Control system and method for controlling an engine in response to deterioration of the engine

• US 6,463,380 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Chung, Kiyoung, Ablett, Adrian M., Adibhatla, Sridhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US09/323,456
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/100, 701/99, 701/101, 701/102, 701/123, 701/33, 701/34, 701/103, 701/114, 701/105, 701/108, 340/438, 340/439, 340/457, 340/457.4, 964/21, 123/674, 123/688, 123/691, 123/690, 123/480, 123/406.26
• US Class Current: 701/100
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/00 Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/28 Regulating systems responsive to plant or ambient parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, rotor speed F02C9/30 - F02C9/38, F02C9/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/12 to maintain desired vehicle trajectory parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23332 Overide stored parameters

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a control system for controlling an engine. The control system includes a schedule memory for storing a schedule representing target values for a controlled variable. The control system also includes a processor coupled to the schedule memory. The processor receives a reference input and generates a control signal in response to the reference input and the schedule. The schedule in the schedule memory may be updated to account for engine deterioration so that accurate control is performed. Another exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for controlling an engine. The method includes updating a schedule to account for deterioration of the engine.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling an engine, the control system comprising:

a schedule memory storing a schedule representing target values for a controlled variable;

a processor coupled to said schedule memory, said processor receiving a reference input and a feedback signal indicative of said controlled variable, said processor generating a control signal in response to said reference input, said feedback signal, and said schedule; and

,

a communication device coupled to said processor, said communication device receiving an updated schedule for storage in said schedule memory, said updated schedule representing target values for the controlled variable for a deteriorated engine.

2. The control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a program memory storing a control program, said control program containing instructions executable by said processor;

wherein said communication device receives an updated control program for storage in said program memory, said updated control program containing instructions for control of a deteriorated engine.

3. The control system of claim 2 wherein:

said program memory and said schedule memory are separate devices.

4. A control system for controlling an engine, the control system comprising:

a schedule memory storing a plurality of schedules, each schedule representing target values for a controlled variable, at least one schedule representing target values for the controlled variable for a deteriorated engine; and

,

a processor coupled to said schedule memory, said processor receiving a deterioration signal and selecting one of said plurality of schedules as a selected schedule in response to said deterioration signal;

said processor receiving a reference input and a feedback signal indicative of said controlled variable, said processor generating a control signal in response to said reference input, said feedback signal, and said selected schedule.

5. The control system of claim 4 further comprising:

a program memory storing a plurality of control programs, each control program containing instructions executable by said processor, at least one control program containing instructions for control of a deteriorated engine;

wherein said processor selects one of said control programs in response to said deterioration signal.

6. The control system of claim 5 wherein:

said program memory and said schedule memory are separate devices.

7. A method for controlling an engine comprising:

storing a schedule representing target values for a controlled variable;

storing a control program, said control program containing instructions;

providing a processor for executing said instructions, said processor receiving a reference input and a feedback signal indicative of said controlled variable, said processor generating a control signal in response to said reference input, said feedback signal, and said schedule; and

updating one of said schedule and said control program in response to deterioration of the engine.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

said schedule includes a plurality of schedules, each schedule representing target values for a controlled variable, at least one schedule representing target values for the controlled variable for a deteriorated engine; and

said updating includes selecting one of said schedules.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

said control program includes a plurality of control programs, each control program containing instructions executable by said processor, at least one control program containing instructions for control of a deteriorated engine; and

said updating includes selecting one of said control programs.

10. A method of controlling a controlled variable in an engine using a control unit, wherein said control unit comprises a processor, a schedule memory, a communication device, a program memory, a control output, and a signal input, said method comprising:

inputting reference input signals into said control unit;

selecting a target value of said controlled variable from a schedule of target values stored in said schedule memory, said selection being based on said reference input signals;

inputting a feedback signal indicative of said controlled variable;

determining said controlled variable from said feedback signal;

subtracting said controlled variable from said target value to generate an error value;

applying said error value to gain dynamics to generate a control signal;

outputting said control signal to said engine, said outputting including affecting said controlled variable; and

when said engine has become deteriorated, replacing said schedule with a substitute schedule, said substitute schedule having target values suitable for controlling a deteriorated engine, said replacing includes selecting said substitute schedule based on at least one of knowledge of deterioration mechanisms or phenomena that affect the engine, history of an engine type corresponding to the engine, engine inspections, analysis of engine trending and performance data for the engine during service, and expected use, environment, and operation of the engine.