Adaptive fuel manifold filling function for improved engine start
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorSylvain Lamarre
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is described a system and method for filling an engine fuel manifold. An adaptive filling function is used to determine a flow rate at which fuel is to be delivered to the fuel manifold. The filling function receives as an input a present measurement of the engine's speed and computes the flow rate accordingly. The fuel manifold may then be filled according to the computed flow rate so as to match the engine's speed. Appropriate fuel/air ration conditions can therefore be achieved for successful engine start.
Claims19
A system for filling a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a memory;
- a receiving unit adapted to receive an activation signal indicative of a requested start of the gas turbine engine and a present measurement of a speed of the gas turbine engine;
- and
- a processing unit coupled to the memory, the processing unit adapted to trigger, upon receipt of the activation signal, an adaptive filling function for the fuel manifold, to match a flow rate of fuel into the manifold with the speed of the gas turbine engine for engine light-up, the adaptive filling function comprising:
- computing from the received measurement the flow rate of fuel to be supplied to the fuel manifold for filling thereof prior to the gas turbine engine start;
- and
- generating an output signal for causing delivery of the fuel to the fuel manifold according to the computed flow rate.
A method for filling a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- receiving an activation signal indicative of a requested start of the engine and a present measurement of a speed of the gas turbine engine;
- and
- triggering, upon receipt of the activation signal, an adaptive filling function for the fuel manifold, to match a flow rate of fuel into the manifold with the speed of the gas turbine engine for engine light-up, the adaptive filling function comprising:
- computing from the received measurement the flow rate of fuel to be supplied to the fuel manifold for filling thereof prior to gas turbine engine start;
- and
- generating an output signal for causing delivery of the fuel to the fuel manifold according to the computed flow rate.
A system for filling a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- means for receiving an activation signal indicative of a requested start of the gas turbine engine and a present measurement of a speed of the gas turbine engine;
- and
- means for triggering, upon receipt of the activation signal, an adaptive filling function for the fuel manifold, to match a flow rate of fuel into the manifold with the speed of the gas turbine engine for engine light-up, the adaptive filling function comprising:
- computing from the received measurement the flow rate of fuel to be supplied to the fuel manifold for filling thereof prior to gas turbine engine start;
- and
- generating an output signal for causing delivery of the fuel to the fuel manifold according to the computed flow rate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.