Temperature control system for gas combustion engines and method of using the same
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsRobert C. Dalley, John J. Costello
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of managing the thermal output of a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones uses a temperature control system integrated with the engine to provide digital thermal signals to a control unit. The control unit determines when to adjust an engine operating parameter based on an analysis of the thermal signals. The temperature control system includes a plurality of smart thermal sensors with at least one sensor for each combustion zone, a communication bus, and a control unit. Each smart thermal sensor converts the measured temperature from an analog thermal signal to a digital thermal signal.
Claims20
A temperature control system integrated with a gas combustion engine that includes a plurality of combustion zones;
- the temperature control system comprising:
- a plurality of smart thermal sensors, wherein the smart thermal sensors are located such that at least one smart thermal sensor measures a temperature in real-time for each of the combustion zones and converts the measured temperature into a thermal signal;
- a communication bus through which the thermal signal from each of the smart thermal sensors is transmitted;
- and
- a control unit that receives the thermal signals from the communication bus;
- wherein the control unit uses the thermal signals to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas combustion engine.
A method of managing the thermal output of a combustion engine;
- wherein the method comprises:
- providing a gas combustion engine;
- the gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones;
- providing one or more temperature control systems integrated with the gas combustion engine, the temperature control system comprising:
- a plurality of smart thermal sensors, wherein at least one smart thermal sensor is located in each of the combustion zones;
- a communication bus;
- and
- a control unit;
- measuring the temperature in each of the combustion zones with the smart thermal sensors;
- transmitting the measured temperature as a thermal signal from each of the smart thermal sensors to the communication bus;
- and
- allowing the control unit to perform the following functions:
- receive the thermal signals from the communication bus;
- use the thermal signals to determine the need to adjust one or more operating parameters of the gas combustion engine;
- and
- adjust the one or more of the operating parameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.