Bowed rotor start using a variable position starter valve
First Claim
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1. A bowed rotor start mitigation system for a gas turbine engine, the bowed rotor start mitigation system comprising:
- a variable position starter valve; and
a controller operable to dynamically adjust the variable position starter valve to deliver a starter air supply to a starter to drive rotation of a starting spool of the gas turbine engine according to a dry motoring profile that continuously varies a rotor speed of the starting spool up to a point below a critical rotor speed, wherein the controller monitors the rotor speed and dynamically adjusts a valve angle of the variable position starter valve to maintain the rotor speed along a target rotor speed profile defined in the dry motoring profile, wherein increasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve increases the rotor speed and decreasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve decreases the rotor speed.
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Abstract
A bowed rotor start mitigation system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The bowed rotor start mitigation system includes a variable position starter valve and a controller. The controller is operable to dynamically adjust the variable position starter valve to deliver a starter air supply to a starter to drive rotation of a starting spool of the gas turbine engine according to a dry motoring profile that continuously varies a rotor speed of the starting spool up to a point below a critical rotor speed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A bowed rotor start mitigation system for a gas turbine engine, the bowed rotor start mitigation system comprising:
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a variable position starter valve; and a controller operable to dynamically adjust the variable position starter valve to deliver a starter air supply to a starter to drive rotation of a starting spool of the gas turbine engine according to a dry motoring profile that continuously varies a rotor speed of the starting spool up to a point below a critical rotor speed, wherein the controller monitors the rotor speed and dynamically adjusts a valve angle of the variable position starter valve to maintain the rotor speed along a target rotor speed profile defined in the dry motoring profile, wherein increasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve increases the rotor speed and decreasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve decreases the rotor speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A gas turbine engine system comprising:
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a motoring system comprising a variable position starter valve and a starter operable to drive rotation of a starting spool of a gas turbine engine; a speed pickup; and an electronic engine control operable to receive a speed input from the speed pickup indicative of a rotor speed of the starting spool and a valve angle feedback from the variable position starter valve, the electronic engine control further operable to drive motoring of the starting spool by controlling the variable position starter valve to continuously increase the rotor speed of the gas turbine engine up to a critical rotor speed through the starter according to a target rotor speed profile defined in a dry motoring profile based on the rotor speed and the valve angle feedback, wherein increasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve increases the rotor speed and decreasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve decreases the rotor speed. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of bowed rotor start mitigation for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
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receiving, by a controller, a speed input indicative of a rotor speed of a starting spool of the gas turbine engine; receiving, by the controller, a valve angle feedback from a variable position starter valve of the gas turbine engine; and controlling the variable position starter valve to continuously increase the rotor speed of the starting spool up to a critical rotor speed through a starter according to a target rotor speed profile defined in a dry motoring profile based on the rotor speed and the valve angle feedback, wherein increasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve increases the rotor speed and decreasing a percentage open of the variable position starter valve decreases the rotor speed. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification