Redundant Axial Gap Motor Fuel System for Gas Turbine Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current direct metering fuel control systems for gas turbine engines face challenges such as fuel supply variations, unpredictable engine transients, reduced thermal efficiency, and increased complexity and cost, along with insufficient redundancy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A direct metering fuel supply system utilizing axial gap motors with permanent magnet rotors and stators, coupled with a fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump, and a gas turbine engine control to manage fuel flow, ensuring redundancy and efficiency by selectively energizing and deenergizing motors based on operational status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct metering fuel control systems are implemented to reduce system weight and complexity, then system weight and complexity are reduced, but fuel supply variations and reliability issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a standby motor that remains ready to take over immediately if the primary motor fails. This redundant component is pre-positioned and pre-configured to prevent fuel supply interruptions, thereby maintaining reliability while using a simplified direct metering architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state of the motor from a single continuous operation mode to a selectable mode with hot standby. The control system can switch between primary and standby motors based on operational status, changing the system's redundancy parameter without increasing overall complexity.
2Device complexity
If single motor configuration is used to simplify system structure, then system structure is simplified, but system redundancy and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The motor function is segmented into multiple independent units (primary motor and standby motor) that can operate independently. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplified control logic while achieving redundancy through parallel independent components.
Solution Approach 2:
Both the primary and standby motors are designed with identical capabilities and interfaces, making them universally interchangeable. Either motor can perform the fuel pumping function, providing multi-functionality that enhances reliability without increasing operational complexity.
3Ease of operation
If fuel is used to drive fluid-operated actuators, then actuator operation is enabled, but fuel supply droop and engine speed droop occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors fuel flow and engine parameters, detecting any droop caused by actuator operation. Based on this feedback, the control system adjusts the motor operation to compensate for fuel consumption by actuators, maintaining stable engine speed.
4Manufacturing precision
If direct metering control is implemented to improve thermal efficiency, then fuel metering precision is improved, but system cost and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical metering mechanisms with an electronically controlled motor-driven pump. This substitution achieves precise fuel metering through electronic control while simplifying manufacturing, as the motor and pump are standard components that can be mass-produced.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration minimizes fuel supply variations, enhances thermal efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and provides sufficient redundancy and reliability in fuel delivery to gas turbine engines.
Implementation Method 1
Each axial gap motor is configured to be selectively energized and is operable, upon being energized, to supply a drive torque at a drive speed
Implementation Method 2
The fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump is coupled to each of the axial gap motors to receive the drive torque selectively supplied therefrom and is operable, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel at a flow rate dependent on the drive speed
Data Source
AI summary
A direct metering fuel supply system includes a plurality of axial gap motors, a fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump, and a gas turbine engine control. Each axial gap motor is configured to be selectively energized and is operable, upon being energized, to supply a drive torque at a drive speed. The fixed displacement, variable speed positive displacement piston pump is coupled to each of the axial gap motors to receive the drive torque selectively supplied therefrom and is operable, upon receipt of the drive torque, to supply fuel at a flow rate dependent on the drive speed. The gas turbine engine control is adapted to receive fuel flow commands and is operable, in response to the fuel flow commands, to energize one of the plurality of axial gap motors.