FLEXIBLE FUEL SYSTEM

• US 20110247315A1
• Filed: 02/03/2011
• Published: 10/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rhoden, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.281
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/40 specially adapted to the use of a special fuel or a plurality of fuels

Abstract

An example fuel system includes a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine. The fuel is selected from a plurality of different fuel types. The fuel system also includes a controller that is configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel.

Claims

1. A fuel system comprising:

a fuel sensor configured to sense at least one characteristic of a fuel provided to an engine, the fuel selected from a plurality of different fuel types; and

a controller configured to meter the fuel in response to the at least one characteristic of the fuel.

2. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the fuel is delivered from a fuel supply to a combustor of a gas turbine engine.

3. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises a first fuel type, a second fuel type different than the first fuel type, or some blend of these.

4. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises an aviation fuel, a jet fuel, a bio-based fuel, or some blend of these.

5. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a full authority digital engine control.

6. The fuel system of claim 1, including a fuel throttle valve configured to meter the fuel in response to the controller.

7. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises the energy density of the fuel provided to the engine.

8. The fuel system of claim 7, wherein the fuel sensor comprises a fuel density meter that measures fuel density properties to determine the energy density.

9. The fuel system of claim 1, including at least one heat exchanger, the controller configured to adjust the temperature of the fuel provided to the engine using the heat exchanger, the adjustments to temperature made in response to the at least one characteristic.

10. A gas turbine engine fuel system comprising:

a conduit configured to deliver a flow of fuel from a fuel supply to a combustor of a gas turbine engine, the flow of fuel selected from a plurality of different fuel types;

a fuel sensor configured to determine at least the energy content of the fuel; and

a controller configured to meter the flow of fuel in response to at least the energy content of the fuel.

11. The gas turbine engine fuel system of claim 10, including a fuel pump configured to pump the flow of fuel through the conduit, wherein the controller adjusts the fuel pump to meter the flow of fuel.

12. The gas turbine engine fuel system of claim 10, including an adjustable valve configured to selectively move between a first position and a second position that restricts more flow of fuel than the first position, wherein the controller adjusts the valve between the first position and the second position to meter the flow of fuel.

13. The gas turbine engine fuel system of claim 10, including a heat exchanger configured to adjust the temperature of the flow of fuel.

14. The fuel system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises a first fuel type, a second fuel type different than the first fuel type, or some blend of these.

15. The fuel system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of different fuel types comprises an aviation fuel, a jet fuel, a bio-based fuel, or some blend of these.

16. A fuel delivery method comprising:

delivering a flow of fuel to an engine, the fuel selected from a plurality of different fuel types;

sensing an energy density of the fuel; and

adjusting the flow of fuel based on the energy density of the fuel.

17. The fuel delivery method of claim 16, wherein the adjusting comprises actuating a valve to adjust a rate of flow of fuel.

18. The fuel delivery method of claim 16, wherein the delivering comprises pumping the flow of fuel to the engine, and the adjusting comprises changing a rate of the pumping.