Methods and systems for turbine line replaceable unit fault detection and isolation during engine startup

• US 8,862,364 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Kyusung
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Truc M
• Application Number:
  US13/787,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20130173135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/54, 701/100, 701/107, 701/113, 701/63, 340/4.32, 340/539.1, 340/945, 340/959
• US Class Current: 701/100
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 19/00 Starting of machines or engines; Regulating, controlling, or safety means in connection therewith warming-up before starting F01D25/10; turning or inching gear F01D25/34
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/26 Starting; Ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/72 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/14 Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0275 Fault isolation and identification, e.g. classify fault; estimate cause or root of failure

Abstract

Systems and methods for isolating a performance anomaly within one or more line replaceable units (LRUs) on a gas turbine engine by monitoring the start up transient are presented. The system comprises a set of sensors, an anomaly detector and a fault isolation reasoner. Each sensor of the set monitors at least one operating parameter of at least one engine component. The anomaly detector is configured to detect an anomaly in a component by comparing a particular value of an operating parameter to a base line value of that parameter. The specific cause of the startup anomaly is isolated utilizing a set of component reasoners that is based on the nature of the detected anomaly. The key events during the engine startup are identified by the combination of monitoring physically relevant phases of a startup and monitoring the engine control schedule. The values at these key events are used for comparing at the anomaly detector.

Claims

1. A method for detecting deterioration in an engine component by a computer processor comprising:

monitoring, by a computer processor, an engine control unit for the execution of a command associated with an occurrence of a start up event;

recording an engine performance parameter value associated with the start up event at the time the command is executed;

comparing the recorded engine parameter value with a baseline engine parameter value indicating a normal event;

determining when the recorded engine parameter value is materially different than the baseline engine parameter value within a predefined standard; and

when the recorded engine parameter value is materially different that the baseline engine parameter value then generating an anomaly indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the speed (N2) and the measured gas temperature (MGT) of the engine for another event;

and

recording the respective engine performance parameter values of N2 and MGT associated with the other event when the other event occurs.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event and the other event comprise at least a partial set of defined events.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the command is a “

fuel enable”

command.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of defined events comprise an inflection point in a time series of one of N2 and MGT.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of events comprises an inflection point in the derivative time series of one of N2 and MGT.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the set of events includes engine light-off, Fuel Enable, Peak dMGT/dt, Peak dN2/dt, Peak MGT and Idle.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the engine performance parameter includes one of time, N2, MGT, dMGT/dt, and dN2/dt.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the engine component is one of a battery, a fuel system, a starter system and an ignition system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the baseline engine parameter value is determined from a baseline time series using principal component modeling analysis.