Aircraft Engine Economy Mode Control by SHP Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to optimally determine conditions for entering and exiting an economy mode of operation in multi-engine aircraft, balancing fuel consumption and flight safety.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling multi-engine aircraft that determines the current state and compares shaft horsepower (SHP) requirements to threshold values to allow or inhibit entry into and exit from economy mode, with the flight control system managing engine operation based on sensed parameters such as collective position, airspeed, altitude, and aircraft weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If one or more engines are placed into a reduced operation state to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel efficiency is improved, but flight safety and reliability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts engine operation modes based on real-time flight conditions. The flight control system continuously monitors parameters such as airspeed, altitude, and power requirements, and automatically transitions between economy mode and full operational mode to optimize fuel consumption while maintaining safety margins
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by comparing shaft horsepower (SHP) requirements against threshold values. When SHP requirements fall below the first threshold, the system permits economy mode operation; when they exceed the threshold, full operational mode is maintained, thereby optimizing fuel usage without compromising flight safety
2Loss of energy
If engine shutdown procedures are implemented to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption is reduced, but system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flight control system automatically manages engine mode transitions without requiring manual pilot intervention. The system self-monitors flight conditions, compares SHP requirements to thresholds, and autonomously permits or inhibits economy mode operation, thereby reducing control complexity for the operator while maintaining optimization capabilities
3Loss of energy
If economy mode operation is permitted under all conditions to maximize fuel savings, then fuel efficiency is improved, but flight performance and safety margins deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements conditional parameter changes by establishing threshold-based control logic. Economy mode is permitted only when SHP requirements are below the first threshold, ensuring that fuel savings are achieved without compromising flight performance. When power requirements exceed the threshold, the system automatically inhibits economy mode to maintain adequate performance margins
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an aircraft includes determining a shaft horse power requirement of a multi-engine power plant, comparing the shaft horse power requirement to a threshold value, and activating an economy mode of operation or inhibiting the economy mode of operation based upon the results of the comparison step. The threshold value may be determined from a power rating for an engine of the multi-engine power plant, and may be adjusted and/or delayed, depending upon whether the current state is economy mode active or economy inhibited. The shaft hose power requirement can be calculated from a control input, such as collective position, from a collection of flight parameters, including airspeed, aircraft gross weight, altitude, and the like, or from a measurement of actual shaft horse power production by the engines.