Turboshaft Engine Module Fault Detection Without Added Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining turboshaft engine faults are inaccurate and complex, particularly in identifying the defective module and cause of the fault, due to the reliance on flight data comparison with databases and the need for additional sensors in critical environments, which are costly and fragile.
Innovation Solution
A method involving performance mapping, real and simulated indicators, and a mathematical model to determine efficiency faults without additional sensors, using existing measurements and a theoretical model to accurately identify module efficiency changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are integrated in all modules of the turboshaft engine to independently characterize each module, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical engine system through a theoretical model and performance mapping. Instead of physically installing sensors in each module, the system generates simulated performance data from a theoretical model that replicates the behavior of the actual engine modules, allowing fault detection through comparison of real versus simulated indicators without additional physical sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor installation approach with a computational system. Instead of using physical sensors to measure module performance, the system uses mathematical performance mapping and indicator comparison between real and simulated data to detect faults, substituting mechanical measurement with computational analysis
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are integrated in all modules of the turboshaft engine to independently characterize each module, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to high cost and fragility of sensors in critical environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical engine system through a theoretical model and performance mapping. Instead of physically installing sensors in each module, the system generates simulated performance data from a theoretical model that replicates the behavior of the actual engine modules, allowing fault detection through comparison of real versus simulated indicators without additional physical sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, fragile physical sensors with a computational approach using existing sensor data. The system processes readily available performance parameters through mathematical models to achieve the same diagnostic capability, effectively using low-cost computational resources instead of expensive physical measurement devices
3Ease of operation
If flight data is compared with a database to determine faults, then fault detection is enabled, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates due to complex comparisons and multiple possible diagnoses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the engine into distinct modules (compressor, combustion chamber, turbine) and creates separate performance mappings for each module. By dividing the overall engine performance into module-specific characteristics, the system can identify which specific module is malfunctioning rather than merely detecting that a fault exists somewhere in the engine
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces performance indicators as an intermediary between raw flight data and fault diagnosis. These indicators serve as intermediate representations that capture essential module performance characteristics, making the comparison between real and simulated data more meaningful and enabling more accurate fault identification
4Measurement precision
If a theoretical model with multiple efficiency configurations is used to determine module efficiency, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating performance mappings for multiple theoretical efficiency configurations before actual fault detection. The system prepares simulated performance data for various fault scenarios in advance, creating a library of reference patterns that can be quickly compared against real flight data during operation, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an efficiency fault of at least one module of a turboshaft engine of an aircraft. The method comprising a step of determining an estimated real mapping, a step of determining real indicators from the estimated real mapping, a step of determining a plurality of simulated mappings from a simulation of a theoretical model of the turboshaft engine for different efficiency configurations, a step of determining simulated indicators for each simulated mapping, a step of training a mathematical model by coupling the simulated indicators with efficiency configurations, and a step of applying said mathematical model to the real indicators so as to deduce therefrom a real efficiency configuration.