THERMAL EVENT INDICATOR FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINE

• US 20180052061A1
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Published: 02/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Gilbert, Eric B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,151,643 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/009 Fire detection or protection; Erosion protection, e.g. from airborne particles
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/16 using resistive elements resistive elements per se H01C, H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0232 based on qualitative trend analysis, e.g. system evolution

Abstract

A method for monitoring thermal events in an aircraft engine compartment includes obtaining first sensor data from a first sensor located within an engine compartment of an aircraft. The method also includes determining a time series moving average based at least in part on a subset of the first sensor data. The time series moving average is indicative of an average temperature rate-of-change of the engine compartment. The method further includes determining a standard deviation of the time series moving average and detecting a trend of temperature rates-of-change that satisfy a rate-of-change criterion. The rate-of-change criterion is based on a multiple of the standard deviation, and the temperature rates-of-change are based on temperatures of the engine compartment. The method also includes generating an alert in response to detecting the trend. The alert is indicative of a thermal event associated with the engine compartment.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring thermal events in an aircraft engine compartment, the method comprising:

obtaining, at a thermal event detection system, first sensor data from a first sensor located within an engine compartment of an aircraft;

determining a time series moving average based at least in part on a subset of the first sensor data, the time series moving average indicative of an average temperature rate-of-change of the engine compartment;

determining a standard deviation of the time series moving average;

detecting a trend of temperature rates-of-change that satisfy a rate-of-change criterion, the rate-of-change criterion based on a multiple of the standard deviation, wherein the temperature rates-of-change are based on temperatures of the engine compartment; and

generating an alert in response to detecting the trend, the alert indicative of a thermal event associated with the engine compartment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining second sensor data from a second sensor located within the engine compartment, wherein the time series moving average is further based at least in part on a subset of the second sensor data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are included in a plurality of sensors located within the engine compartment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the time series moving average comprises iteratively averaging temperature rates-of-change associated with the engine compartment for a plurality of different time period.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple is between two and four.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the trend is detected in response to a particular percentage of determined temperature rates-of-change within a particular time period satisfying the rate-of-change criterion.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the particular percentage is greater than fifty percent and less than or equal to one-hundred percent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the particular time period is at least five seconds.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the average temperature rate-of-change is based on positive temperature rates-of-change, and wherein the trend is detected in response to the determined temperature rates-of-change exceeding the rate-of-change criterion.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the average temperature rate-of-change is based on negative temperature rates-of-change, and wherein the trend is detected in response to the determined temperature rates-of-change failing to exceed the rate-of-change criterion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data includes resistance values indicative of temperatures.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the first sensor data corresponds to a time-ordered set of consecutive values from the data obtained from the first sensor for at least thirty minutes.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first sensor data is received at intervals that are less than or equal to five seconds.

14. An aircraft comprising:

a first sensor located within an engine compartment, the first sensor configured to generate first sensor data; and

a thermal event detection system configured to;

determine a time series moving average based at least in part on a subset of the first sensor data, the time series moving average indicative of an average temperature rate-of-change of the engine compartment;

determine a standard deviation of the time series moving average;

detect a trend of temperature rates-of-change that satisfy a rate-of-change criterion, the rate-of-change criterion based on a multiple of the standard deviation, wherein the temperature rates-of-change are based on temperatures of the engine compartment; and

generate an alert in response to detecting the trend, the alert indicative of a thermal event associated with the engine compartment.

15. The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising a second sensor located within engine compartment, the second sensor configured to generate second sensor data, and wherein the time series moving average is further based at least in part on a subset of the second sensor data.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are included in a plurality of sensors located within the engine compartment.

17. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein determining the time series moving average comprises iteratively averaging temperature rates-of-change associated with the engine compartment for a plurality of different time period.

18. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein the trend is detected in response to a particular percentage of determined temperature rates-of-change within a particular time period satisfying the rate-of-change criterion.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for monitoring thermal events in an aircraft engine compartment, the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining first sensor data from a first sensor located within an engine compartment of an aircraft;

determining a time series moving average based at least in part on a subset of the first sensor data, the time series moving average indicative of an average temperature rate-of-change of the engine compartment;

determining a standard deviation of the time series moving average;

detecting a trend of temperature rates-of-change that satisfy a rate-of-change criterion, the rate-of-change criterion based on a multiple of the standard deviation, wherein the temperature rates-of-change are based on temperatures of the engine compartment; and

generating an alert in response to detecting the trend, the alert indicative of a thermal event associated with the engine compartment.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the trend is detected in response to a particular percentage of determined temperature rates-of-change within a particular time period satisfying the rate-of-change criterion.