Scheduling of variable area fan nozzle to optimize engine performance
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsMatthew D. Teicholz, Paul H. Spiesman, Christopher J. Hanlon, John R. Gendron, Glenn D. Bartkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disclosed control system for a gas turbine engine includes a controller configured to set a position of the variable area fan nozzle according to a predetermined schedule of variable area fan nozzle positions corresponding to a flight operating condition. The schedule is determined in view of a relationship between a position of the variable area nozzle and a performance level of the engine at current flight conditions.
Claims16
A control system for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan nacelle including variable area nozzle for regulating airflow through a bypass duct;
- an actuator coupled to the variable area nozzle for regulating air flow by positioning the variable area nozzle;
- and
- a controller configured to set a position of the variable area fan nozzle according to a predetermined schedule of variable area fan nozzle positions corresponding to a flight operating condition.
A method of defining a schedule of positions for a variable area fan nozzle of a gas turbine engine comprising:
- constraining a characteristic of engine operation;
- defining a relationship between a position of the variable area nozzle and a performance level of the engine with the constrained engine operating characteristic;
- relating the position of the variable area nozzle for the performance level of the engine to a flight condition;
- defining a set of commands executable by a controller of the variable area fan nozzle for moving the variable area fan nozzle to the position related to the flight condition;
- and
- programming a controller to include the defined set of commands and to move the variable area fan nozzle to the position related to the performance level of the engine responsive to a flight condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.