Surge Or Stall Patents (Class 73/112.06)
  • Patent number: 11920521
    Abstract: Control schemes for controlling a gas turbine engine in response to disturbances associated with a load mechanically coupled with the gas turbine engine are provided. In one aspect, a gas turbine engine mechanically coupled with a load has a controller that includes executable control logic. The control logic includes a feedforward module, an aggressive control module, and a power turbine governor module. By executing the modules, the controller seeks to maintain a constant power turbine speed stably and subtly in response to small disturbances associated with the load and aggressively in response to large disturbances associated with the load, as well as smooth transitions between the responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jessie Thorup, Christopher David King
  • Patent number: 11629653
    Abstract: [Object] To observe the sign or occurrence of an unstable operation of a turbo-machine. [Solving Means] An observation apparatus 1 includes: a detection unit 10 including one or two or more sensors 11, 12 that are disposed in a turbo-machine 2, are highly time responsive, and observe unsteady fluctuations of the turbo-machine 2; a computation unit 20 that output signals from the one or two or more sensors 11, 12 every moment, stores time series data for a predetermined period, and calculates in real time a parameter for detecting an unstable operation of the turbo-machine; and a determination unit 30 that compares the parameter for detecting the unstable operation with a predetermined threshold and outputs in real time a determination result of a sign or occurrence of the unstable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Toshio Nishizawa, Junichi Kazawa, Hiroshi Gotoda, Hiroaki Kobayashi, Yuto Hayashi, Takayoshi Hachijo
  • Patent number: 9803561
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a system having: at least one computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by performing actions including: commanding each GT in the set of GTs to a base load level, based upon a measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT in the set of GTs to adjust a respective output to match a nominal mega-watt power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; and calculating a degradation for each GT in the set of GTs over a period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Scott Arthur Day, Harold Lamar Jordan, Jr., Rex Allen Morgan
  • Patent number: 9194301
    Abstract: A method of protecting operating margin of the gas turbine engine includes calculating an aerodynamic distortion of air entering an inlet of a gas turbine engine that has a compressor section with variable vanes that are movable subject to a control parameter. The control parameter is selectively modified in response to the aerodynamic distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne P. Parente
  • Patent number: 8943876
    Abstract: A shaft break detection system and a method of detecting shaft break for a gas turbine engine. A first indication is calculated from measured rotational speed of a shaft. A second indication is calculated from the rotational speed. A shaft break signal is generated if both indications are true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Arthur Laurence Rowe, Stephen Granville Garner, Marko Bacic
  • Patent number: 8869603
    Abstract: An exemplary debris detection method according to one example embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other things, monitoring turbomachine performance, and initiating a debris warning when an actual rate of change in turbomachine performance varies from a predicted rate of change in the performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan H. Epstein, Elizabeth A. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20140069105
    Abstract: Methods and devices for anticipating a surge in a gas turbine engine. Controlled pressure signal(s) may be compared with reference pressure signal(s), each of the controlled pressure signal(s) and reference pressure signal(s) having an associated time value. If the controlled pressure signal(s) are less than the reference pressure signal(s), a controlled pressure curve may be fitted through a predetermined number of points based on the controlled pressure value(s) and associated time value(s). A reference pressure curve may be fitted through the predetermined number of points based on the reference pressure value(s) and associated time value(s). A time to compressor surge may be estimated based on an intersection of the controlled pressure curve and the reference pressure curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Tuyen Trong HOANG
  • Patent number: 8601786
    Abstract: A turbofan engine control system is provided for managing a low pressure compressor operating line. The engine includes a low spool having a low pressure compressor housed in a core nacelle. A turbofan is coupled to the low spool. A fan nacelle surrounds the turbofan and core nacelle and provides a bypass flow path having a nozzle exit area. A controller is programmed to effectively change the nozzle exit area in response to an undesired low pressure compressor stability margin which can result in a stall or surge condition. In one example, the physical nozzle exit area is decreased at the undesired stability condition occurring during engine deceleration. A low pressure compressor pressure ratio, low spool speed and throttle position are monitored to determine the undesired stability margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Hurwitz, William J. McVey
  • Publication number: 20130186191
    Abstract: A method and device detecting a rotating stall affecting a turbine engine compressor. The detection method includes: detecting an abnormal acceleration of the engine or an operating line of the compressor that is characteristic of a failure of the engine; storing a reference temperature measured at an outlet from a turbine of the engine at an instant of detection; comparing a determined temperature threshold with the difference between a current temperature at the outlet of the turbine as measured after detection and the reference temperature; and identifying that a rotating stall is present in event of the threshold being exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventor: Cedrik Djelassi
  • Patent number: 8401760
    Abstract: A system and method of monitoring oil consumption in a gas turbine engine system are provided. When the gas turbine engine is not running the reservoir oil level, reservoir oil temperature, and reservoir attitude are sensed. The current gas turbine engine system oil quantity is determined based on at least the sensed reservoir oil level, the sensed reservoir oil temperature, and the sensed reservoir attitude. When a predetermined event has occurred, an average gas turbine engine system oil quantity is automatically calculated. The gas turbine engine system oil consumption rate is determined from a plurality of the average oil quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Payne, Harold Riley
  • Patent number: 8342010
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of monitoring a compressor. The method may include the steps of determining a blade passing frequency, determining a power indication for a number of frequencies above and below the blade passing frequency, determining a ratio between a maximum power indication and a minimum power indication for the frequencies for a number of predetermined time intervals, and analyzing the ratio for each predetermined time interval to predict a surge condition of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Krok, John Bolton
  • Patent number: 7930928
    Abstract: A method, for detecting overpressure inside a compartment associated with a gas turbine nacelle, includes: a) measuring one or more predetermined operating conditions nominally affecting the temperature inside the compartment; b) determining a reference temperature for the compartment, corresponding to a nominal reference zone pressure, on the basis of the measured operating condition or conditions; c) measuring the actual temperature inside the compartment, corresponding to the actual compartment pressure; and d) using the measured actual temperature in the compartment and the determined reference temperature for the compartment to assess the gas pressure inside the compartment. A system for assessing the gas pressure inside the compartment caused by an associated pressure system failure includes using a quantified mass leakage flow to assess gas pressure inside the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Simon M. Ruston
  • Patent number: 7677090
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the occurrence of rotating stall in the turbine blade of a compressor, in which the blade pass frequency of at least one compressor stage and the associated vibration energy are monitored, the normal blade pass frequency being constituted by the operating speed of rotation of the compressor multiplied by the number of turbine blades in the stage, and in which incipient rotating stall in a compressor stage is indicated when, at the normal blade pass frequency of the compressor stage, the vibration energy falls below a predetermined first value at the same time as, at a blade pass frequency above the normal blade pass frequency, the vibration energy rises above a predetermined second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Dynatrend AS
    Inventor: Lyder Moen
  • Patent number: 7650777
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a compressor comprising a rotor is presented. The method comprises obtaining a dynamic pressure signal of the rotor, obtaining a blade passing frequency of the rotor, using the blade passing frequency signal for filtering the dynamic pressure signal, buffering the filtered dynamic pressure signal over a moving window time period, and analyzing the buffered dynamic pressure signal to predict a stall condition of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Krok, John Bolton
  • Publication number: 20100011846
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a compressor comprising a rotor is presented. The method comprises obtaining a dynamic pressure signal of the rotor, obtaining a blade passing frequency of the rotor, using the blade passing frequency signal for filtering the dynamic pressure signal, buffering the filtered dynamic pressure signal over a moving window time period, and analyzing the buffered dynamic pressure signal to predict a stall condition of the compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Krok, John Bolton
  • Patent number: 7530260
    Abstract: A method for detecting a surge condition during operation of a gas turbine engine includes detecting a change of pressure differential between fuel flows in a fuel system of the engine during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Kevin Allan Dooley
  • Publication number: 20090019925
    Abstract: A method and device for determining the occurrence of rotating stall in the turbine blade of a compressor, in which the blade pass frequency of at least one compressor stage and the associated vibration energy are monitored, the normal blade pass frequency being constituted by the operating speed of rotation of the compressor multiplied by the number of turbine blades in the stage, and in which incipient rotating stall in a compressor stage is indicated when, at the normal blade pass frequency of the compressor stage, the vibration energy falls below a predetermined first value at the same time as, at a blade pass frequency above the normal blade pass frequency, the vibration energy rises above a predetermined second value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Dynatrend AS
    Inventor: Lyder Moen