Motor Controller Analysis for Hybrid Aircraft Engine Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hybrid electric aircraft gas turbine engines lack effective sensing systems for monitoring engine health and component life, particularly in detecting faults and failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a motor controller to monitor motor data, including electrical current and rotational speeds, to detect engine faults by analyzing secondary peak frequencies and comparing engine data with motor data, and initiating fault response actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sensors are used for engine fault detection, then the system structure remains simple, but the fault detection capability and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The motor controller is designed to perform both its primary function of controlling the electric machine and a secondary function of analyzing motor data for engine fault detection. By utilizing existing sensors and processing capabilities of the motor controller, the system achieves enhanced fault detection capability without adding dedicated detection hardware, thus improving reliability while minimizing increased complexity
2Reliability
If motor data monitoring is added to existing engine sensors, then fault detection reliability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines engine data from existing engine sensors with motor data from the electric machine's control system into a single integrated analysis process performed by the motor controller. This merging of data sources and functions allows the system to leverage existing infrastructure while achieving improved fault detection reliability, rather than creating separate independent monitoring systems
3Measurement precision
If secondary peak frequency analysis is implemented, then fault detection precision is improved, but the complexity of data analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical vibration analysis systems with electrical signal analysis of motor data. By analyzing electrical current and frequency data from the motor controller, the system achieves precise fault detection through secondary peak frequency identification, substituting electrical measurement and analysis for more complex mechanical sensing and analysis systems
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for monitoring operation of hybrid electric engines of aircraft. The methods include monitoring a motor condition of an electrical power system associated with an engine condition using a motor sensor, wherein the electrical power system comprises an electric machine operably coupled to at least one shaft of an engine core, wherein the electric machine is configured to at least one of add power to the at least one shaft and extract power from the at least one shaft, receiving motor data from the motor sensor at a motor controller, wherein the motor controller is configured to control operation of, at least, the electric machine, analyzing the motor data to determine the presence of a fault in the engine core, and, when a fault is detected, performing a fault response action.