Gas Turbine Fuel Control Optimizer for Variable Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine control systems for gas turbine engines face challenges in optimally determining the positions of variable geometry components, such as inlet guide vanes, due to unpredictable engine health degradation and variation between engines, which affects the engine's performance and stability.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a fuel flow metering valve and variable geometry components, with an optimiser that determines adjusted set points to optimize engine performance characteristics while adhering to engine constraints, allowing for adaptation over time and accommodating engine-to-engine differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional engine control systems use fixed set points for variable geometry components, then the control system is simple and easy to certify, but the engine performance cannot adapt to unpredictable health degradation and variation between engines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of variable geometry component set points based on real-time engine operating conditions and performance feedback. The control system continuously adapts set points to compensate for engine health degradation and inter-engine variations, transforming fixed static control parameters into dynamic adaptive parameters that respond to changing engine states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where engine performance parameters are monitored and used to adjust the set points of variable geometry components. The control system compares actual engine performance against target performance and modifies set points accordingly, creating a closed-loop adaptive control system that self-corrects for degradation and variations.
2Productivity
If optimized set points are determined for each individual engine, then engine performance and fuel efficiency improve, but the certification process becomes more burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameters from fixed set points to adaptive set points that are modified based on engine performance feedback. By implementing parameter adaptation algorithms that automatically adjust set points according to measured engine conditions, the system achieves individualized optimization without requiring separate certification for each engine's specific performance characteristics.
3Reliability
If variable geometry component positions are precisely controlled to optimize performance, then engine stability and performance improve, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service control where the system uses its own performance measurements to automatically adjust its control parameters. The engine control system monitors its own performance and self-corrects by adapting set points, eliminating the need for external intervention or complex manual tuning while maintaining stability and performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system of a gas turbine engine is provided. The engine has a fuel flow metering valve which regulates a fuel flow to the engine, and one or more variable geometry components which are movable between different set points to vary an operating configuration of the engine. The control system has an engine fuel control sub-system which provides a fuel flow demand signal for controlling the fuel flow metering valve. The control system further has a variable geometry control sub-system which determines current set points to be adopted by the variable geometry components given the current engine operating condition in order to comply with one or more engine constraints. The control system further has an optimiser that receives the current set points and determines adjusted values of the set points which optimise, while complying with the engine constraints, an objective function modelling a performance characteristic of the engine, the objective function adapting to change in engine performance with time. The control system further has a feedback loop in which the adjusted values of the set points thus-determined are sent to the variable geometry control sub-system to vary the current set points.