Mass flow metering method and system
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsCharles E. Reuter, Gerald P. Dyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel supply system includes a low flow circuit that branches off parallel to the main flow circuit from the upstream main flow line upstream of the metering valve and has an upstream low flow line having a line connected to an orifice having an upstream side and a downstream side. The downstream side of the orifice is connected to a mass flow meter. A return low flow line is downstream of the mass flow meter and connected into the downstream main flow line at a downstream point. A controller is programmed to take in a low flow circuit mass flow measured by the mass flow meter, and calculate a main mass flow through the main flow circuit and the total mass flow delivered to the engine. A gas turbine engine and a method of operation are also disclosed.
Claims20
A fuel supply system comprising:
- a main flow circuit having an upstream main flow line leading to a metering valve, and a downstream main flow line downstream of the metering valve for connection to a gas turbine engine;
- a low flow circuit branched off from the main flow line, upstream of the metering valve and having a line connected to an orifice having an upstream side and a downstream side, and the downstream side of the orifice being connected to a mass flow meter, a return low flow line downstream of the mass flow meter and connected into the downstream main flow line at a downstream point;
- and
- a controller programmed to take in a low flow circuit mass flow measured by the mass flow meter, and calculate a main mass flow through the main flow circuit.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and a fuel supply system;
- the fuel supply system supplying fuel to the combustor, the fuel supply system having a main flow circuit having an upstream main flow line leading to a metering valve, and a downstream main flow line downstream of the metering valve for connection to the combustor;
- a low flow circuit branched off from the main flow line upstream of the metering valve and having a line connected to an orifice having an upstream side and a downstream side, and the downstream side of said orifice being connected to a mass flow meter, a return low flow line downstream of the mass flow meter and connected into the downstream main flow line at a downstream point;
- and
- a controller programmed to take in a low flow circuit mass flow measured by the mass flow meter, and calculate a main mass flow through the main flow circuit.
A method of operating a fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine including the step of:
- providing a main flow circuit having an upstream main flow line leading to a metering valve, and a downstream main flow line downstream of the metering valve connected to a gas turbine engine;
- providing a low flow circuit branched off from the main flow line upstream of the metering valve and having a line connected to an orifice having an upstream side and a downstream side, and the downstream side of the orifice being connected to a mass flow meter, a return low flow line downstream of the mass flow meter and connected into the downstream main flow line at a downstream point;
- and
- using a low flow circuit mass flow measured by the mass flow meter to calculate a main mass flow through the main flow circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.