Engine Cycle Counting via Acceleration Categorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the degradation level of gas turbine engine parts rely on operational hours, which is inaccurate as different operational usage patterns can lead to varying levels of degradation, and manual inspections are costly and not comprehensive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a cycle-counting system that identifies and categorizes engine cycles based on acceleration values, predicting the life cycle of engine parts by differentiating between full, partial, and trip cycles, and transmitting this information to a computing device for human-machine interface outputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If operational hours are used to determine degradation level, then the assessment method is simple, but the accuracy of degradation assessment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis from operational hours to acceleration values. The system monitors acceleration during engine operation and uses these dynamic parameter changes to categorize cycles (full, partial, trip cycles) and assess degradation, thereby improving accuracy while maintaining reasonable complexity through automated sensing and classification.
2Reliability
If manual inspections are conducted to assess degradation, then comprehensive detection is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine monitoring system performs self-assessment by continuously collecting acceleration data and automatically categorizing cycles to predict degradation. This eliminates the need for expensive manual inspections while maintaining comprehensive detection capability through automated, continuous monitoring of engine operational patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection systems with an automated electronic monitoring system that uses acceleration sensors and control logic to assess degradation. This substitution reduces cost while maintaining or improving detection comprehensiveness through continuous automated data collection and analysis.
3Measurement precision
If different operational usage patterns are considered, then degradation assessment accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments operational cycles into distinct categories (full cycles, partial cycles, trip cycles) based on acceleration patterns. This segmentation allows the system to account for different operational usage patterns and their varying impacts on degradation while managing complexity through clear classification rules and automated categorization logic.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for implementing engine cycle counts are disclosed. One method may include determining, by at least one processor, a plurality of cycles associated with an engine; determining a category, by at least one processor, for each of the plurality of cycles based at least in part on an acceleration value associated with each of the plurality of cycles; and predicting, by at least one processor, a life cycle associated with the engine based at least in part on the determined category.