United Technologies Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Rtx Corporation

Coltec Industries, Inc.

Goodrich Pump & Engine Control Systems, Inc.

Richard P Meisner

Boris Karpman

Timothy J Crowley

Chaohong Cai

David Lei Ma

Manuj Dhingra

Joshua Adams

Subhradeep Chowdhury

Martin Richard Amari

John L Shade

Matthew Donald

Mark E Lacour

Thomas E Case

Matthew R Feulner

James W Fuller

Sorin Bengea

David Gelwan

Matthew J Schryver

Ian Michael Dinsmore

Timothy J Gaudet

Kevin Hendricks

Kurt J Sobanski

Nicholas D Lappos

Brenda J Lisitano

Patrick D Couture

David H Sweet

Wayne R Spock

Juan A Marcos

James R Midgley

Joseph Kehoe

Stefan M Poth, Jr

Charles E Greenberg

Brian V Winebrenner

David M Walsh

Thomas Niemczycki

David Sembiante

Timothy B Winfield

Jonnalagadda V R Prasad

Andrew B Thompson

Alexandra I Britten

Thomas J Roadinger

Christopher L Ho

Mark A Bushman

Robert J Bengtson

Kyle C Musselman

Michael H Levesque

Gi-Yun Chung

Jr Stefan M Poth

A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.

Adaptive model predictive control for hybrid electric propulsion

A control system for limiting power turbine torque (QPT) of a gas turbine engine includes a controller including a processor and memory configured to control the gas turbine engine, the controller including an engine control module that provides an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module that outputs a preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre); and a power turbine torque (QPT) optimal limiter module that outputs a maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine; wherein the controller outputs a minimum value between the preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre) and the maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to the engine control module.

Systems and methods for optimal speed protection for power turbine governing

An engine control system includes an engine controller configured to execute an open-loop model of the engine control system. The open-loop model receives a measured effector and boundary condition parameter vector and generates a synthesized engine operating parameter based on the measured effector and boundary condition parameter vector. The engine controller calculates a corrector error value between the synthesized engine operating parameter and a measured engine operating parameter, and determines an open loop corrector error calculated as a difference between the corrector error and a vector-matrix product of corrector state vector and a gain map/function. The engine controller applies the gain map/function to the open loop corrector error to determine an effector and boundary condition error vector of the measured effector and boundary condition parameter vector.

On-board estimator effector drift detection in engine control

A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an estimate of hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a model predictive control state and a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control state and the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.

A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes commanding an acceleration of the gas turbine engine and moving a variable pitch high pressure compressor vane toward an open position thereby reducing an acceleration rate of a high pressure turbine rotor thereby reducing a change in a clearance gap between the high pressure turbine rotor and a blade outer airseal. An active clearance control system of a gas turbine engine includes an engine control system configured to command an acceleration of the gas turbine engine and move a variable pitch high pressure compressor vane toward an open position thereby slowing an acceleration rate of a high pressure turbine rotor thereby reducing a change in a clearance gap between the high pressure turbine rotor and a blade outer airseal located radially outboard of the high pressure turbine rotor.

Active multi-effector control of high pressure turbine clearances

A control system for limiting a power turbine torque of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes an engine control module configured to output an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module configured to output to the engine control module a power turbine torque request signal; and a power turbine torque limiter module configured to output to the power turbine governor module a power turbine speed rate signal to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine.

Speed limiting for power turbine governing and protection in a turboshaft engine

An engine control system includes an electronic hardware engine controller in signal communication with at least one engine sensor, which measures an engine operating parameter (Ycrtr_t). The engine controller generates a synthesized engine operating parameter (Ycrtr) calculates an error (ERRcrtr) between the engine operating parameter (Ycrtr_t) and the synthesized engine operating parameter (Ycrtr). The engine controller further determines a corrector error parameter (Xcrtr) and determines a faulty sensor among the at least one engine sensor based on a comparison between the error value (ERRcrtr) and the corrector error parameter (Xcrtr).

On-board estimator sensor drift detection in engine control

A full authority digital engine controller (FADEC) based system is also disclosed. The system includes a processor, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the FADEC to perform operations. The operations may include measuring a first temperature at a first sensor disposed at a first known location of an engine, measuring a second temperature at a second sensor disposed at a second known location of the engine, and estimating at least one of a stress or a strain of a part or component in the engine based on the first temperature and the second temperature. The system may control fuel flow and/or other engine effectors during a thrust transient to limit the estimated stress or the estimated strain of the component from exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Transient control to extend part life in gas turbine engine

An engine control system includes an electronic hardware engine controller in signal communication with an actuator and an engine sensor. The actuator operates at a plurality of different positions to control operation of an engine. The engine sensor measures an engine operating parameter. The engine controller generates a synthesized engine operating parameter, and adjusts the position of the actuator based on the synthesized engine operating parameter in response to detecting a faulty engine sensor.

On-board estimator engine sensor fault accommodation in engine control

A method of adaptive anti-windup protection for a control system with cascaded inner control loop and an outer control loops. The method includes receiving an outer loop feedback signal indicative of the response of a plant controlled by the outer control loop and calculating an inner control loop request such that, it would cause saturation of the control device controlled by the inner control loop. The method also includes converting the calculated inner loop request to outer loop anti-windup request limits using kinematic relationships and transmitting the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop. The method may also include applying the outer loop anti-windup request limits to a controller of the outer control loop to limit the inner loop request generated thereby, and executing an outer control loop control law and an inner control loop control law subject to the anti-windup request limits.

Adaptive anti-windup protection of cascaded inner and outer control loops

Systems and methods for controlling a fluid-based system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include generating a model output using a model processor, processing a model input vector and setting a model operating mode, and setting dynamic states of the model processor, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode. Synthesized parameters are generated as a function of the dynamic states and the model input vector based on a series of utilities, where at least one of the utilities is a configurable utility including one or more sub-utilities. An estimated state of the model is determined based on at least one of a prior state and the synthesized parameters. An actuator associated with the control device is directed as a function of a model output, where the model output includes an estimated thrust value for the control device.

Compact aero-thermo model based engine power control

A power turbine control system for a gas turbine engine may comprise a controller comprising one or more processors in communication with the gas turbine engine. The processors may comprise an engine control module configured to receive a torque request signal and generate a torque achieved signal. A rate of change of power turbine speed estimation module may generate an estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal. A dynamic inversion power turbine governor module may generate the torque request signal based on the torque achieved signal and estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal.

Systems and methods for power turbine governing

Systems and methods for controlling a fluid-based system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a model processor for generating a model output, the model processor including a set state module for setting dynamic states, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode, where the open loop model generates current state derivatives, solver state errors, and synthesized parameters as a function of the dynamic states and a model input vector. A constraint on the current state derivatives and solver state errors is based on mathematical abstractions of physical laws that govern behavior of a component using a material temperature utility. The model processor may further include an estimate state module for determining an estimated state of the model based on at least one of a prior state, the current state derivatives, the solver state errors, and the synthesized parameters.

Compact aero-thermo model based engine material temperature control

Systems and methods for controlling a fluid-based system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a model processor for generating a model output, the model processor including a set state module for setting dynamic states, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode, where the open loop model generates current state derivatives, solver state errors, and synthesized parameters as a function of the dynamic states and a model input vector. A constraint on the current state derivatives and solver state errors is based on mathematical abstractions of physical laws that govern behavior of a component of a cycle of a control device. The model processor may further include an estimate state module for determining an estimated state of the model based on at least one of a prior state, the current state derivatives, the solver state errors, and the synthesized parameters.

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Glastonbury, CT, United States of America

Richard P Meisner