Gas Turbine Fuel Split Control Across Engine Degradation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas turbine engines with twin annular premixing swirler (TAPS) fuel nozzle/swirler assemblies face performance degradation over time, necessitating a single control table with a large margin that impacts efficiency and emissions, despite being prepared based on initial engine conditions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing multiple predefined or dynamically generated control tables within the engine controller to adjust fuel flow splits based on real-time operational data, maintaining engine performance and emissions compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If a single control table with a large margin is used to accommodate performance degradation, then the engine can operate throughout its total operating period, but engine efficiency decreases and emissions requirements are not optimally met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal operating periodVSAvoidengine efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single control table into multiple control tables (first control table, second control table, third control table) corresponding to different operating periods (first, second, third portions). Each control table is optimized for its specific period, allowing the engine to maintain high efficiency during early operation while accommodating degradation in later periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically switches between different control tables based on the current operating period and engine performance margin. This dynamic adaptation allows the fuel flow split to be optimized for each stage of engine life, rather than using a static, conservative setting throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of stationary object

If a single control table with a large margin is used to accommodate performance degradation, then the engine can operate throughout its total operating period, but emissions requirements are not optimally met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal operating periodVSAvoidemissions

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control strategy into multiple period-specific control tables, where each table is optimized for emissions performance in its corresponding operating period. This allows emissions to be minimized during early periods when engine performance is high, while still maintaining compliance throughout the total operating period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameters (fuel flow split percentages) in each control table to match the engine's performance characteristics at different ages. This parameter optimization ensures that emissions are kept as low as possible for each operating period while accounting for degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If the fuel flow split is adjusted based on real-time operational data, then engine efficiency and emissions are optimized, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores multiple control tables in the engine controller before operation begins. Each control table contains pre-determined fuel flow split percentages for different operating conditions. During operation, the controller simply selects and applies the appropriate pre-computed table based on the current operating period, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors the engine's performance margin and operational data, then selects the appropriate control table based on this feedback. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to actual engine degradation while using pre-computed control strategies, balancing optimization with computational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12577917B2Method of operating a gas turbine engine

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO

AI summary

A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes controlling operating of the gas turbine engine through a first portion of a total operating period utilizing first data of a first control table to control an operational aspect related to an engine operating condition of an estimated performance margin table, selecting one of a second control table through an Nth control table for operating the gas turbine engine through a second portion of the total operating period of the gas turbine engine, and controlling operating of the gas turbine engine through the second portion of the total operating period utilizing the second through N data of the respective control table selected in the selecting to control the operational aspect related to the engine operating condition of the estimated performance margin table.