Aircraft operation
AssigneeROLLS-ROYCE plc
InventorsBenjamin J Keeler, David M Beaven, Craig W Bemment, Paul W Ferra, Kevin R McNally, Andrea Minelli, Martin K Yates
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Abstract
A method of determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel provided to a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes making an operational change, the operational change being effected by a controllable component of a propulsion system of which the gas turbine engine forms a part, and being arranged to affect operation of the gas turbine engine, sensing a response to the operational change; and determining the at least one fuel characteristic based on the response to the operational change.
Claims19
A method of determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel provided to a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the gas turbine engine forming part of a propulsion system, the method comprising:
- making an operational change, the operational change being effected by a controllable component of the propulsion system and arranged to affect operation of the gas turbine engine;
- sensing a response to the operational change;
- and
- determining the at least one fuel characteristic based on the response to the operational change,
- wherein the at least one fuel characteristic comprises at least one of:
- i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;
- ii. sulphur content of the fuel;
- iii. oxygen content of the fuel;
- iv. thermal stability of the fuel;
- and
- v. an indication that the fuel is a fossil fuel.
A propulsion system for an aircraft comprising:
- a gas turbine engine;
- a fuel tank arranged to contain a fuel to power the gas turbine engine;
- and
- processing circuitry programmed to:
- receive information regarding an operational change, the operational change being effected by a controllable component of the propulsion system and arranged to affect operation of the gas turbine engine;
- receive data corresponding to a response to the operational change;
- and
- determine at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel arranged to be provided to the gas turbine engine based on the response to the operational change,
- wherein the at least one fuel characteristic comprises at least one of:
- i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;
- ii. sulphur content of the fuel;
- iii. oxygen content of the fuel;
- iv. thermal stability of the fuel;
- and
- v. an indication that the fuel is a fossil fuel.
A method of determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel provided to a gas turbine engine of an aircraft, the gas turbine engine forming part of a propulsion system, the method comprising:
- making an operational change, the operational change being effected by a controllable component of the propulsion system and arranged to affect operation of the gas turbine engine;
- sensing a response to the operational change;
- and
- determining the at least one fuel characteristic based on the response to the operational change,
- wherein:
- the response to the operational change comprises at least one of:
- (i) a change in power output from the gas turbine engine;
- (ii) a change in fuel degradation or coking;
- and
- (iii) a change in at least one pressure within the engine;
- and
- the at least one fuel characteristic comprises at least one of:
- i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;
- ii. sulphur content of the fuel;
- iii. oxygen content of the fuel;
- iv. thermal stability of the fuel;
- and
- v. an indication that the fuel is a fossil fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.