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US 12,331,648 B2Granted
Detecting engine exhaust debris using saturation current
AssigneeRtx Corporation
InventorsJeremiah C. Lee, Daniel McMenamin, Alek Gavrilovski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method is provided for an engine. During this method, a saturation current of a gas flow is measured. The gas flow includes combustion products generated by the engine. The saturation current is monitored to determine presence of debris entrained within the gas flow.
Claims18
A method for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine comprising a combustor section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section, the method comprising:
- measuring a saturation current of a gas flow using one or more saturation current probes, the one or more saturation current probes arranged downstream of the combustor section, the gas flow comprising combustion products generated by the engine;
- monitoring the saturation current to determine presence of debris entrained within the gas flow;
- and
- providing an indicator when debris is detected within the gas flow.
1 more element
A method for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- directing a gas flow through a gap between a plurality of electrodes, the gas flow comprising combustion products generated by combustion of a fuel-air mixture within the gas turbine engine;
- directing electrical potential across the gap through the gas flow between the plurality of electrodes;
- varying a voltage of the electrical potential directed across the gap;
- measuring a saturation current of the electrical potential directed across the gap as the voltage is varied, using one or more saturation current probes;
- determining presence of debris particles entrained within the gas flow based on the saturation current;
- and
- providing a notification when debris particles are detected within the gas flow.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.