Power plants – Combustion products used as motive fluid – Process
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-31
2003-09-30
Koczo, Michael (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Combustion products used as motive fluid
Process
C060S223000, C701S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06625987
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention concerns control systems for gas turbine engines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a gas turbine engine used to power an aircraft, malfunctions sometimes occur. While many malfunctions are minor, some are significant enough to reduce thrust of the engine to a large degree. For example, if the engine ingests a large bird, damage can occur which significantly compromises the thrust-producing ability of the engine. As another example, a missile fired by a terrorist can produce similar damage, or worse. As a third example, during take-off, the engine can ingest debris left on a runway.
In such cases, the pilot can take at least two strategies. One is to continue operation of the engine, but at the reduced thrust level. The second is to shut down the engine. The invention provides another strategy for operating a malfunctioning gas turbine engine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form of the invention, a system detects damage in a gas turbine engine, as by detecting a lower-than-expected amount of thrust. When the damage is detected, the invention then takes measures to exchange (1) future lifetime of the engine for (2) present thrust.
For example, the invention may increase a limit on speed of a particular rotor, which consumes lifetime of the rotor and other components, but produces larger thrust presently. As another example, a limit on turbine inlet temperature may be raised, which again consumes lifetime of components, but produces larger thrust presently.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3771314 (1973-11-01), Rose, Jr. et al.
patent: 3937588 (1976-02-01), Kisslan
patent: 4249238 (1981-02-01), Spang et al.
patent: 5072580 (1991-12-01), Patterson et al.
patent: 5622045 (1997-04-01), Weimer et al.
patent: 5887419 (1999-03-01), Rowe et al.
Conaty James Patrick
Pisano Alan David
Sequeira Sabrina Anne
Wiseman Matthew William
Andes William Scott
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
General Electric Co.
Koczo Michael
Reeser III Robert B.
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