Fuel control system
AssigneeThe Garrett Corporation
InventorCharles H. La Grone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas turbine fuel control system for controlling the acceleration of an engine during start-up which permits the engine to accelerate substantially along its required-to-run line. Fuel flow to the engine is controlled by a speed governor, and means are included to gradually increase the speed set point of the governor in relation to elapsed time of the start-up period.
Claims13
A method of accelerating a gas turbine engine having a minimum power requirement schedule for overcoming engine inertia and the like to sustain different engine speeds, said engine having a corresponding acceleration upon the developing power along said minimum power schedule, said method comprising the steps of:
- sensing engine speed;
- adjusting fuel flow to the engine in response to the sensed speed to maintain the engine at a preselected speed;
- and
- increasing said preselected speed at a rate slower than said corresponding acceleration.
A method of accelerating a gas turbine engine having a required-to-run line performance characteristic, comprising the steps of:
- sensing engine speed;
- adjusting fuel flow to the engine in response to the sensed speed to maintain the engine at a preselected speed;
- and
- increasing said preselected speed at a rate sufficiently slow whereby the engine accelerates substantially along its required-to-run line.
In a method for controlling fuel flow to a gas turbine engine during a start-up period encompassing acceleration of the engine to approximately its rated speed, wherein the improvement comprises the step of:
- adjusting fuel flow to the engine in relatin to the cumulative number of revolutions of the engine during said start-up period.
A method of controlling fuel flow to a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:
- moving a metering member to adjustably meter fuel flow to the engine;
- generating signals indicative of actual and desired engine speeds;
- exerting a first force on said metering member in relation to the signal indicative of actual engine speed;
- exerting a second force on said metering member in opposition to said first force and in relation to the signal indicative of desired engine speed;
- and
- automatically adjusting the value of said signal indicative of desired engine speed in relation to the cumulative number of revolutions of the engine during start-up of the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.