Gas Turbine Uncontrolled High Thrust Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems rely on flight crew recognition and intervention to address uncontrolled high thrust conditions in gas turbine engines, which is not always effective, as engineering studies and service experience indicate that crew intervention may not always occur in time to prevent engine damage or failure.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that processes engine data to automatically determine if an uncontrolled high thrust condition exists and implements corrective actions by varying the turbofan gas turbine engine's effective geometry to either increase or decrease rotational speed, using variables such as guide vane positions and bleed air flow control to manage engine speed and prevent overthrust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic detection and corrective action systems are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine control system automatically detects uncontrolled high thrust conditions and implements corrective actions without requiring flight crew intervention. The system monitors engine parameters, identifies when actual thrust exceeds commanded thrust, and autonomously varies effective engine geometry to restore control, enabling the system to serve itself in detecting and correcting its own anomalies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors engine operating parameters including commanded thrust and actual thrust, compares these values to detect discrepancies indicating uncontrolled high thrust conditions, and uses this feedback information to automatically initiate corrective actions by varying engine effective geometry to restore proper thrust control.
2Ease of operation
If crew intervention is required to address uncontrolled high thrust conditions, then ease of operation is improved, but response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-configured with detection algorithms and corrective action protocols that are automatically executed upon detecting uncontrolled high thrust conditions. The control system has predetermined response strategies ready to be implemented immediately, eliminating the time required for crew recognition, diagnosis, and manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators to detect and correct uncontrolled high thrust conditions, substituting human crew actions with automated mechanical and electronic systems that respond instantaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of accommodating an uncontrolled high thrust condition in a turbofan gas turbine engine includes processing engine data from the turbofan gas turbine engine to determine when a potential for an uncontrolled high thrust condition exists. When the potential for an uncontrolled high thrust condition exists, the engine data are processed to determine whether corrective action for the uncontrolled high thrust condition should be implemented by varying turbofan gas turbine engine effective geometry to (i) increase turbofan gas turbine engine rotational speed or (ii) decrease turbofan gas turbine engine rotational speed. The determined corrective action is automatically implemented.