Gas Turbine Variable Stator Control for Minimum SFC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine engine control systems fail to maintain minimum specific fuel consumption (SFC) across varying engine conditions and deterioration, leading to increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A gas turbine engine optimization control device that estimates SFC using sensor feedback values to determine new control parameter commands for variable mechanisms, such as the low-pressure turbine variable stator vane angle, to minimize fuel consumption, even in deteriorated engines with performance variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If schedule control utilizing sensor signals is used to control the variable mechanism, then the specific fuel consumption can be optimized under initial engine conditions, but the SFC is not always minimum when the engine deteriorates or shows performance variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual specific fuel consumption is measured and compared with the target SFC, and the control parameter is adjusted based on the deviation. This closed-loop control ensures that the SFC optimization adapts to engine deterioration and performance variations, maintaining reliability of the optimization over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the control parameter of the variable mechanism based on the deviation between actual and target SFC. By changing the control parameter in response to measured performance, the system adapts to engine deterioration and maintains optimal fuel consumption despite aging or variations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional SISO control adjusts fuel flow rate to control fan revolutions, then the number of revolutions can be maintained constant, but the specific fuel consumption continuously changes and cannot be controlled to be constant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static SISO control to dynamic control by introducing a variable mechanism whose control parameter is continuously adjusted based on SFC measurements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain both constant fan revolutions and constant specific fuel consumption simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control approach from fixed fuel flow rate adjustment to dynamic adjustment of the variable mechanism's control parameter based on actual SFC measurements. This parameter change enables simultaneous stabilization of both fan revolutions and specific fuel consumption.
3Ease of manufacture
If the control parameter is adjusted based on predetermined maps or schedules, then the control system is simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to engine deterioration or performance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces feedback of actual specific fuel consumption measurements to enable the control system to adapt to engine deterioration. While this adds measurement complexity, the control logic itself remains relatively simple, balancing ease of implementation with adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses its own performance measurements (actual SFC) to automatically adjust its control parameters, enabling self-adaptation to engine deterioration without external intervention or complex predetermined schedules.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine optimization control device estimates a specific fuel consumption (SFC) using a given control parameter of a variable mechanism, determines a change between a specific fuel consumption estimation value by the control parameter of the variable mechanism in a previous operation period and a specific fuel consumption estimation value by the control parameter of the variable mechanism in this operation period, determines a new control parameter (LPTVSV_SEARCHPOINT) of the variable mechanism with which the specific fuel consumption estimation value approaches a minimum, adds the new control parameter of the variable mechanism to a preset control parameter initial value, and sets the addition value to be a control parameter command value (LPTVSVREF) of the variable mechanism in a next operation period.