Adaptive Stall Margin Control for Turbine Engine Operability Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional control systems for gas turbine engines operate with excess margin to prevent compressor stall, resulting in suboptimal performance for the majority of the engine's life cycle, as they are designed to accommodate worst-case deteriorated conditions, limiting peak thrust and operational transients.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes sensors to monitor compressor element operating characteristics, computing devices to determine stall margin and health status, and adaptive logic to adjust power management schedules with corrective trims, allowing the engine to operate closer to the stall line and improve performance over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional control systems operate with excess margin to prevent compressor stall, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to limited peak thrust and operational transients
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the power management schedule based on real-time compressor health status. Instead of using a fixed conservative schedule for the entire engine life, the system adapts the operating margin as the compressor deteriorates, allowing high-performance operation when the compressor is healthy and gradually reducing to safe margins as deterioration is detected through monitoring parameters like pressure ratio and temperature deviations
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (power management schedule, thrust limits, transient rates) based on the detected compressor health status. By continuously monitoring compressor performance parameters and comparing them against degradation models, the system adjusts the operating envelope to maximize performance within safe limits at each stage of compressor life
2Stability of the object's composition
If engines are controlled to accommodate worst-case deteriorated conditions, then stability is improved, but performance deteriorates for the vast majority of the engine's life cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessments of compressor health using monitoring data and degradation models to predict future performance. By detecting early signs of deterioration and projecting their impact, the system proactively adjusts the power management schedule before significant performance loss occurs, maintaining optimal performance longer while ensuring stability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors compressor operating parameters (pressure ratios, temperatures, flow rates) and feeds this information back to adjust the power management schedule. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to maintain stability by detecting deviations from expected performance and correcting the operating envelope, while simultaneously maximizing performance by operating closer to actual compressor capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to a turbine engine having an adaptive prognostic health management control system that passively monitors stall margin reductions and applies corrective trims to a power management schedule of the engine to recover operability over time whilst maintaining a sufficient level of stall margin over the life cycle of the engine. The control system can adjust the power management schedule as needed to sustain a target stall margin, which allows for a more optimized and gradual performance to operability trade-off.