SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPINNING UP A ROTARY ELEMENT OF A MECHANICAL DEVICE, PARTICULARLY A TURBOMACHINE

• US 20140373518A1
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus SAS (Airbus SE), Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Manneville, Alexis, Hirtz, Norbert, Theard, Valentin
• Granted Patent: US 10,066,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/327
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 19/02 dependent on temperature of component parts, e.g. of turbine-casing
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/277 the starter being a separate turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/34 in ram-air turbines ("RATS")
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/303 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/50212 dissimilar
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 33/10 consisting of controllable supply and discharge openings

Abstract

A system comprising a discharge valve that allows some of the fluid generated by a fluid generating source and intended for a drive torque generating member for a rotary element of a mechanical device to be removed so as to limit the corresponding rotational speed, this being done for a length of time that allows a thermal gradient to be reduced sufficiently that a phenomenon of deformation of said rotary element can be prevented.

Claims

1. A system for spinning up a rotary element of a mechanical device, said system comprising:

a fluid generating source arranged to generate a fluid flow;

a drive torque generating member connected to the fluid generating source via a pipe referred to as the main pipe capable of transmitting the fluid generated by the fluid generating source, said drive torque generating member being arranged, when subjected to a flow of fluid, to generate a mechanical force capable of spinning up said rotary element of said mechanical device; and

a starting valve arranged to be controlled in such a way as to be brought into one or the other of the following positions;

an open position and a closed position, said starting valve being arranged on the main pipe between the fluid generating source and the drive torque generating member in such a way as to form a first section of pipe between said fluid generating source and said starting valve and a second section of pipe between said starting valve and said drive torque generating member,

a discharge valve arranged to be controlled in such a way as to be brought into one or the other of the following positions;

at least an open position and a closed position, said discharge valve being arranged on an auxiliary pipe connected to said second section of the main pipe in such a way as to create a fork for the transmission of fluid; and

a first monitoring unit configured to monitor at least a first parameter allowing information to be provided about a deformation of thermomechanical origin of said rotary element of the mechanical device while it is being spun up.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section of said first section of pipe is greater than the cross section of said second section of pipe.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit which simultaneously controls said fluid generating source, said starting valve and said discharge valve.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first monitoring unit comprises at least a sensor of mechanical vibrations indicative of a deformation.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second monitoring unit configured to monitor at least one second parameter making it possible to provide information relating to a deformation of thermomechanical origin of said rotary element of the mechanical device before it is spun up.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid generating source is an air generating source and said drive torque generating member is a turbine.

7. A method for spinning up a rotary element of a mechanical device using a spin-up system, said system comprising:

a fluid generating source arranged to generate a fluid flow;

a drive torque generating member connected to the fluid generating source via a pipe referred to as the main pipe capable of transmitting the fluid generated by the fluid generating source, said drive torque generating member being arranged, when subjected to a flow of fluid, to generate a mechanical force capable of spinning up said rotary element of said mechanical device; and

a starting valve arranged to be controlled in such a way as to be brought into one or the other of the following positions;

an open position and a closed position, said starting valve being arranged on the main pipe between the fluid generating source and the drive torque generating member in such a way as to form a first section of pipe between said fluid generating source and said starting valve and a second section of pipe between said starting valve and said drive torque generating member,

a discharge valve arranged to be controlled in such a way as to be brought into one or the other of the following positions;

at least an open position and a closed position, said discharge valve being arranged on an auxiliary pipe connected to said second section of the main pipe in such a way as to create a fork for the transmission of fluid; and

a first monitoring unit configured to monitor at least a first parameter allowing information to be provided about a deformation of thermomechanical origin of said rotary element of the mechanical device while it is being spun up,

the method comprising the following successive steps;

a first step, during which a starting valve and a discharge valve of the spin-up system are both open so that only some of a fluid generated by a fluid generating source is transmitted to a drive torque generating member, the rest of the fluid being removed via said discharge valve; and

a second step succeeding said first step, during which said discharge valve is closed and said starting valve remains open so that all of the fluid generated by the fluid generating source is transmitted to said drive torque generating member via said starting valve,

wherein, during said first step, monitoring is carried out in order to check whether at least one first specific condition indicative of the absence of deformation is satisfied, and said second step is performed as soon as said first particular condition is satisfied.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said monitoring comprises monitoring at least a first parameter allowing information to be provided relating to the existence of deformation of thermomechanical origin of a rotary element of the mechanical device while it is being spun up.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a checking step, prior to said first step, including checking whether at least one second particular condition indicative of the absence of deformation is satisfied, and if said second particular condition is satisfied, the performing of the first step is inhibited and said second is performed directly.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said checking comprises measuring at least one second parameter making it possible to provide information relating to the existence of a deformation of thermomechanical origin of a rotary element of the mechanical device prior to spin-up.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rate of flow of fluid removed via the discharge valve during said first step is determined by a control unit of the spin-up system on the basis of data gathered from the mechanical device.