Turbomachine Crosswind Detection Using Normalized Engine Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no known method to determine crosswind conditions for aircraft engines based on satellite or ground data in the absence of avionics or ground-based weather station data due to system failures or data governance issues, which affects engine regulation and damage modeling.
Innovation Solution
A method using sensors on each turbomachine to measure and normalize pressure or temperature, comparing normalized values between engines to detect crosswind presence and direction, utilizing onboard sensors and electronic control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ground-based weather stations or avionics data are used to detect crosswind, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and reliability worsen due to dependence on external systems that may fail or be unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses engine sensor data as an intermediary to indirectly detect crosswind conditions. Instead of directly measuring wind with external sensors, the system uses crosswind's effect on engine parameters (temperature, pressure, shaft speed) as a mediator to infer wind presence and direction, eliminating dependence on external weather systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes the turbomachine self-diagnostic by using its own operational sensors to detect environmental crosswind conditions. The engine's built-in sensors normally used for performance monitoring are repurposed to also detect crosswind, making the system self-sufficient without requiring external ground stations or avionics data
2Measurement precision
If external ground-based systems are used for crosswind detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional ground infrastructure requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts crosswind detection capability from external ground-based systems and relocates it to the engine's onboard sensors. By taking out the detection function from complex ground infrastructure and embedding it in the engine's existing sensor system, the solution eliminates ground station dependencies while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes existing engine sensors multi-functional by using them both for engine performance monitoring and for crosswind detection. The same temperature, pressure, and shaft speed sensors serve dual purposes, eliminating the need for dedicated crosswind sensors or ground-based measurement systems
3Measurement precision
If avionics data transmission is required for crosswind detection, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to communication failures or data governance restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs crosswind detection autonomously using only data already available from the engine's own sensors. No data transmission to ground systems or reliance on external avionics data is needed, completely eliminating communication failures or data governance restrictions as potential information loss sources
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for detecting the presence of a crosswind for a turbomachine of an aircraft comprising at least two turbomachines arranged on either side of a main axis of the aircraft, each of said turbomachines comprising a low-pressure shaft and a set of at least three sensors for regulating the operation of the turbomachine. The method comprises the following steps: - for each turbomachine, acquiring (300) the data from the set of at least three sensors, - for each turbomachine, normalising (310) the first pressure with respect to the speed of the low-pressure shaft and the second pressure, - comparing (320) the first normalised pressure of one turbomachine with the first normalised pressure of said at least one other turbomachine of the aircraft, - detecting (330) the presence of a crosswind from the result of the comparison.