Master-slave engine bleed flow sharing control method and system

A system for substantially equalizing the flow of bleed air extracted from a plurality of engines for delivery to a common bleed air duct, comprising:

• common pressure sensor means for measuring pressure of bleed air of said common bleed air duct and generating a measured pressure signal;
• a master channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from a master engine to said common bleed air duct, said master channel comprising:
• master valve means for receiving bleed air supply from said master engine and regulating bleed air supply pressure;
• master flow sensor means coupled to said master valve means for measuring bleed air flow and generating a master flow signal;
• master controller means for controlling said master valve means by comparing a predetermined pressure signal with said
• measured pressure signal;
• a slave channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from a slave engine to a common bleed air duct;
• slave valve means for receiving bleed air from said slave engine and regulating one of pressure of bleed airflow and valve opening area;
• slave flow sensor means for measuring bleed airflow and generating a slave flow signal;
• slave controller means for controlling said slave valve means, by comparing said master flow signal with said slave flow signal.

A system for substantially equalizing the flow of bleed air extracted from a plurality of engines for delivery to a common bleed air duct, comprising:

• a master channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from a master engine to said common bleed air duct, said master channel comprising:
• a master valve disposed to receive bleed air supply from said master engine and regulate pressure of bleed air supply in said master channel;
• a common pressure sensor disposed downstream from said master valve to measure pressure of bleed air of said master channel and generate a measured pressure signal;
• a master flow sensor disposed downstream from said master valve to measure bleed air flow of said master channel to generate a master flow signal;
• a master controller disposed to control said master valve, by comparing a predetermined pressure signal with said measured pressure signal to generate a master error signal;
• at least one slave channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from at least one slave engine to a common bleed air duct;
• a slave valve disposed to receive bleed air from said slave engine and regulate one of pressure of bleed air flow and valve opening area in said slave channel;
• a slave flow sensor disposed downstream from said slave valve to measure bleed air flow of said slave channel and generate a slave flow signal;
• a slave controller disposed to control said slave valve, by comparing said master flow signal with said slave flow signal to generate a slave error signal.

A system for substantially equalizing the flow of bleed air extracted from a plurality of engines for delivery to a common bleed air duct, comprising:

• a master channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from a master engine to said common bleed air duct, said master channel comprising:
• master valve means for receiving bleed air from said master engine and regulating pressure of bleed air flow in said master channel;
• master pressure sensor means for measuring pressure of said master channel and generating a measured pressure signal;
• master flow sensor means coupled to said master valve means for measuring bleed air flow of said master channel and generating a master flow signal;
• master controller means for controlling said master valve means by comparing a predetermined pressure signal with said measured pressure signal;
• a slave channel disposed to pass engine bleed air from a slave engine to a common bleed air duct;
• slave valve means for receiving bleed air from said slave engine and regulating one of pressure of bleed air flow and valve/actuator opening area in said slave channel;
• slave flow-sensor means for measuring bleed airflow of said slave channel and generating a slave flow signal;
• slave controller means for controlling said slave valve means, by comparing said master flow signal with said slave flow signal.

A method of substantially equalizing bleed air flow of a plurality of channels from a plurality of engines to a common air duct, comprising the steps of:

• a) designating a master channel and a plurality of slave channels from among said channels;
• b) obtaining master error signal based on a difference between pressure at said common air duct and a predetermined setpoint pressure;
• c) regulating pressure of said master channel by using said master error signal;
• d) measuring airflow rate of said master channel to generate master airflow rate;
• e) measuring airflow rate of each slave channel to generate slave airflow rate;
• f) obtaining slave error signal based on a difference between said master airflow rate and said slave airflow rate of a corresponding slave channel;
• g) regulating one of pressure and valve/actuator opening area of each slave channel by using said slave error signal.

A method of substantially equalizing bleed air flow of a plurality of channels from a plurality of engines to a common air duct, comprising the steps of:

• a) designating a master channel and a plurality of slave channels from among said channels;
• b) obtaining master error signal based on a difference between pressure at said master channel and a predetermined setpoint pressure;
• c) regulating pressure of said master channel by using said master error signal;
• d) measuring airflow rate of said master channel to generate master airflow rate;
• e) measuring airflow rate of each slave channel to generate slave airflow rate;
• f) obtaining slave error signal based on a difference between said master airflow rate and said slave airflow rate of a corresponding slave channel;
• g) regulating one of pressure and valve/actuator opening area of each slave channel by using said slave error signal.