METHOD FOR PREDICTING A FAULT IN A CABIN TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20170052836A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 02/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Taleris Global LLP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Taleris Global LLP (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: HORABIN, Robert William, HOWARD, Julia Ann, BEAVEN, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/119,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20170052836A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2638 Airconditioning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/004 Error avoidance G06F11/07 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3013 where the computing system is an embedded system, i.e. a combination of hardware and software dedicated to perform a certain function in mobile devices, printers, automotive or aircraft systems testing or monitoring of control systems or parts thereof G05B23/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/324 Display of status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/805 Real-time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/86 Event-based monitoring

Abstract

A method of predicting a fault in a cabin temperature control system of an air-conditioning system of an aircraft is disclosed. The method includes transmitting data related to a temperature, pressure, valve position, or actuator position of the cabin temperature control system, comparing the transmitted data to a reference value, and predicting a fault in the cabin temperature control system based on the comparing.

Claims

1. A method of predicting a fault in a cabin temperature control system of an air-conditioning system of an aircraft, wherein the cabin temperature control system includes one or more sensors, the method comprising:

transmitting, from a sensor operably coupled to the cabin temperature control system, data related to a temperature, pressure, valve position, or actuator position of the cabin temperature control system;

comparing the transmitted data to a reference value;

predicting, by a controller, a fault of a valve, sensor, or controller in the cabin temperature control system based on the comparing; and

providing an indication of the predicted fault.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the data comprises transmitting a cabin temperature regulating valve position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein predicting the fault comprises predicting a fault with a cabin temperature regulating valve when the comparing indicates that the amount of air passing through the cabin temperature regulating valve is increasing over time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein predicting the fault is based on multiple comparisons of the transmitted data to a reference value.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the data further comprises transmitting a temperature from at least one temperature sensor operably coupled to the air-conditioning system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the reference value is a set temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the comparing comprises determining a difference between the transmitted temperature and the set temperature and comparing the difference to a temperature reference difference value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein predicting the fault comprises predicting a fault with the cabin temperature regulating valve when the comparing indicates the valve position is increasing and the difference between the transmitted temperature and the set temperature satisfies the temperature reference value.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining the temperature reference difference value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein predicting the fault comprises predicting a fault with the cabin temperature regulating valve when the comparing indicates the valve position is increasing and the difference between the transmitted temperature and the set temperature satisfies the temperature reference value.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein a pack outlet temperature, outside air temperature, and cabin set temperature are transmitted.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein predicting the fault comprises predicting a fault with the cabin temperature regulating valve when the comparing indicates the valve position is increasing and the transmitted temperatures are within normal bounds.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is provided on a display of the aircraft.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a controller of the aircraft compares the data to the reference value, predicts the fault, and provides the indication.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the controller utilizes an algorithm to predict the fault.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining the temperature reference difference value.