Gas Turbine Actuator Local Loop Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face significant weight and maintenance challenges due to extensive electrical cabling and control delays caused by the separation of loop closing electronics and actuation hardware, leading to difficulties in identifying and addressing system failures.
Innovation Solution
A component for gas turbine engines is developed, incorporating an electronic module with data bus interface circuitry, power interface circuitry, and a common loop closer module that processes commands locally, queuing them in an input buffer to reduce cabling and enable local loop closure, thereby improving fault accommodation and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If loop closing electronics are positioned a significant distance away from actuation hardware, then control system reliability is improved through separation of functions, but electrical cabling weight and control delays increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the loop closing electronics with the actuation hardware by integrating controller electronics directly into the actuator assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for extensive electrical cabling between separate components, thereby reducing cabling weight while maintaining control system reliability through localized processing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control system into distributed intelligent modules where each actuator contains its own controller electronics and memory. This segmentation allows each module to operate semi-independently, reducing the need for continuous communication through heavy cabling while maintaining overall system reliability through modular fault isolation.
2Device complexity
If loop closing electronics are positioned a significant distance away from actuation hardware, then functional separation is achieved, but control delays increase due to separation
Solution Approach 1:
By merging controller electronics directly into the actuator assembly, the patent eliminates signal transmission delays associated with distant electronics. The local integration allows commands to be processed immediately at the actuation point, reducing control delays while maintaining functional separation through modular design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If extensive electrical cabling is used between controller and actuation hardware, then system functionality is maintained, but weight and failure opportunities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into distributed intelligent modules with local processing capability. Each actuator contains its own controller electronics and memory, enabling it to function semi-independently. This segmentation reduces the number of cable connections, thereby reducing failure opportunities while maintaining overall system functionality through modular operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each actuator module contains its own controller electronics and memory, enabling it to process commands and accommodate faults locally without requiring constant communication with the main controller. This self-service capability reduces dependency on extensive cabling and associated failure points.
4Ease of repair
If components are separated to improve maintenance access, then ease of repair is improved, but difficulty in identifying failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into modular components with distinct functional boundaries. Each actuator module contains its own controller electronics and memory, creating clear isolation points that facilitate both maintenance access and failure identification. When a failure occurs, the modular structure allows technicians to isolate and diagnose the specific module without having to trace through complex cabling between integrated components.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for local loop closure is provided. The apparatus includes a component for use in a gas turbine engine. The component includes at least one of an actuator and a servo-valve, at least one sensor, and an electronic module comprising controller electronics and memory. The electronic module is configured to receive and process commands for the at least one of an actuator and a servo-valve and queue received commands in an input buffer.