Turbine control device prognostics

• US 9,926,803 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodward Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Woodward Incorporated
• Inventors: Britt, Tena K., Greeb, Kevin, Krause, Thomas M, Mawle, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Alharbi, Adam
• Application Number:
  US15/195,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20170370244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/14 varying effective cross-sectional area of nozzles or guide conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/232 Fuel valves control of fuel supply by means of fuel metering valves F02C9/263; Draining valves or systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/30 in turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Providing wear-related prognostics and diagnostics on a turbine engine includes, while operating a turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently: selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device; and accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.

Claims

1. A driver communicatively coupled to a turbine control device and a turbine engine control unit (ECU), the driver comprising a memory, a processor, and instructions stored in the memory and operable when executed by the processor to cause the driver to perform operations comprising:

operating the turbine control device by recurrently;

receiving a demand signal from the turbine ECU; and

determining and transmitting a desired position to the turbine control device based on the demand signal; and

during the operating of the turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently;

selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device by;

comparing the device position data to a device movement window comprising a predetermined threshold value based on a physical characteristic of the turbine control device; and

determining that the device position is beyond the device movement window; and

accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.

2. The driver of claim 1, wherein the turbine control device comprises at least one of a turbine fuel control valve and a variable vane actuator.

3. The driver of claim 1, wherein tracking the total device travel distance further comprises filtering a device position signal received from the displacement sensor.

4. The driver of claim 1, wherein the physical characteristic is associated with at least one of a seal, a gear, a bearing, and a leadscrew of the turbine control device.

5. The driver of claim 1, wherein the device movement window comprises two opposing threshold values.

6. The driver of claim 1, wherein tracking the total device travel distance further comprises:

in response to identifying actual device movement, adjusting the device movement window based on the incremental device travel distance.

7. The driver of claim 1, wherein tracking the total device travel distance further comprises:

calculating the incremental device travel distance as the magnitude between the device position data and the device movement window.

8. The driver of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise comparing the total device travel distance to an expected travel capability to determine a wear state of the turbine control device.

9. The driver of claim 8, wherein determining the wear state of the turbine control device further comprises adjusting the expected travel capability based on at least one of:

ambient temperature conditions, fuel temperature conditions, fuel pressure conditions, actuator load conditions, and lubrication effectiveness.

10. The driver of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise automatically altering a parameter for determining the desired device position based on the total device travel distance.

11. A computer-implemented method for providing wear-related prognostics and diagnostics on a turbine engine, the method being executed using one or more processors and comprising:

operating a turbine control device by recurrently;

receiving a demand signal from a turbine engine control unit (ECU); and

determining and transmitting a desired position to the turbine control device based on the demand signal; and

during the operating of the turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently;

selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device by;

filtering a device position signal received from the displacement sensor to provide the device position data;

comparing the device position data to a device movement window comprising a predetermined threshold value based on a physical characteristic of the turbine control device; and

determining that the device position is beyond the device movement window; and

accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the turbine control device comprises at least one of a turbine fuel control valve and a variable vane actuator.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the physical characteristic is associated with at least one of a seal, a gear, a bearing, and a leadscrew of the turbine control device;

and wherein the device movement window comprises two opposing threshold values.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein tracking the total device travel distance further comprises:

in response to identifying actual device movement, adjusting the device movement window based on the incremental device travel distance; and

calculating the incremental device travel distance as the magnitude between the device position data and the device movement window.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

comparing the total device travel distance to an expected travel capability to determine a wear state of the turbine control device.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

automatically altering a parameter for determining the desired device position based on the total device travel distance.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to one or more processors and having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for providing wear-related prognostics and diagnostics on a turbine engine, the operations comprising:

operating a turbine control device by recurrently;

receiving a demand signal from a turbine engine control unit (ECU); and

determining and transmitting a desired position to the turbine control device based on the demand signal; and

during the operating of the turbine control device, tracking a total device travel distance over time by recurrently;

selectively identifying actual device movement based on device position data associated with a displacement sensor monitoring the turbine control device by;

filtering a device position signal received from the displacement sensor to provide the device position data;

comparing the device position data to a device movement window comprising a predetermined threshold value based on a physical characteristic of the turbine control device; and

determining that the device position is beyond the device movement window; and

accumulating an incremental device travel distance corresponding to the identified actual device movement with the total device travel distance.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the turbine control device comprises at least one of a turbine fuel control valve and a variable vane actuator.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the physical characteristic is associated with at least one of a seal, a gear, a bearing, and a leadscrew of the turbine control device;

and wherein the device movement window comprises two opposing threshold values.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein tracking the total device travel distance further comprises:

in response to identifying actual device movement, adjusting the device movement window based on the incremental device travel distance; and

calculating the incremental device travel distance as the magnitude between the device position data and the device movement window.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

comparing the total device travel distance to an expected travel capability to determine a wear state of the turbine control device.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

automatically altering a parameter for determining the desired device position based on the total device travel distance.