Abstract: Aspects of the invention related to a system for providing advance notice of impending contact between a stationary component and a rotating component in a turbine engine. For example, the system can be used to warn of potential contact between a seal holder and a rotor disk in the compressor section of the engine. In one embodiment, a pad or other component can be provided on the stationary seal holder. If the seal holder and the rotor disk approach each other during operation, the pad can contact the rotor disk prior to actual contact between the seal holder and the rotor disk. An optical and/or an acoustic signal can be generated by such contact. The signals can be detected remotely from the point of contact by a signal detection device, thereby avoiding the need to pass wires through the compressor section.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine (12) wherein combustion conditions are controlled as a function of the humidity of the ambient air (36) in order to ensure stable, emission-compliant performance over a range of ambient conditions. The pilot fuel fraction supplied to a dual mode combustor (10) may be controlled to be responsive to the relative humidity or the specific humidity of the ambient air. Humidity may be measured directly or it may be calculated as a function of other temperature and pressure measurements. A fuel system (44) is controlled by a controller (46) having as inputs the signals from one or more of a relative humidity sensor (62), a barometric pressure sensor (56), a wet bulb temperature sensor (58) and a dry bulb temperature sensor (60).

Abstract: A gas turbine engine (12) wherein combustion conditions are controlled as a function of the humidity of the ambient air (36) in order to ensure stable, emission-compliant performance over a range of ambient conditions. The pilot fuel fraction supplied to a dual mode combustor (10) may be controlled to be responsive to the relative humidity or the specific humidity of the ambient air. Humidity may be measured directly or it may be calculated as a function of other temperature and pressure measurements. A fuel system (44) is controlled by a controller (46) having as inputs the signals from one or more of a relative humidity sensor (62), a barometric pressure sensor (56), a wet bulb temperature sensor (58) and a dry bulb temperature sensor (60).

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for scheduling verification tests to audit routing information in a packet switching network comprising a plurality of packet switching nodes and a plurality of bi-directional links each interconnecting a distinct pair of said nodes. The method begins with the steps of selecting a test time duration period for scheduling the verification tests of the routing information in the network and selecting a number of nodes to be tested.