Method and device for monitoring a turbine engine of an aircraft
First Claim
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1. An aiding method for monitoring at least one turbine engine of an aircraft, the method comprising the following operations, carried out automatically and repeatedly:
- (a) measuring, by a parameter measurement device, at least one temperature relating to the turbine engine;
(b) determining, by an information processing unit/calculator, a value illustrating a thermomechanical condition of the turbine engine, the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition being determined by a calculation method and being dependent on thermal conditions identified by the at least one temperature that has been measured, wherein the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition identifies differential expansion between elements of the turbine engine that can lead to undesired frictional contact and damage of the elements and that can also lead to rotor lock;
(c) comparing, by the information processing unit/calculator, the determined value illustrating the thermomechanical condition with at least one predetermined threshold value; and
(d) showing, by a display device, at least one indication on a cockpit viewing screen of the aircraft, depending on the comparison of step (c), the at least one indication relating to operation of the turbine engine and including at least one of the following indications;
an indication relating to a damage risk for the turbine engine;
an indication relating to a lock risk for the turbine engine; and
an indication relating to an operational procedure.
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Abstract
A method and device aids in monitoring at least one turbine engine in an aircraft. The method includes determining a value illustrating a thermomechanical state of the turbine engine, and comparing the determined value with at least one threshold. The method also includes displaying in the cockpit of the aircraft, at least one indication related to the operation of the turbine engine, according to this comparison. As a result, conditions that could result in mechanical degradation or failure of the turbine engine are identified for a crew of the aircraft.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An aiding method for monitoring at least one turbine engine of an aircraft, the method comprising the following operations, carried out automatically and repeatedly:
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(a) measuring, by a parameter measurement device, at least one temperature relating to the turbine engine; (b) determining, by an information processing unit/calculator, a value illustrating a thermomechanical condition of the turbine engine, the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition being determined by a calculation method and being dependent on thermal conditions identified by the at least one temperature that has been measured, wherein the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition identifies differential expansion between elements of the turbine engine that can lead to undesired frictional contact and damage of the elements and that can also lead to rotor lock; (c) comparing, by the information processing unit/calculator, the determined value illustrating the thermomechanical condition with at least one predetermined threshold value; and (d) showing, by a display device, at least one indication on a cockpit viewing screen of the aircraft, depending on the comparison of step (c), the at least one indication relating to operation of the turbine engine and including at least one of the following indications; an indication relating to a damage risk for the turbine engine; an indication relating to a lock risk for the turbine engine; and an indication relating to an operational procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An aiding method for monitoring at least one turbine engine of an aircraft, the method comprising the following operations, carried out automatically and repeatedly:
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(a) measuring, by a parameter measurement device, at least one temperature relating to the turbine engine; (b) determining, by an information processing unit/calculator, a value illustrating a thermomechanical condition of the turbine engine by illustrating expansion of at least one element of the turbine engine, depending on thermal conditions identified by the at least one temperature that has been measured; (c) comparing, by the information processing unit/calculator, the determined value illustrating the thermomechanical condition with at least one predetermined threshold value; and (d) showing, by a display device, at least one indication on a cockpit viewing screen of the aircraft, depending on the comparison of step (c), the at least one indication relating to operation of the turbine engine and including at least one of the following indications; an indication relating to a damage risk for the turbine engine; an indication relating to a lock risk for the turbine engine; and an indication relating to an operational procedure, wherein when the aircraft is in a ground phase, with the turbine engine in operation, one indication is shown, at step (d) that indicates a pending risk upon a shutdown of the turbine engine, wherein when the shutdown of the turbine engine has just occurred, one indication is shown at step (d) providing information relating to a possible restarting of the turbine engine and at least a minimum waiting duration being recommended before a restarting of the turbine engine, and wherein at step (c), the determined value illustrating the thermomechanical condition is compared with two threshold values S1 and S2, the threshold value S1 being larger than the threshold value S2, and the method further comprises; when the determined value is higher than or equal the threshold value S1, the turbine engine presents the thermomechanical condition, for which the shutdown of the turbine engine is to be avoided; when the determined value is between the threshold values Si and S2, the turbine engine presents the thermomechanical condition, for which the shutdown can cause difficulties upon a subsequent restarting; and when the determined value is lower than or equal to the threshold value S2, the turbine engine presents the thermomechanical condition making the shutdown possible.
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11. An aiding device for automatically monitoring at least one turbine engine of an aircraft, the aiding device comprising—
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a parameter measurement device on the aircraft which measures at least one temperature relating to the turbine engine; an information processing unit/calculator which (i) uses the measured at least one temperature to determine a value illustrating a thermomechanical condition of the turbine engine, the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition being determined by a calculation method and being dependent on thermal conditions identified by the at least one temperature that has been measured, wherein the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition identifies differential expansion between elements of the turbine engine that can lead to undesired frictional contact and damage of the elements and that can also lead to rotor lock, and (ii) compares the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition with at least one predetermined threshold value; and a display device which shows on a cockpit viewing screen, depending on the comparison with at least one predetermined threshold value, at least one indication relating to the operation of the turbine engine and including at least one of the following indications; an indication relating to a damage risk for the turbine engine; an indication relating to a lock risk for the turbine engine; and an indication relating to an operational procedure. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An aircraft system for an aircraft, comprising:
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plurality of turbine engines, and a plurality of aiding devices, each of which is associated with one of said turbine engines and each of which comprises; a parameter measurement device on the aircraft which measures at least one temperature relating to the turbine engine; an information processing unit/calculator which (i) uses the measured at least one temperature to determine a value illustrating a thermomechanical condition of the turbine engine, the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition being determined by a calculation method and being dependent on thermal conditions identified by the at least one temperature that has been measured, wherein the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition identifies differential expansion between elements of the turbine engine that can lead to undesired frictional contact and damage of the elements and that can also lead to rotor lock, and (ii) compares the value illustrating the thermomechanical condition with at least one predetermined threshold value; and a display device which shows on a cockpit viewing screen, depending on the comparison with at least one predetermined threshold value, at least one indication relating to the operation of the turbine engine and including at least one of the following indications; an indication relating to a damage risk for the turbine engine; an indication relating to a lock risk for the turbine engine; and an indication relating to an operational procedure.
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Specification