Vibration-Sensitive Trigger for Gas Turbine Engine Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration monitoring systems for gas turbine engines are complex and expensive, making them less economical for widespread adoption, particularly for retrofitting existing engines.
Innovation Solution
A vibration-sensitive trigger is integrated with the engine's sensor circuit to disturb the sensor signal when a threshold vibration condition is met, causing the controller to detect an apparent sensor failure, allowing for the detection of threshold vibration conditions using existing wiring and logic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing HUMS are used for vibration monitoring, then detailed and trending information about vibration can be obtained, but the system becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential vibration detection function from complex HUMS by using a simple vibration-sensitive trigger that disturbs sensor signals when threshold vibrations occur. This isolates the core monitoring capability while eliminating unnecessary complexity of full HUMS systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive vibration-sensitive triggers and standard sensors instead of expensive HUMS components. The system accepts that simple triggers may have limited functionality but provides adequate vibration threshold detection at much lower cost.
2Measurement precision
If existing HUMS are used for vibration monitoring, then detailed and trending information about vibration can be obtained, but the system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive vibration-sensitive triggers and standard sensors rather than costly HUMS components. This substitution dramatically reduces system cost while maintaining adequate vibration threshold detection capability for safety monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copies of existing sensor signals (speed, position, temperature) rather than requiring dedicated vibration sensors. By disturbing these existing signals with vibration-sensitive triggers, the patent avoids the cost of separate vibration measurement hardware.
3Reliability
If a vibration-sensitive trigger disturbs the sensor signal, then threshold vibration conditions can be detected, but the sensor signal appears to fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of signal disturbance into a beneficial detection mechanism. The vibration-induced disturbance of sensor signals is not treated as noise to be eliminated but as the detection event itself, allowing threshold vibration detection while using existing sensor infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration-sensitive trigger acts as an intermediary between physical vibration and the sensor signal. It translates mechanical vibration into electrical signal disturbances that the controller can detect, bridging the gap between physical phenomenon and electronic detection.
4Device complexity
If simple vibration detection is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but retrofitting existing engines becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration-sensitive triggers are designed to work with multiple types of existing sensors (speed sensors, position sensors, temperature sensors) and can be integrated into various engine configurations. This universal compatibility enables easy retrofitting across different engine types while maintaining simple system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments vibration detection functionality into independent vibration-sensitive trigger modules that can be added to existing sensors without replacing entire monitoring systems. This modular approach simplifies retrofitting by allowing incremental integration rather than complete system replacement.
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 approach enables simpler and more economical condition monitoring, allowing for the detection of threshold vibrations without significant modifications to the existing hardware or logic, facilitating retrofitting and reducing operational risks by alerting operators to potential engine issues.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration-sensitive trigger mounted to the engine for monitoring engine vibration and configured to disturb the sensor signal when a threshold vibration condition is met
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for detecting a threshold vibration condition associated with the operation of a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The apparatus includes a vibration-sensitive trigger mounted to the gas turbine engine for monitoring engine vibration and configured to disturb a sensor signal when a threshold vibration condition is met. The method includes generating one or more sensor signals associated with an operating parameter of the gas turbine engine and providing the one or more sensor signals to a controller of the gas turbine engine; disturbing the one or more sensor signals provided to the controller in response to the threshold vibration condition being met; and detecting the disturbance in the one or more sensor signals provided to the controller and generating one or more output signals indicative of the detected disturbance.