Rotorcraft Engine Failure Control With Misaligned Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manual procedures for managing turbine engine breakdowns in multi-engine aircraft increase pilot workload and risk of errors, particularly in rotary-wing aircraft.
Innovation Solution
An automated control method for turbine engines in rotary-wing aircraft that reduces pilot workload by automatically managing power distribution and engine operation during a breakdown, using an electronic control unit to maintain rotation speed and limit engine power to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual procedure is used for engine breakdown management, then pilot control is maintained, but pilot workload increases and errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis and self-correction by automatically detecting engine breakdowns and executing corrective actions without pilot intervention. The electronic control unit monitors engine parameters, identifies failures, and autonomously adjusts engine operation to maintain safety, thereby reducing pilot workload and eliminating human error in the breakdown management procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated electronic control system. The electronic control unit uses sensors, processors, and actuators to automatically manage engine breakdowns, substituting the pilot's manual decisions and actions with an automated system that processes information and executes control commands electronically.
2Ease of operation
If automatic control is implemented, then pilot workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control unit is designed as a multi-functional system that handles various tasks including engine monitoring, breakdown detection, failure mode identification, and automated control actions. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single integrated control unit, the system manages complexity through functional integration rather than adding separate systems for each task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors engine parameters through sensors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust control actions. The electronic control unit receives real-time data on engine performance, compares it against predetermined thresholds, and automatically executes corrective actions based on the feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that manages complexity through intelligent decision-making.
3Speed
If power is increased to compensate for broken engine, then rotation speed is maintained, but emergency power regimes are entered
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes power distribution strategies and control parameters before a breakdown occurs. When a failure is detected, the electronic control unit immediately executes predetermined corrective actions, including adjusting power distribution to remaining engines and limiting power increases to prevent entering emergency power regimes. This preliminary preparation allows rapid response while avoiding excessive power stress on the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Automated control method for turbine engines of a rotary-wing aircraft during a breakdown of one turbine engine.Following a detection of a breakdown of one first turbine engine of the aircraft, the automated control method comprises:determining (102) the flight phase, then, when the aircraft is in a phase other than a takeoff phase,activating (110) operation of the turbine engines in a misaligned mode via a progressive reduction of the power of the first turbine engine and a progressive increase of the power of at least one second turbine engine, the progressive reduction in power of the first turbine engine and the progressive increase in power of said at least one second turbine engine being controlled in a complementary manner to maintain the rotation speed of the rotary wing at the speed at the rotation speed setpoint of the rotary wing, andactivating (120) an indicator of an engine anomaly, andsetting (130) a power limiter.