Three Spool Gas Turbine Engine Control via Dynamic Fuel and Compressor Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional three spool gas turbine engines face challenges in maintaining optimal operational performance, efficiency, and responsiveness due to the need for precise relative rotational speeds between counter-rotating turbines, which is difficult to achieve across various steady-state and transient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method of control for a three spool gas turbine engine that involves a controller receiving input parameters such as environmental conditions, commanded power output, and sensor data to determine and adjust fuel flow rates, compressor loadings, and spool speeds, ensuring optimal operation by generating actual power outputs and thrust outputs, thereby maintaining balance between low, intermediate, and high spool speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional control methods are used for three spool gas turbine engines, then the engine structure is simple, but the engine operability and stability deteriorate due to difficulty in maintaining optimal relative rotational speeds between counter-rotating turbines
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operational parameters of the three spool gas turbine engine based on real-time conditions. The controller continuously monitors and modifies fuel flow rates, compressor loadings, and spool speeds to maintain optimal relative rotational speeds between counter-rotating turbines across varying steady-state and transient conditions, making the control system adaptive rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller receives actual engine performance data and uses it to adjust control commands. By monitoring actual power outputs, spool speeds, and comparing them against desired values, the system automatically corrects deviations in relative rotational speeds between turbines, ensuring stable and reliable operation
2Productivity
If precise relative rotational speeds are maintained between counter-rotating turbines, then engine efficiency and responsiveness improve, but the difficulty of control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates autonomously to maintain optimal engine performance. The controller automatically determines commanded fuel flow rates, compressor loadings, and spool speeds based on actual engine conditions without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by continuously self-adjusting to maintain precise relative rotational speeds between counter-rotating turbines, thereby achieving high efficiency while eliminating manual control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control system utilizes parameter changes in fuel flow rate, compressor loading, and spool speed to achieve and maintain optimal relative rotational speeds between counter-rotating turbines. By dynamically adjusting these critical parameters based on actual engine performance and environmental conditions, the system optimizes efficiency and responsiveness while managing control complexity through automated parameter optimization
3Speed
If dynamic adjustments of fuel flow and compressor loading are implemented, then engine responsiveness improves, but the complexity of control logic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to be dynamic, continuously adapting fuel flow rates and compressor loadings in response to changing engine conditions and environmental factors. This dynamic approach enables rapid engine response to load changes and operational demands while the automated control logic manages the complexity of real-time adjustments across multiple interconnected spools and turbines
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a method of control of a gas turbine engine comprising a fan section coupled to a low turbine together defining a low spool, an intermediate compressor coupled to an intermediate turbine together defining an intermediate spool, and a high compressor coupled to a high turbine together defining a high spool. The method includes providing an intermediate spool speed to low spool speed characteristic curve to a controller; providing a commanded power output to the controller; providing one or more of an environmental condition to the controller; determining, via the controller, a commanded fuel flow rate; determining, via the controller, a commanded intermediate compressor loading; and generating an actual power output of the engine, wherein the actual power output is one or more of an actual low spool speed, an actual intermediate spool speed, an actual high spool speed, and an actual engine pressure ratio.