Efficiency based gearbox cooling control
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorAlan Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A processing system can include one or more processors configured to: automatically transition an operating condition of a gearbox cooling system through a plurality of operating states; determine an efficiency of the gearbox at each of a plurality of the operating states; for each of the plurality of operating states: select a future operating state of the cooling system based on the determined gearbox efficiency at the current operating state.
Claims24
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a mainshaft coupled to a second shaft through a gearbox;
- a cooling system configured to transfer heat from the gearbox to a heat sink;
- a processing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
- automatically transition an operating condition of the cooling system through a plurality of operating states;
- determine an efficiency of the gearbox at each of a plurality of the operating states;
- and
- for each of the plurality of operating states:
- select a future operating state of the cooling system based on the determined gearbox efficiency at the current operating state.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a mainshaft coupled to a second shaft through a gearbox;
- a cooling system configured to transfer heat from the gearbox to a heat sink;
- a processing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
- receive an updated power setting;
- estimate a future heat removal capacity of the cooling system and a future heat loss rate of the gearbox based on the updated power setting;
- and adjust the cooling system based on the estimated future heat loss rate of the gearbox.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a mainshaft coupled to a fanshaft through an epicyclic gearbox comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, and a plurality of intermediate gears meshed there between;
- a cooling system configured to transfer heat from the epicyclic gearbox to a heat sink;
- a processing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
- receive a user-selected power setting;
- search for a combination of gearbox coolant and lubrication system parameters at the power setting that minimizes a heat loss rate.
In a gas turbine engine comprising (i) a mainshaft coupled to a second shaft through a gearbox comprising;
- and (ii) a cooling system configured to transfer heat from the gearbox to a heat sink, a method comprising:
- estimating a future heat loss rate of the gearbox at a new power setting;
- resizing a cooling capacity of the cooling system based on the future heat loss rate before the power reaches the new power setting;
- causing the power to reach the new power setting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.