Water and ice detection
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsGeoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Steven P Culwick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for the detection of either or both of water and ice within a system, more specifically, but not exclusively, the detection of either or both of water or ice crystal ingestion, or ice accretion on an aerofoil, within a gas turbine engine. The apparatus and method compares the measured temperature of the first region with a second temperature value, measured at a distinct second region of the aerofoil, wherein the second radial position of the second sensor is radially offset from the first radial position of the first sensor.
Claims16
An apparatus for detecting either or both of water or ice crystal ingestion and ice accretion on an aerofoil that is within a gas turbine engine having a principal rotational axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a first temperature sensor for determining a first temperature value at a first radial position within a first region of the aerofoil, relative to the principal rotational axis of the gas turbine engine;
- a second temperature sensor for determining a second temperature value at a second radial position within a second region of the aerofoil, relative to the principal rotational axis of the gas turbine engine;
- a first heater for applying heat to the first region of the aerofoil;
- a second heater for applying heat to the second region of the aerofoil;
- and
- a comparator for comparing the first temperature value with the second temperature value, wherein:
- the second radial position of the second sensor is radially offset from the first radial position of the first sensor;
- either or both of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are positioned aft of a leading edge of the aerofoil;
- the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are located between pressure and suction surfaces of the aerofoil so as to be within the aerofoil;
- the aerofoil is a stator vane within a compressor of the gas turbine engine;
- in use of the gas turbine engine, the ingested water or ice crystal is distributed across only part of the aerofoil;
- and
- one of the first and second radial positions is located in the part of the aerofoil across which the ingested water or ice crystal is distributed and the other of the first and second radial positions is located in a part of the aerofoil across which the ingested water or ice crystal is not distributed.
An apparatus for detecting either or both of water or ice crystal ingestion and ice accretion on an aerofoil that is within a gas turbine engine having a principal rotational axis, the apparatus comprising:
- a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor positioned aft of a leading edge of the aerofoil, wherein a second radial position of the second sensor is radially offset from a first radial position of the first sensor;
- a first heater for applying heat to a first region of the aerofoil;
- a second heater for applying heat to a second region of the aerofoil;
- and
- a controller configured to read computer readable instructions to execute steps to:
- apply heat from the first heater to the first region of the aerofoil, during use;
- determine a first temperature value at the first radial position within the first region of the aerofoil, relative to the principal rotational axis of the gas turbine engine, with the first temperature sensor;
- apply heat from the second heater to the second region of the aerofoil, during use;
- determine a second temperature value at the second radial position within the second region of the aerofoil, relative to the principal rotational axis of the gas turbine engine, with the second temperature sensor;
- and
- compare the first temperature value with the second temperature value, wherein:
- ice crystal ingestion or ice accretion is detected based on the comparison of the first temperature value with the second temperature value, during use;
- the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor are located between pressure and suction surfaces of the aerofoil so as to be within the aerofoil;
- the aerofoil is a stator vane within a compressor of the gas turbine engine;
- in use of the gas turbine engine, the ingested water or ice crystal is distributed across only part of the aerofoil;
- and
- one of the first and second radial positions is located in the part of the aerofoil across which the ingested water or ice crystal is distributed and the other of the first and second radial positions is located in a part of the aerofoil across which the ingested water or ice crystal is not distributed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.