Adaptive electrostatic engine diagnostics
First Claim
1. Adaptive electrostatic diagnostic apparatus, operable in a plurality of modes, for power plants having a gas turbine engine including gas tubine engines with afterburners, operable in response to commands provided thereto, and providing first electrical signals indicative of such commands and of the oporation of such engine, comprising:
- electrostatic signal means, including a probe to be disposed in the gas stream of an engine, for providing, when said probe is disposed in the gas stream of an operating engine, second electrical signals having amplitude variations therein in response to ionic phenomena in the gas stream of the engine in the vicinity of said probe; and
signal processing means connected for response to said first and second electrical signals, operative in a first diagnostic mode for providing a signal indicative of the occurrence of an operational event in said engine in response to a particular one of said second electrical signals provided thereto by said probe having characteristics indicative of said operational event, and for operating in another diagnostic mode different from said first mode in response to a selected one of said first and second electrical signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Equipment which analyzes the wave shapes (FIGS. 57-80) of signals derived from electrostatic probes (1, 2, 3, 27) disposed in the gas stream of a gas turbine engine operates differently in dependence upon different engine conditions. When surge is detected (1, 90-93, FIG. 1) the signal records are stored away specially (FIGS. 8 and 8b) and classified specially (FIGS. 8c, 9, 9a and 9b) when a request therefor (93-95, FIG. 1) is made. Acceleration signals (FIG. 80) are looked for (FIG. 12) only when there is significant engine acceleration (FIG. 4). Only nozzle liner erosion (FIG. 69) is looked for (FIG. 12) when the afterburner is lit (89, FIG. 1), in one probe (3, FIG. 1) while at the same time afterburner rumble (FIG. 80) is looked for in a flameholder probe (27, FIG. 1) when the afterburner is lit. When the afterburner fuel is being chopped (FIG. 4a) only afterburner chop signals (FIGS. 77-79) are looked for (FIG. 12). When the engine speed is below idle, no records of signals are made (FIG. 8).
18 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. Adaptive electrostatic diagnostic apparatus, operable in a plurality of modes, for power plants having a gas turbine engine including gas tubine engines with afterburners, operable in response to commands provided thereto, and providing first electrical signals indicative of such commands and of the oporation of such engine, comprising:
-
electrostatic signal means, including a probe to be disposed in the gas stream of an engine, for providing, when said probe is disposed in the gas stream of an operating engine, second electrical signals having amplitude variations therein in response to ionic phenomena in the gas stream of the engine in the vicinity of said probe; and signal processing means connected for response to said first and second electrical signals, operative in a first diagnostic mode for providing a signal indicative of the occurrence of an operational event in said engine in response to a particular one of said second electrical signals provided thereto by said probe having characteristics indicative of said operational event, and for operating in another diagnostic mode different from said first mode in response to a selected one of said first and second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification