System and method for lightoff detection in turbine engines
First Claim
1. A method of detecting combustion system lightoff in a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving engine temperature sensor data and engine speed sensor data for the turbine engine during startup;
b) determining a first time interval before a threshold time when the engine temperature sensor data reaches a threshold value;
c) determining a peak gradient of the engine temperature sensor data in the first time interval;
d) determining a peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data in the first time interval;
e) determining a second time interval between the peak gradient of the engine temperature sensor data and the peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data; and
f) determining a minimum gradient time of the engine speed sensor data in the second time interval, the minimum gradient time comprising an estimated lightoff time for the turbine engine.
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for lightoff detection in a turbine engine that provides improved accuracy and consistency. The system and method use engine temperature and engine rotation speed sensor data to determine a first time interval during which the lightoff is estimated to have occurred. A peak gradient in the temperature sensor data within the first time interval and a peak gradient in the engine rotation sensor data within the first time interval are then determined. The temperature peak gradient time and the engine rotation peak gradient time are then used as boundaries to determine a narrowed time interval within the first time interval. The minimum gradient in the engine rotation sensor data in the narrowed time interval is determined, with the minimum gradient time in the engine rotation sensor data comprising an accurate estimate of lightoff time for the turbine engine.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of detecting combustion system lightoff in a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving engine temperature sensor data and engine speed sensor data for the turbine engine during startup; b) determining a first time interval before a threshold time when the engine temperature sensor data reaches a threshold value; c) determining a peak gradient of the engine temperature sensor data in the first time interval; d) determining a peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data in the first time interval; e) determining a second time interval between the peak gradient of the engine temperature sensor data and the peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data; and f) determining a minimum gradient time of the engine speed sensor data in the second time interval, the minimum gradient time comprising an estimated lightoff time for the turbine engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of detecting combustion system lightoff in a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving engine temperature sensor data and engine speed sensor data for the turbine engine during startup; b) deter a peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data; and c) determining a minimum gradient time of the engine speed sensor data after the peak gradient of the engine speed sensor data, the minimum gradient time comprising an estimated lightoff time for the turbine engine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification