Engine Sensor Fault Management Using Hierarchical Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for engines face challenges in managing faulty sensor inputs, which can lead to inefficient operation, increased wear-and-tear, or even catastrophic failure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for sensor fault management that involves intercepting signals to detect faults, implementing countermeasures to correct faulty signals, and providing a fault management tool applicable to multiple engine versions and types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fault detection and accommodation systems are implemented in engine control, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fault management tool is designed to be universal and applicable across multiple engine types and controller versions. A single tool can manage faults for different sensor types (manometric, thermometric, etc.) and different engine configurations, reducing the need for multiple specialized systems and thereby limiting complexity growth while maintaining reliability improvements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fault management tool that sits between the sensors and the controller. This tool intercepts sensor signals, detects faults, and provides corrected signals to the controller without requiring complex modifications to the existing control system architecture, thus improving reliability while adding minimal complexity
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive fault detection is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fault management tool segments the fault detection process into distinct functional modules: signal interception, fault detection analysis, severity assessment, and accommodation approach selection. Each module handles a specific aspect of fault management, allowing comprehensive detection without creating a monolithic complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in sensor signal characteristics (such as signal validity flags, range checks, and rate-of-change analysis) to detect faults. By monitoring multiple parameters of sensor outputs, the system achieves high measurement precision for fault detection without requiring overly complex detection mechanisms
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and systems (700) for sensor fault management are provided. A plurality of potential faults associated with a sensor (140) are obtained. Accommodation approaches are associated with the plurality of potential faults. Severity levels are associated to the plurality of potential faults to produce a hierarchy of potential faults. A fault management tool (310) is generated based on the hierarchy, the fault management tool (310) defining a framework implementable by a controller (300) associated with the sensor (140) for accommodating faulty behaviour of the sensor (140) by following the accommodation approaches of the hierarchy for the plurality of potential faults.