Approach to extending life of gas turbine engine
AssigneeGeneral Electri Company
InventorSridhar Adibhatla
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for increasing lifetimes of components in a gas turbine engine. Ordinarily, components are replaced after they experience a certain number of thermal cycles, or a certain operating temperature limit is exceeded. Under one form of the invention, the components are not replaced at that time, but are subjected to increased cooling, which decreases the highest temperature reached in subsequent thermal cycles. Also, many components are replaced when acceleration of an engine falls below a target. In one form of the invention, the components are not replaced, but (1) fuel schedule is increased and (2) compressor stall margin also increased, in order to attain the target acceleration.
Claims12
A system, comprising:
- a) a gas turbine engine in which fuel flow is controlled according to one, or more, fuel schedules;
- b) a testing system for ascertaining whether engine acceleration controlled by a given fuel schedule meets a target acceleration and, if not, raising the given fuel schedule for subsequent accelerations.
A system for operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a) a gas turbine engine in which fuel flow is controlled according to one, or more, fuel schedules stored in a control system;
- b) an acceleration system for demanding an acceleration in the engine, wherein fuel flow is scheduled according to a given fuel schedule stored in the control system;
- and
- c) a testing system for ascertaining whether engine acceleration controlled by the given fuel schedule meets a target and, if not, raising the given fuel schedule in the control system for subsequent accelerations.
A system for operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a) a gas turbine engine in which fuel flow is controlled according to one, or more, fuel schedules stored in a control system;
- b) an acceleration system for demanding an acceleration in the engine, wherein fuel flow is scheduled according to a given fuel schedule stored in the control system;
- and
- c) a testing system for ascertaining whether engine acceleration controlled by the given fuel schedule meets a target and, if not, modifying the fuel schedule to increase fuel flow beyond the amount determined by an unmodified or previously modified stored fuel schedule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.