Rolls-royce Corporation

John D Black

Ian C D Care

A soot generating device suitable for calibration purposes and a method of using the device for calibrating a soot measuring apparatus are presented. The soot generating device includes a wick located relative to a burning zone, a gas diffusion shield surrounding the burning zone that allows a continuous stream of air into the combustion zone, and a fuel supply for delivering fuel to the wick.

Soot generating device

A fluid management apparatus and method, the apparatus including: a fluid conduit for the passage of a dispersion containing particulate matter; a laser arranged to provide laser light inside the fluid conduit; wherein, in use, the laser light heats the particulate matter sufficiently to generate incandescence; one or more sensors for detecting the incandescence of the particulate matter so as to determine a characteristic of the dispersion; and an electromagnetic wave generator operable to provide electromagnetic waves inside the fluid conduit at a position downstream of the laser light so as to vaporize at least a portion of the dispersion.

Fluid management apparatus and method

Continuous engine monitoring with regard to gas turbine engines is difficult particularly when the engine is utilized for propulsion of an aircraft. Nevertheless, by use of transfer passagesto an arrangement located within the tail coneof an engine, it is possible through a transparent test celland appropriate heating to generate sufficient infra red radiation as well as incandescent visible light for detectorsto determine various constituent parts of the gas flow. Thus a photo detectorcan provide through electrical signals, the proportion of soot/smoke particles in the gas flow through their incandescence, whilst use of filtersfor particular spectral lines in an infra red radiation spectrum will allow detectorsto provide an indication through an electrical signal the proportion and presence of other constituents such as NO, CO and unburnt hydrocarbons in an exhaust gas flow.

Engine monitoring

A method for determining the total mass flow through an engine () comprises measuring () the fuel flow to the engine () and measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide in the gases exhausted () from the engine (). The concentration of carbon dioxide is measured by detecting the infrared radiation absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide using a laser () and a detector (). The method comprises determining () the air to fuel ratio in the engine () from the fuel flow and the concentration of carbon dioxide. The method comprises determining () the air mass flow through the engine () from the air to fuel ratio and calculating () the total air and fuel mass flow through the engine () by adding the air mass flow through the engine () to the fuel mass flow to the engine ().

Method and apparatus for determining the mass flow through an engine

A non-obstructive fluid diagnostic technique is described which enables the measurement of different parameters in a fluid. The diagnostic technique includes the steps of focusing a laser (10) in a fluid volume (14) to generate a laser induced breakdown spark (15). The characteristics of the initial laser induced breakdown spark (15) are measured and compared to the characteristics of a delayed image of the spark, formed by light emission due to recombination and excited molecules and ions generated by the laser induced spark (15). The differences between the initial and delayed images being used to diagnose characteristics of the fluid, such as velocity, temperature and pressure.

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Ashbourne, United Kingdom

John D Black