ENGINE LOAD MODEL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20190005826A1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Lax, David Michael, Darnell, Mark
• Application Number:
  US15/635,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20190005826A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/02 Aircraft characterised by the type or position of power plants fuselages specially adapted for mounting power plants B64C1/16; wings specially adapted for power plants B64C3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 31/00 Power plant control systems; Arrangement of power plant control systems in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/003 Flight plan management
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide improved engine load models are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a model generator to generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight. The example model generator is to incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight. The example model generator is to determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization. The example model generator is to generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor and a memory, the processor including a model generator to;

generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight;

incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight;

determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and

generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the engine model including the engine load model is to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the engine load model includes at least one of flight information, weather information, or manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information.

8. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to implement at least a model generator configured to:

generate an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight;

incorporate the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model modeling engine behavior for the flight;

determine a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and

generate flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the engine model including the engine load model is to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the engine load model includes flight information, weather information, and manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information.

15. A method comprising:

generating, using a processor, an engine load model for an engine using flight information, weather information, and manifest information to predict a load on the engine from an engine subsystem utilization modeled for a flight;

incorporating, using the processor, the engine load model into an engine model, the engine model representing engine behavior for the flight;

determining, using the processor, a first measure of thrust from the engine and a second measure of fuel flow to the engine using the engine model with the engine load model, the engine load model to modify engine behavior by the predicted load on the engine from the engine subsystem utilization; and

generating, using the processor, flight parameters for a flight path using the first measure of thrust and the second measure of fuel flow for the predicted load on the engine based on the engine load model.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the engine subsystem includes at least one of an electrical subsystem, a hydraulic subsystem, or a pneumatic subsystem, and wherein the engine load model includes at least one of an electrical load model, a hydraulic load model, or a pneumatic load model.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the engine load model provides information regarding how vehicle weight is to change, how much fuel is to be burned, and how environmental conditions are to impact engine operation for the flight.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing the engine model including the engine load model to predict load on the engine from engine subsystem utilization to configure a flight management system to account for conditions encountered during the flight according to the engine model.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the engine load model includes flight information, weather information, and manifest information stored in a data structure as modeled values.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the engine load model further includes composite modeled values stored in the data structure, the composite modeled values generated from a combination of the flight information, weather information, and manifest information.