with ice detection and deicing functions in the present invention. Those skilled in the art can integrate more temperature and pressure measurement points into this type of engine intake air temperature and pressure sensor according to actual needs, and can also adjust it according to the needs of different measurement point positions of the engine to meet more complex engine anti-icing needs.

[0051] Figure 2 A flow chart is shown of a method 200 for air intake ice detection and de-icing performed at a sensor for engine intake air temperature and pressure measurement according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method 200 may be performed on a sensor for measuring engine intake air temperature and pressure (such as Figure 1 The sensor 10 shown in the figure is executed at the position where the temperature measurement is performed, and the sensor includes a total temperature measurement probe, a total pressure measurement probe, a static pressure measurement channel and an anti-icing bleed air channel.

[0053] like Figure 2As shown, method 200 starts at step 202, measuring the intake total pressure through the total pressure measuring probe and transmitting the measured intake total pressure to the engine controller. In one embodiment of the present invention, the total pressure measuring probe can be configured to face the airflow direction, and introduce the airflow into the total pressure measuring pipeline and the pressure sensor at the terminal for total pressure measurement and transmitting the measured total pressure to the engine controller. In this embodiment of the present invention, the total pressure measuring probe can be configured to measure the total pressure in real time.

[0054] Then, the method 200 proceeds to step 204, where the static pressure is measured through the static pressure measurement channel and the measured static pressure is transmitted to the engine controller. In one embodiment of the present invention, a static pressure measurement hole may be reserved on the sensor so that while measuring the intake air total temperature, the air flow may be directed to the corresponding gas pressure sensor through a dedicated pipeline for measuring the static pressure.

[0055] Next, the method 200 proceeds to step 206, where the engine controller calculates the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the static pressure measured by the static pressure measurement channel and the intake total pressure measured by the total pressure measurement probe are transmitted to the engine controller, the engine controller may be configured to calculate the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure in real time.

[0056] Then, the method 200 continues to step 208, and when the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds a threshold, hot air is introduced through the anti-icing air bleed passage for deicing. In one embodiment of the present invention, when the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds the threshold, the engine controller determines that the air inlet of the sensor is iced and controls the valve on the anti-icing air bleed passage to open to introduce hot air for deicing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the preset difference is the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure obtained by measurement and calculation under normal conditions without icing, which changes with the engine operating state, and is preset in the generator controller.

[0057] Finally, the method 200 continues to step 210, where the introduction of hot gas is stopped to end de-icing when the deviation does not exceed the threshold. In one embodiment of the present invention, the engine controller controls the valve to close to end de-icing when the deviation does not exceed the threshold.

[0058] In summary, the present invention provides a sensor that integrates temperature and pressure measurement and actively identifies the icing state of the air intake, thereby realizing de-icing of the air intake according to actual needs and improving the measurement accuracy of the intake sensor, thereby solving the problem that the existing engine intake temperature and pressure sensors cannot identify the icing state of the air intake and the de-icing function wastes engine heat.

[0059] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to block diagrams and / or the operating instructions of methods, systems, and computer program products according to embodiments of the present invention. Each function / action noted in the frame may occur in an order different from that shown in any flow chart. For example, depending on the function / action involved, two frames shown in succession may actually be performed substantially simultaneously, or these frames may sometimes be performed in an opposite order.

[0060] The above is only a preferred specific embodiment of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A sensor for measuring engine intake temperature and pressure, comprising: a total temperature measuring probe configured to measure the total intake air temperature; a total pressure measuring probe configured to measure the intake total pressure; a static pressure measurement channel configured to measure static pressure; and The anti-icing bleed air passage is configured to introduce hot air for deicing when the deviation between the measured difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure and a preset difference exceeds a threshold, and to stop introducing hot air to end deicing when the deviation does not exceed the threshold.

2. The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total temperature measurement probe is further configured to face the direction of airflow.

3. The sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the total temperature measurement probe is further configured to direct the airflow into a dual redundant temperature sensor in the inner cavity of the sensor to measure the total temperature and convert the measured total temperature into an electrical signal to transmit to the engine controller.

4. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the measured intake total pressure and static pressure are transmitted to an engine controller, the engine controller being configured to: Calculating in real time the difference between the total intake pressure and the static pressure; When the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds the threshold, it is determined that the air inlet of the sensor is iced and the valve on the anti-icing air bleed passage is controlled to open so as to introduce hot air for deicing; and When the deviation does not exceed the threshold, the valve is controlled to close to end de-icing.

5. The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset difference is the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure which is obtained by measurement and calculation under normal non-icing conditions and varies with the engine operating state, and is preset in the generator controller.

6. The sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total pressure measurement probe is further configured to face the direction of the airflow and introduce the airflow into the total pressure measurement pipeline and the terminal pressure sensor for real-time total pressure measurement.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the static pressure measurement channel is further configured to allow a hole to be opened on the sensor for introducing air flow into a static pressure measurement pipeline and a terminal pressure sensor for real-time static pressure measurement.

8. A method for detecting and deicing ice at a sensor air inlet, the method being performed at a sensor for measuring engine air intake temperature and pressure, the sensor comprising a total temperature measurement probe, a total pressure measurement probe, a static pressure measurement channel, and an anti-icing bleed air channel, the method comprising: Measuring the total intake pressure by the total pressure measuring probe and transmitting the measured total intake pressure to the engine controller; measuring the static pressure through the static pressure measurement channel and transmitting the measured static pressure to the engine controller; calculating, by an engine controller, a difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure; When the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds a threshold, hot air is introduced through the anti-icing air bleed passage to perform de-icing; as well as When the deviation does not exceed the threshold value, the introduction of hot gas is stopped to end the de-icing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the calculation of the difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure is performed in real time, and wherein the method further comprises: When the deviation between the difference and the preset difference exceeds the threshold, the engine controller determines that the air inlet of the sensor is iced and controls the valve on the anti-icing air bleed passage to open so as to introduce hot air for deicing; as well as When the deviation does not exceed the threshold, the engine controller controls the valve to close to end de-icing.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the preset difference is a difference between the intake total pressure and the static pressure obtained by measurement and calculation under normal non-icing conditions, which varies with engine operating conditions and is preset in the generator controller.

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