Distributed Turbomachine Control During Controller Link Failure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributed engine control systems for turbomachines face challenges in maintaining safe operating conditions when communication failures occur between central and distributed controllers, potentially leading to unsafe speeds, torques, and temperatures during transient operations.
Innovation Solution
A distributed control system that includes a central controller, a distributed controller, an actuator, and a sensor, where the distributed controller transitions to an autonomous safety mode upon detecting a communication failure, accessing past commands and sensor data to autonomously control the actuator and maintain safe engine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the distributed controller commands the actuator to hold a fixed position upon communication failure, then the control system maintains simplicity, but the turbomachine may reach unsafe speeds, torques, and temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed controller stores past commands from the central controller in advance. Upon communication failure, it retrieves and executes these stored commands to maintain safe operation, preventing the actuator from remaining in a potentially dangerous fixed position while avoiding complex real-time decision-making algorithms.
2Reliability
If the distributed controller autonomously controls the actuator using past commands and sensor data, then safe operation is maintained during communication failure, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed controller autonomously monitors sensor data and independently determines actuator control commands using stored past commands and current sensor readings. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain safe operation during communication failures without requiring complex centralized control algorithms or additional hardware.
3Reliability
If the distributed controller continuously monitors communication status and autonomously controls the actuator, then safe operation is ensured during communication failures, but the response time and control precision may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The distributed controller continuously receives feedback from sensors monitoring turbomachine operating conditions and uses this real-time data to adjust actuator commands based on stored past commands. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain safe operation and adapt to changing conditions without requiring complex real-time communication with the central controller.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed control system for a turbomachine and method of operating the distributed control system are provided. In one aspect, a distributed control system includes a central controller and a distributed controller communicatively coupled thereto. The distributed controller has one or more associated local actuators and one or more associated local sensors. The actuators and the sensors are communicatively coupled with the distributed controller. If a communication link between the central controller and the distributed controller becomes faulty, the distributed controller enters an autonomous safety mode. In this mode, the distributed controller uses a combination of its own associated local sensors and past commands received from the central controller to autonomously govern its associated local actuators to maintain safe operation of the turbomachine.