Aircraft Engine Particulate Sensing for Dust-Aware Flight Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft engines operating at low altitudes in dusty or debris-intensive environments face reduced efficiency and operability due to particulate matter ingestion, which can lead to premature degradation and mission failure if not properly managed.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of electrostatic particulate matter sensors and a controller system that provides real-time data on PAM ingestion, allowing pilots to adjust flight paths and schedules to minimize PAM intake, combined with an engine power model that simulates performance degradation and recommends maintenance based on PAM data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If aircraft engine operates in dusty or debris-intensive environments at low altitudes, then the engine can maintain flight capability in challenging conditions, but particulate matter ingestion reduces engine efficiency and accelerates degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflight capability in challenging conditionsVSAvoidengine efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of particulate matter in the gas path before significant contamination occurs. Sensors continuously monitor PAM levels and provide early warning to pilots, enabling them to take preventive actions such as changing altitude or flight path before engine efficiency is substantially degraded

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through real-time monitoring of particulate matter ingestion levels. The controller receives sensor data, processes it through an engine power model, and provides ongoing information to pilots about engine health status, enabling dynamic adjustment of flight operations to maintain reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If aircraft engine operates in dusty or debris-intensive environments at low altitudes, then the aircraft can access operational areas, but particulate matter intake reduces engine operability and may cause mission failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to operational areasVSAvoidengine operability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides preliminary warning of deteriorating engine conditions caused by PAM ingestion, allowing pilots to complete missions or execute contingency plans before operability is lost. The engine power model predicts future performance degradation based on current PAM levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Continuous feedback on engine operability status enables dynamic decision-making. The system monitors PAM levels and provides real-time information about engine health, allowing pilots to adjust operations to maintain mission capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If no real-time monitoring of particulate matter is implemented, then the system remains simple, but engine degradation cannot be detected or managed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidPAM ingestion data

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical monitoring approaches with electrostatic sensors that detect particulate matter through electrical field interactions. This substitution provides accurate PAM measurement while maintaining relative system simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine controller utilizes existing onboard computing resources and sensor networks to process PAM data through the engine power model. The system leverages available onboard intelligence rather than requiring external ground-based analysis, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enables pilots to navigate around high PAM areas, reducing engine degradation and maintaining aircraft efficiency, while the engine power model ensures timely maintenance, thereby ensuring mission success and extending engine service life.

Implementation Method 1

receiving from an engine PAM sensor of an engine of the aircraft, a measure of an amount of particulate matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic charge detection: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS12135549B2Systems and methods for providing information regarding particulate matter within an aircraft engine

Publication Date: 2024.11.05 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

Provided is a tangible computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor of an aircraft, causes the hardware processor to execute a method. The method includes receiving, from an engine particulate sensor of the aircraft, a measure of particulate matter in a gas path of the engine during flight of the aircraft. The method also includes presenting to a pilot of the aircraft, a visualization of the particulate matter measure, wherein the visualization supports a navigation of the aircraft responsive to the presence of the particulate matter.