Gas Turbine Compressor Margin Control via Aerodynamic Distortion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine compressor sections face instability due to aerodynamic distortions from changing angles of attack and sideslip during aircraft maneuvers, leading to potential engine surge and requiring compressor designs to sacrifice fuel economy and component life for safety.
Innovation Solution
A method to calculate and modify the operating margin of a gas turbine engine by adjusting the position of variable vanes based on real-time aerodynamic distortion, comparing it to a desired margin and making adjustments to reduce instability, thereby maintaining a safe operating range while improving efficiency and component life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the compressor section is designed to operate safely under extreme conditions with a large operating margin, then reliability is improved, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static, conservative operating margin design to a dynamic margin management system. The controller continuously monitors actual aerodynamic distortion and adjusts the operating margin in real-time based on current flight conditions, allowing the engine to operate closer to performance limits when conditions permit while maintaining safety when distortion is high
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the operating margin parameter based on measured aerodynamic distortion. The system calculates actual distortion from flight data, compares it to scheduled distortion, and adjusts the operating margin accordingly - reducing margin when distortion exceeds expectations and allowing margin reduction when distortion is lower than anticipated
2Reliability
If the compressor section is designed to operate safely under extreme conditions with a large operating margin, then reliability is improved, but component life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating margin based on real-time distortion monitoring, allowing the compressor to operate in higher-performance regimes when conditions allow. This reduces unnecessary conservative operation that would limit component utilization and extend effective service life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual aerodynamic distortion and using this information to adjust the operating margin. The controller receives feedback from flight data, calculates distortion, and modifies the margin accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes component utilization while maintaining safety
3Use of energy by moving object
If the operating margin is reduced to improve fuel economy, then energy efficiency is improved, but stability deteriorates due to increased risk of surge and flutter
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control by continuously monitoring actual aerodynamic distortion and adjusting the operating margin in real-time. When distortion increases beyond expected levels, the margin is automatically increased to maintain stability. When distortion is lower, the margin can be reduced to improve efficiency, creating a stable yet efficient operating regime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively adjusting the operating margin in response to measured distortion before instability occurs. The system calculates the actual distortion and preemptively modifies the margin to prevent surge or flutter conditions, rather than reacting after problems arise
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A method of protecting operating margin of the gas turbine engine includes calculating an aerodynamic distortion of air entering an inlet of a gas turbine engine that has a compressor section with variable vanes that are movable subject to a control parameter. The control parameter is selectively modified in response to the aerodynamic distortion.