Synchronization of aircraft engines
AssigneeBombardier Inc.
InventorsStephen Colavincenzo, Andre Brodeur, Alexis Caron L'Ecuyer
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Abstract
Methods and related apparatus for improving synchronization of two or more engines on an aircraft are disclosed. Such method may be used where each engine comprises a first spool and a second spool, and, where a rotational speed of a first spool of a first engine has been substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of a first spool of a second engine. An exemplary method comprises receiving a value of a sensed parameter useful in controlling the first engine; adding a bias to the value; and using the biased value for controlling the first engine to cause a change in rotational speed of the second spool of the first engine in relation to the rotational speed of the first spool of the first engine.
Claims21
A method for improving synchronization of two engines on an aircraft where each engine comprises a first spool and a second spool, and, where a rotational speed of a first spool of a first engine has been substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of a first spool of a second engine, the method comprising:
- receiving acoustic feedback indicative of the second spool of the first engine and the second spool of the second engine having different rotational speeds;
- determining, based on the acoustic feedback, a bias to be added to a sensed parameter useful in controlling the first engine;
- and
- generating an output configured to instruct a controller of the first engine to use the bias with the sensed parameter for controlling the first engine to thereby cause a change in rotational speed of the second spool of the first engine in relation to the rotational speed of the first spool of the first engine.
An apparatus for improving synchronization of two engines on an aircraft where each engine comprises a first spool and a second spool, and, where a rotational speed of a first spool of a first engine has been substantially synchronized with a rotational speed of a first spool of a second engine, the apparatus comprising:
- an acoustic sensor configured to detect audible beats inside of an aircraft cabin;
- a processor operationally coupled to receive signals indicative of the audible beats detected by the acoustic sensor;
- and
- a non-transitory storage medium including machine-readable instructions executable by the processor and configured to cause the processor to:
- using the signals indicative of the audible beats detected by the acoustic sensor, determine a bias to be added to a sensed parameter useful in controlling the first engine to cause a change in rotational speed of the second spool of the first engine in relation to the rotational speed of the first spool of the first engine;
- and
- generating an output configured to instruct a controller of the first engine to use the bias with the sensed parameter for controlling the first engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.