Gas Turbine Start Detection Using Delayed Speed Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Detecting abnormal engine starts in gas turbine engines is resource-intensive for automated control systems, requiring efficient methods to reduce computing power and storage requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that sample speed data points from sensors at a lower rate than reporting, store only current data points, and discard older data points beyond a predetermined delay, comparing them to detect abnormal start events by determining if the engine is accelerating appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If speed data points are continuously stored during engine start, then abnormal start detection accuracy is improved, but storage requirements and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential data elements needed for detection by storing speed data points at reduced sampling rates during specific engine start phases. Instead of continuously storing all sensor data, the system selectively stores only the speed data points necessary for detecting abnormal starts, thereby reducing storage requirements while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing reduced sampling rates during specific phases of engine start rather than maintaining high sampling rates throughout. The system stores data at lower rates during phases where abnormal starts are less likely or less critical, and only increases sampling resolution when specifically needed, optimizing the balance between detection accuracy and storage efficiency.
2Productivity
If sampling rate is reduced to decrease computational load, then processing efficiency is improved, but detection reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sampling rates that adapt to different engine start phases. During critical phases where abnormal starts are more likely or more dangerous, the sampling rate is increased to maintain detection reliability. During less critical phases, the sampling rate is reduced to improve processing efficiency. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize both reliability and efficiency based on real-time engine conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic high-resolution sampling during specific intervals of the engine start sequence, rather than maintaining constant high sampling rates. By periodically increasing sampling resolution only when needed for detection, the system maintains reliability during critical windows while improving overall processing efficiency during less critical periods.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for detecting an abnormal start of a gas turbine engine are described. Speed data points are sampled from a sensor associated with the engine in accordance with a sampling rate, the speed data points being indicative of a rotational speed of a gas generator of the engine during engine start. The speed data points are continuously stored during the engine start. Previously-obtained speed data points which are older than an abnormal start delay are discarded. An abnormal engine start event is detected by comparing a first one of the stored speed data points with a second one of the stored speed data points, the second one of the stored speed data points obtained before the first one.