Automatic engine fuel flow monitoring and alerting fuel leak detection method
First Claim
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1. A method for automatically monitoring and alerting a fuel leak downstream of an engine fuel flow meter in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a predicted fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on a set of predetermined reference operating parameters for each engine;
obtaining a measured fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on actual operating parameters for each engine;
using an engine monitoring system software to compare the predicted fuel flow rate to the measured fuel flow rate; and
,automatically providing an alert on a flight deck display if there is a difference above a nuisance threshold between the measured fuel flow rate and the predicted fuel flow rate.
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Abstract
A method for automatically monitoring and alerting a fuel leak downstream of an engine fuel flow meter in an aircraft is provided. The method uses existing engine sensor data to input into a predetermined parameter model to predict the nominal fuel flow, and also compares fuel flow between a left engine and a right engine.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for automatically monitoring and alerting a fuel leak downstream of an engine fuel flow meter in an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a predicted fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on a set of predetermined reference operating parameters for each engine; obtaining a measured fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on actual operating parameters for each engine; using an engine monitoring system software to compare the predicted fuel flow rate to the measured fuel flow rate; and
,automatically providing an alert on a flight deck display if there is a difference above a nuisance threshold between the measured fuel flow rate and the predicted fuel flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for automatically monitoring and alerting a fuel leak downstream of an engine fuel flow meter in a multi-engine aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a first thrust setting of a first engine and a second thrust setting of a second engine, such that the first thrust setting is equivalent to the second thrust setting; obtaining a fuel flow rate for the first engine and a fuel flow rate for the second engine; using an engine monitoring system software to compare the fuel flow rate for the first engine to the fuel flow rate of the second engine; and
,automatically providing an alert on a flight deck display if there is a difference above a nuisance threshold between the fuel flow rate of the first engine and the fuel flow rate of the second engine. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automatic engine fuel flow monitoring and alerting fuel leak detection method for use with a two engine aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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obtaining a predicted fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on a set of predetermined reference operating parameters for each engine; obtaining a measured fuel flow rate for each engine of the aircraft based on actual operating parameters for each engine; using an engine monitoring system software to compare the predicted fuel flow rate to the measured fuel flow rate; automatically providing an alert on a flight deck display if there is a difference above a nuisance threshold between the measured fuel flow rate and the predicted fuel flow rate; obtaining a thrust setting for each engine and making sure the thrust setting for each engine is equivalent; obtaining a fuel flow rate for each engine; using the engine monitoring system software to compare the fuel flow rate of each engine; and
,automatically providing an alert on the flight deck display if there is a difference above a nuisance threshold between the fuel flow rate of each engine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification