Method, system, and apparatus for reducing a turbine clearance
First Claim
1. A method for reducing a turbine clearance gap between a plurality of rotor blades of a turbine engine and a shroud of the turbine engine, said method comprising:
- determining, with a flight operation controller, that an airplane is in a first flight condition;
adjusting the turbine clearance gap to a first clearance gap distance associated with the first flight condition;
determining, with the flight operation controller, a demand for a second flight condition;
adjusting an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the turbine engine;
wherein the power parameter includes fan speed, and wherein adjusting an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the engine comprises adjusting the engine responsiveness to the first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in fan speed over a first predetermined change in power level;
reducing the engine responsiveness from the first engine responsiveness level to a second engine responsiveness level for a second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine; and
closing a clearance control valve associated with the shroud during the second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for reducing a turbine clearance gap between a plurality of rotor blades of a turbine engine and a shroud of the turbine engine is provided. The method includes determining that an airplane is in a first flight condition, and adjusting the turbine clearance gap to a first clearance gap distance associated with the first flight condition. The method also includes determining a demand for a second flight condition, and adjusting an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the engine. The method further includes reducing the engine responsiveness from the first engine responsiveness level to a second engine responsiveness level for a second predetermined change in the power parameter of the engine, and closing a clearance control valve associated with the shroud during the second predetermined change in the power parameter of the engine.
22 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for reducing a turbine clearance gap between a plurality of rotor blades of a turbine engine and a shroud of the turbine engine, said method comprising:
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determining, with a flight operation controller, that an airplane is in a first flight condition; adjusting the turbine clearance gap to a first clearance gap distance associated with the first flight condition; determining, with the flight operation controller, a demand for a second flight condition; adjusting an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the turbine engine; wherein the power parameter includes fan speed, and wherein adjusting an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the engine comprises adjusting the engine responsiveness to the first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in fan speed over a first predetermined change in power level; reducing the engine responsiveness from the first engine responsiveness level to a second engine responsiveness level for a second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine; and closing a clearance control valve associated with the shroud during the second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A clearance control system for reducing a turbine clearance gap between a plurality of blades of a turbine engine and a shroud of the turbine engine, said clearance control system comprising a flight operation controller configured to:
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determine that an airplane is in a first flight condition; adjust the turbine clearance gap to a first clearance gap distance associated with the first flight condition; determine a demand for a second flight condition; adjust an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the turbine engine; wherein the power parameter includes fan speed, and wherein the flight operation controller is further configured to adjust the engine responsiveness to the first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in fan speed over a first predetermined change in power level reduce the engine responsiveness from the first engine responsiveness level to a second engine responsiveness level for a second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine; and close a clearance control valve associated with the shroud during the second predetermined change in the power parameter of the turbine engine. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airplane comprising:
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a plurality of turbine engines; and a clearance control system for reducing a turbine clearance gap between a plurality of blades and a shroud of at least one of the plurality of turbine engines, the clearance control system comprising a flight operation controller configured to; determine that the airplane is in a first flight condition; adjust the turbine clearance gap to a first clearance gap distance associated with the first flight condition; determine a demand for a second flight condition; adjust an engine responsiveness to a first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in a power parameter of the at least one of the plurality of turbine engines; wherein the power parameter includes fan speed, and wherein the flight operation controller is further configured to adjust the engine responsiveness to the first engine responsiveness level for a first predetermined change in fan speed over a first predetermined change in power level; reduce the engine responsiveness from the first engine responsiveness level to a second engine responsiveness level for a second predetermined change in the power parameter of the at least one of the plurality of turbine engines; and close a clearance control valve associated with the shroud during the second predetermined change in the power parameter of the at least one of the plurality of turbine engines. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification