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US 2013/0220004 A1Published application
Debris detection in turbomachinery and gas turbine engines
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAlan H. Epstein, Elizabeth A. Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exemplary debris detection method according to one example embodiment of the present disclosure includes, among other things, monitoring turbomachine performance, and initiating a debris warning when an actual rate of change in turbomachine performance varies from a predicted rate of change in the performance.
Claims20
A debris detection method, comprising:
- (a) monitoring turbomachine performance;
- and
- (b) initiating a debris warning when an actual rate of change in turbomachine performance varies from a predicted rate of change in the performance.
A volcanic ash detection method, comprising:
- (a) monitoring a rate of change in a surge margin of an engine during operation of the engine;
- and
- (b) initiating a warning indicating a detection of volcanic ash when an actual rate of change in the surge margin varies from a predicted rate of change in the surge line.
A debris monitoring system, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors that monitor conditions of an engine, the conditions indicating a rate of change in a turbine flow area of an engine, a rate of change in the efficiency of the engine, a rate of change in the compressor efficiency of the engine, a rate of change in the turbine efficiency, or some combination of these;
- a warning device;
- and
- a controller that is operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and the warning mechanism, the controller configured to initiate a warning of debris using the warning device.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.