Patents by Inventor Tena K. Britt
Tena K. Britt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11796990Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a torque motor monitoring system that includes a first observer module configured to receive a first collection of operational information about a torque motor when the torque motor is operating normally, and determine a duty offset ratio value based on the first collection of operational information, a second observer module configured to receive a second collection of operational information about a torque motor, determine a MOSFET gate duty ratio value based on the second collection of operational information and the duty offset ratio value, and determine a motor current value, and a fault detection module configured to identify a fault in the torque motor based on the MOSFET gate duty ratio value, the motor current value, and a predetermined fault determination threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Ganga P. Jayaraman, Ramiro Chaidez, Tena K. Britt
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Publication number: 20230061016Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a torque motor monitoring system that includes a first observer module configured to receive a first collection of operational information about a torque motor when the torque motor is operating normally, and determine a duty offset ratio value based on the first collection of operational information, a second observer module configured to receive a second collection of operational information about a torque motor, determine a MOSFET gate duty ratio value based on the second collection of operational information and the duty offset ratio value, and determine a motor current value, and a fault detection module configured to identify a fault in the torque motor based on the MOSFET gate duty ratio value, the motor current value, and a predetermined fault determination threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: Ganga P. Jayaraman, Ramiro Chaidez, Tena K. Britt
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Patent number: 11592455Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for controlling a turbine engine that includes receiving a predetermined arming threshold signal, receiving a predetermined triggering threshold signal, receiving a periodic signal from a speed sensor, determining a frequency signal based on the periodic signal, the predetermined arming threshold signal, and the predetermined triggering threshold signal, determining a speed value based on the determined frequency signal, and controlling a speed of a turbine based on the determined speed value.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Carl F. Vaske, Tena K. Britt, Bryan W. Guild, Brian Swope
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Publication number: 20210215061Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for controlling a turbine engine that includes receiving a predetermined arming threshold signal, receiving a predetermined triggering threshold signal, receiving a periodic signal from a speed sensor, determining a frequency signal based on the periodic signal, the predetermined arming threshold signal, and the predetermined triggering threshold signal, determining a speed value based on the determined frequency signal, and controlling a speed of a turbine based on the determined speed value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: July 15, 2021Applicant: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Carl F. Vaske, Tena K. Britt, Bryan W. Guild, Brian Swope
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Patent number: 10738660Abstract: In some aspects, a steam turbine system includes a high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure turbine section; a high-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the low-pressure turbine section; a controller associated with the high-pressure control valve and the low-pressure control valve. The controller is operable to: receive measurements of three or more different operating points of the steam turbine system, the measurements of each of the three or more different operating points including a position of the high-pressure control valve, a position of the low-pressure control valve, and two of process variables of the steam turbine system; calculate coefficients of a steam performance map of the steam turbine system based on the measurements; and generate the steam performance map based on the coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak, Dave Rubenthaler, Aaron Russo
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Patent number: 10359798Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes providing a process controller configured to perform a control algorithm based on at least one first control parameter, providing a parameter controller configured to perform a parameter adjustment algorithm, providing a turbine having an output sensor, providing to the process controller at least one first control parameter and a first input value, controlling the turbine based on the at least one first control parameter and the first input value, receiving a turbine response value provided by the turbine output sensor, determining at least one second control parameter based on the turbine response value and the parameter adjustment algorithm, providing, to the process controller from the parameter controller, the at least one second control parameter, and controlling the turbine based on the at the least one second control parameter and a second input value.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventor: Tena K. Britt
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Publication number: 20190195093Abstract: In some aspects, a steam turbine system includes a high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure turbine section; a high-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the low-pressure turbine section; a controller associated with the high-pressure control valve and the low-pressure control valve. The controller is operable to: receive measurements of three or more different operating points of the steam turbine system, the measurements of each of the three or more different operating points including a position of the high-pressure control valve, a position of the low-pressure control valve, and two of process variables of the steam turbine system; calculate coefficients of a steam performance map of the steam turbine system based on the measurements; and generate the steam performance map based on the coefficients.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak, Dave Rubenthaler, Aaron Russo
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Patent number: 10260377Abstract: In some aspects, a steam turbine system includes a high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure turbine section; a high-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the low-pressure turbine section; a controller associated with the high-pressure control valve and the low-pressure control valve. The controller is operable to: receive measurements of three or more different operating points of the steam turbine system, the measurements of each of the three or more different operating points including a position of the high-pressure control valve, a position of the low-pressure control valve, and two of process variables of the steam turbine system; calculate coefficients of a steam performance map of the steam turbine system based on the measurements; and generate the steam performance map based on the coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak, Dave Rubenthaler, Aaron Russo
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Publication number: 20180223695Abstract: In some aspects, a steam turbine system includes a high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure turbine section; a high-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the high-pressure turbine section; a low-pressure control valve operable to provide an adjustable flow of steam into the low-pressure turbine section; a controller associated with the high-pressure control valve and the low-pressure control valve. The controller is operable to: receive measurements of three or more different operating points of the steam turbine system, the measurements of each of the three or more different operating points including a position of the high-pressure control valve, a position of the low-pressure control valve, and two of process variables of the steam turbine system; calculate coefficients of a steam performance map of the steam turbine system based on the measurements; and generate the steam performance map based on the coefficients.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak, Dave Rubenthaler, Aaron Russo
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Patent number: 10001764Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving, at a ratio controller, turbine response values based on first process output value based on a first control parameter and a first process input value, and a second process output value based on a second control parameter and a second process input value, providing the first process input value as a predetermined first constant set point value while varying the second process input value, receiving updated turbine response values, determining at least one third control parameter, providing the third control parameter as the second control parameter, providing the second process input value as a predetermined second constant set point value while varying the first process input value, receiving updated turbine response values, determining at least one fourth control parameter, and providing the fourth control parameter as the first control parameter.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak
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Patent number: 9926803Abstract: Providing wear-related prognostics and diagnostics on a turbine engine includes, while operating a turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently: selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device; and accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Kevin Greeb, Thomas M Krause, Craig Mawle
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Publication number: 20170370244Abstract: Providing wear-related prognostics and diagnostics on a turbine engine includes, while operating a turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently: selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device; and accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2016Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Kevin Greeb, Thomas M. Krause, Craig Mawle
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Publication number: 20170075326Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving, at a ratio controller, turbine response values based on first process output value based on a first control parameter and a first process input value, and a second process output value based on a second control parameter and a second process input value, providing the first process input value as a predetermined first constant set point value while varying the second process input value, receiving updated turbine response values, determining at least one third control parameter, providing the third control parameter as the second control parameter, providing the second process input value as a predetermined second constant set point value while varying the first process input value, receiving updated turbine response values, determining at least one fourth control parameter, and providing the fourth control parameter as the first control parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Tena K. Britt, Scott David Oceanak
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Publication number: 20170023965Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes providing a process controller configured to perform a control algorithm based on at least one first control parameter, providing a parameter controller configured to perform a parameter adjustment algorithm, providing a turbine having an output sensor, providing to the process controller at least one first control parameter and a first input value, controlling the turbine based on the at least one first control parameter and the first input value, receiving a turbine response value provided by the turbine output sensor, determining at least one second control parameter based on the turbine response value and the parameter adjustment algorithm, providing, to the process controller from the parameter controller, the at least one second control parameter, and controlling the turbine based on the at the least one second control parameter and a second input value.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Inventor: Tena K. Britt
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Patent number: 9507365Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes providing a process controller configured to perform a control algorithm based on at least one first control parameter, providing a parameter controller configured to perform a parameter adjustment algorithm, providing a turbine having an output sensor, providing to the process controller at least one first control parameter and a first input value, controlling the turbine based on the at least one first control parameter and the first input value, receiving a turbine response value provided by the turbine output sensor, determining at least one second control parameter based on the turbine response value and the parameter adjustment algorithm, providing, to the process controller from the parameter controller, the at least one second control parameter, and controlling the turbine based on the at the least one second control parameter and a second input value.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Woodward, Inc.Inventor: Tena K. Britt
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Publication number: 20150370277Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes providing a process controller configured to perform a control algorithm based on at least one first control parameter, providing a parameter controller configured to perform a parameter adjustment algorithm, providing a turbine having an output sensor, providing to the process controller at least one first control parameter and a first input value, controlling the turbine based on the at least one first control parameter and the first input value, receiving a turbine response value provided by the turbine output sensor, determining at least one second control parameter based on the turbine response value and the parameter adjustment algorithm, providing, to the process controller from the parameter controller, the at least one second control parameter, and controlling the turbine based on the at the least one second control parameter and a second input value.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2014Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventor: Tena K. Britt