Estimating Turbomachine Fuel Temperature via Oil and Spool Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing turbomachines require multiple temperature sensors to determine fuel temperature, making them heavy and costly, which complicates control and measurement processes.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates the fuel temperature leaving the oil/fuel exchanger by measuring the temperature of oil entering the engine spaces and the rotational speed of the high-pressure spool, reusing existing data to calculate the fuel temperature without a specific sensor, achieving precision within ±10°C.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is installed at the inlet of the injectors to measure fuel temperature, then the fuel temperature measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to additional sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors (oil temperature sensor and rotational speed sensor) to calculate fuel temperature through a computational model, rather than adding a dedicated fuel temperature sensor. The calculation method allows the system to self-determine fuel temperature using available data about oil temperature, rotational speed, and exchanger efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a calculation method that acts as an intermediary between existing sensor measurements and the desired fuel temperature information. By using the oil temperature and rotational speed as intermediate parameters, the system derives fuel temperature without direct measurement, reducing sensor requirements
2Reliability
If multiple temperature sensors are installed in the turbomachine to monitor fuel and oil temperatures, then the temperature measurement reliability is improved, but the weight of the turbomachine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system reuses existing sensor data (oil temperature and rotational speed measurements) to calculate fuel temperature, eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors. This approach maintains temperature monitoring reliability while avoiding the weight penalty of extra sensors
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are installed to accurately measure fuel temperature, then the measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive dedicated fuel temperature sensors with a computational approach using existing inexpensive sensors. The calculation method provides sufficient precision for fuel temperature measurement without the high cost of additional sensing hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The existing oil temperature sensor and rotational speed sensor serve multiple functions: monitoring oil conditions and calculating fuel temperature. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fuel temperature sensing equipment, reducing manufacturing costs
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method allows for accurate estimation of fuel temperature entering the injectors without adding sensors, reducing the complexity and cost of turbomachine systems while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
an oil/fuel exchanger upstream of the hydromechanical unit, fuel and oil from the engine spaces passing through the oil/fuel exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A method for estimating the temperature of the fuel entering a turbomachine injector, the turbomachine including engine spaces and an oil/fuel exchanger upstream of the injector, the engine spaces and the oil/fuel exchanger having oil passing through them, the oil/fuel exchanger having an efficiency, the engine spaces including a high-pressure spool, the method including (a) measuring the temperature of the oil entering the engine spaces; (b) measuring the rotational speed of the high-pressure spool; (c) calculating the temperature of the fuel leaving the oil/fuel exchanger using the temperature of the oil entering the engine spaces and the rotational speed of the high-pressure spool.