FAN BLADE MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for controlling motion caused by harmonic modes in a gas turbine engine fan blade, the method performed by a turbine engine control unit, the method comprising:
- receiving a sensor signal that includes motion data indicative of fan blade motion of a fan of a gas turbine engine;
determining whether the fan blade motion is caused by a harmonic mode by comparing the motion data to reference data indicative of an expected fan blade motion during normal operation of the gas turbine engine; and
adjusting an operational parameter of the gas turbine engine in response to determining that the fan blade motion is caused by a harmonic mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas turbine engine includes a fan positioned in a containment case. The fan includes a fan hub with a number of fan blades extending from the fan hub. A blade motion control system is coupled to the gas turbine engine to detect and control fan blade motion caused by harmonic modes. One or more magnetic materials are coupled to one or more of the fan blades of the gas turbine engine. One or more blade motion sensors are coupled to the containment case and are configured to detect the motion of the magnetic materials coupled to the fan blades. A control unit can adjust one or more operational parameters of the gas turbine engine to disrupt the fan blade motion caused by the detected harmonic modes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling motion caused by harmonic modes in a gas turbine engine fan blade, the method performed by a turbine engine control unit, the method comprising:
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receiving a sensor signal that includes motion data indicative of fan blade motion of a fan of a gas turbine engine; determining whether the fan blade motion is caused by a harmonic mode by comparing the motion data to reference data indicative of an expected fan blade motion during normal operation of the gas turbine engine; and adjusting an operational parameter of the gas turbine engine in response to determining that the fan blade motion is caused by a harmonic mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for controlling harmonic modes in a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
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a gas turbine engine comprising; a turbo fan that includes a rotor and a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade extending radially outward from the rotor having a blade root coupled to the rotor and a blade tip opposite the blade root, wherein a permanent magnet is coupled to one or more fan blades near the blade tip; a fan casing surrounding the turbo fan; one or more sensors coupled to the fan casing configured to detect the motion of the permanent magnet coupled to the one or more fan blades and output motion data; and a control unit in communication with the one or more sensors to receive motion data from the one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for controlling harmonic modes in a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
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a gas turbine engine comprising; a turbo fan that includes a rotor and a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade extending radially outwardly from the rotor, each fan blade having a blade root coupled to the rotor and a blade tip opposite the blade root, wherein a permanent magnet is coupled to one or more of the fan blades near the blade tip; and a fan casing surrounding the turbo fan; one or more sensors coupled to the fan casing and configured to detect a change in a magnetic field caused by the permanent magnet; a controller coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to determine, based on sensor signals produced by the one or more sensors, whether the motion of the one or more fan blades is caused by harmonic modes; and one or more electromagnets coupled to the fan casing and configured to exert an electromechanical force on the permanent magnet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification