Clogging monitoring in a starter injector purge circuit for a turbomachine
AssigneeSafran Helicopter Engines
InventorsPatrick Duchaine, Pascal Hubert Verdier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel supply system for a turbomachine. The supply system includes a starter circuit, at least one first hydraulic resistance and a purge circuit. The purge circuit includes a duct including an opening at the exterior of the supply system. The purge circuit is configured to make purge air flow between a starter injector and the opening through the first hydraulic resistance. The supply system includes a device for measuring a value representative of pressure, which devices are configured to measure a value representative of pressure between the starter injector and the first hydraulic resistance when purge air flows between the starter injector and the first hydraulic resistance.
Claims9
A fuel supply system for a turbomachine, comprising:
- a starter circuit comprising a starter injector;
- a first hydraulic resistance;
- a purge circuit comprising a conduit, the conduit including an aperture, the aperture opening outside of the fuel supply system, wherein the first hydraulic resistance is positioned between the starter injector and the aperture;
- a monitoring device;
- and
- a pressure representing value measuring sensor,
- wherein the purge circuit is configured to flow purge air between the starter injector and the aperture,
- wherein the pressure representative value measuring sensor is configured to measure a pressure representative value, the pressure representative value measuring sensor being positioned between the starter injector and the first hydraulic resistance, wherein the pressure representative value is measured during a purge air flow between the starter injector and the first hydraulic resistance,
- wherein the monitoring device is configured to compare the pressure representative value with a reference value,
- wherein the monitoring device is configured to transmit a clogging signal to an alert device, and
- wherein the monitoring device is configured to transmit the clogging signal if an absolute value of a difference between the pressure representative value and the reference value exceeds a threshold value.
A method for monitoring clogging of a fuel supply system for a turbomachine, wherein the fuel supply system comprises:
- a starter circuit comprising a starter injector;
- a first hydraulic resistance;
- a purge circuit comprising a conduit, the conduit including an aperture, wherein the aperture opens outside of the fuel supply system, wherein the purge circuit is configured to flow purge air between the starter injector and the aperture;
- a pressure representative value measuring sensor configured to measure a pressure representative value;
- a monitoring device configured to compare the pressure representative value with a reference value;
- and
- an alert device, wherein the first hydraulic resistance is positioned between the starter injector and the aperture, and wherein the pressure representative value measuring sensor is positioned between the starter injector and the first hydraulic resistance;
- wherein the method comprises:
- directing a purge air flow between the starter injector and the aperture;
- measuring a pressure representative value with the pressure representative value measuring sensor during the purge air flow;
- comparing the pressure representative value with the reference value using the monitoring device;
- and
- transmitting a clogging signal from the monitoring device to the alert device if the absolute value of the difference between the pressure representative value and the reference value exceeds a first threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.