Turbomachine Ignition Monitoring via Discrete Duration Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monitoring methods for turbomachine engine start-up sequences face challenges in reliably detecting degradations due to high dispersion in ignition duration measurements, making it difficult to predict engine failures and requiring cumbersome, multi-sensor systems that do not adequately account for environmental factors.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines engine ignition duration by analyzing the number of spark plug clicks and compares it to a reference duration, considering starting parameters like thermal state, altitude, and ambient pressure, to generate alerts for degradation, thereby isolating system issues from environmental influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ignition duration is used as an indicator to monitor engine system degradation, then failure prediction capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to high dispersion and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the continuous ignition duration parameter into a discrete classification parameter by dividing the range into intervals (e.g., 0-2s, 2-4s, 4-6s, >6s). This discretization reduces measurement noise and dispersion, enabling more reliable degradation detection while maintaining failure prediction capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-establishes reference ignition duration values for different starting parameters (altitude, temperature, pressure) before actual monitoring. These pre-characterized reference values serve as benchmarks for comparison, eliminating the need for complex real-time environmental compensation and reducing measurement uncertainty
2Measurement precision
If multiple parameters are monitored to identify equipment anomalies, then degradation detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the ignition duration parameter as the sole monitoring indicator, separating it from other engine parameters. By focusing on this single extracted parameter with pre-established reference values, the system achieves accurate degradation detection without requiring complex multi-parameter monitoring systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified reference model of ignition duration characteristics for different starting conditions. This reference copy is pre-established and reused for comparison during operation, eliminating the need for complex real-time environmental modeling and reducing system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a method (1) for monitoring an ignition sequence of an engine, in particular a turbomachine engine, comprising the following steps: (i) defining (30) an ignition time of the engine for a defined starting parameter, (ii) comparing (50) the ignition time of the engine defined in this way with a reference ignition time expected for a reference engine and for this starting parameter, (iii) deducing (60) an indicator of the bringing into operation of the engine, (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) for this starting parameter, for each bringing into operation of the engine of the sequence, and (v) on the basis of the change in the indicator, generating (90) a degradation alert for the ignition sequence of the engine.