Showing papers on "Turbofan published in 2013"

Geared turbofan gas turbine engine architecture

Abstract: A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. A speed reduction device such as an epicyclical gear assembly may be utilized to drive the fan section such that the fan section may rotate at a speed different than the turbine section so as to increase the overall propulsive efficiency of the engine. In such engine architectures, a shaft driven by one of the turbine sections provides an input to the epicyclical gear assembly that drives the fan section at a speed different than the turbine section such that both the turbine section and the fan section can rotate at closer to optimal speeds providing increased performance attributes and performance by desirable combinations of the disclosed features of the various components of the described and disclosed gas turbine engine.

Blended Wing Body Systems Studies: Boundary Layer Ingestion Inlets with Active Flow Control

Abstract: A CFD analysis was performed on a Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft with advanced, turbofan engines analyzing various inlet configurations atop the aft end of the aircraft. The results are presented showing that the optimal design for best aircraft fuel efficiency would be a configuration with a partially buried engine, short offset diffuser using active flow control, and a D-shaped inlet duct that partially ingests the boundary layer air in flight. The CFD models showed that if active flow control technology can be satisfactorily developed, it might be able to control the inlet flow distortion to the engine fan face and reduce the powerplant performance losses to an acceptable level. The weight and surface area drag benefits of a partially submerged engine shows that it might offset the penalties of ingesting the low energy boundary layer air. The combined airplane performance of such a design might deliver approximately 5.5% better aircraft fuel efficiency over a conventionally designed, pod-mounted engine.

Rotating Rake Turbofan Duct Mode Measurement System

Abstract: An experimental measurement system was developed and implemented by the NASA Glenn Research Center in the 1990s to measure turbofan duct acoustic modes. The system is a continuously rotating radial microphone rake that is inserted into the duct. This rotating rake provides a complete map of the acoustic duct modes present in a ducted fan and has been used on a variety of test articles: from a low‐speed, concept test rig, to a full‐scale production turbofan engine. The rotating rake has been critical in developing and evaluating a number of noise reduction concepts as well as providing experimental databases for verification of several aero‐acoustic codes.

Multi-Fidelity Simulation of a Turbofan Engine with Results Zoomed Into Mini-Maps for a Zero-D Cycle Simulation

Abstract: A Zero-D cycle simulation of the GE90-94B high bypass turbofan engine has been achieved utilizing mini-maps generated from a high-fidelity simulation. The simulation utilizes the Numerical Propulsion System Simulation (NPSS) thermodynamic cycle modeling system coupled to a high-fidelity full-engine model represented by a set of coupled 3D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) component models. Boundary conditions from the balanced, steady state cycle model are used to define component boundary conditions in the full-engine model. Operating characteristics of the 3D component models are integrated into the cycle model via partial performance maps generated from the CFD flow solutions using one-dimensional mean line turbomachinery programs. This paper highlights the generation of the high-pressure compressor, booster, and fan partial performance maps, as well as turbine maps for the high pressure and low pressure turbine. These are actually "mini-maps" in the sense that they are developed only for a narrow operating range of the component. Results are compared between actual cycle data at a take-off condition and the comparable condition utilizing these mini-maps. The mini-maps are also presented with comparison to actual component data where possible.

Fan Noise Source Diagnostic Test: Rotor Alone Aerodynamic Performance Results

Abstract: The aerodynamic performance of an isolated fan or rotor alone model was measured in the NASA Glenn Research Center 9- by 15- Foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel as part of the Fan Broadband Source Diagnostic Test conducted at NASA Glenn. The Source Diagnostic Test was conducted to identify the noise sources within a wind tunnel scale model of a turbofan engine and quantify their contribution to the overall system noise level. The fan was part of a 1/5th scale model representation of the bypass stage of a current technology turbofan engine. For the rotor alone testing, the fan and nacelle, including the inlet, external cowl, and fixed area fan exit nozzle, were modeled in the test hardware; the internal outlet guide vanes located behind the fan were removed. Without the outlet guide vanes, the velocity at the nozzle exit changes significantly, thereby affecting the fan performance. As part of the investigation, variations in the fan nozzle area were tested in order to match as closely as possible the rotor alone performance with the fan performance obtained with the outlet guide vanes installed. The fan operating performance was determined using fixed pressure/temperature combination rakes and the corrected weight flow. The performance results indicate that a suitable nozzle exit was achieved to be able to closely match the rotor alone and fan/outlet guide vane configuration performance on the sea level operating line. A small shift in the slope of the sea level operating line was measured, which resulted in a slightly higher rotor alone fan pressure ratio at take-off conditions, matched fan performance at cutback conditions, and a slightly lower rotor alone fan pressure ratio at approach conditions. However, the small differences in fan performance at all fan conditions were considered too small to affect the fan acoustic performance.

Turboengine water wash system

Abstract: A system for cleaning gas turbine engines is described. More specifically, methods and apparatuses for cleaning stationary gas turbines and on-wing turbofan engines found on aircraft are disclosed that includes a trailer-mounted, automated low-pressure water delivery system, additive and detergent injection system, nozzle and manifold technology, and active waste water effluent collector system. The system will deliver the liquid cleaning medium at a specific pressure, temperature, and flow rate to optimize the atomization that occurs at the nozzles.

Gas turbine engine with improved fuel efficiency

Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan driven by a low pressure turbine through a gear reduction. The gear reduction has a gear ratio of greater than or equal to about 2.4. The low pressure turbine has an expansion ratio greater than or equal to about 5. The fan has a bypass ratio greater than or equal to about 8. In other features, a turbofan engine includes a variable geometry fan exit guide vane (FEGV) system having a multiple of circumferentially spaced radially extending fan exit guide vanes. Rotation of the fan exit guide vanes between a nominal position and a rotated position selectively changes a fan bypass flow path to permit efficient operation at various flight conditions.

High-Speed Turbofan Noise Reduction Using Foam-Metal Liner Over-the-Rotor

Abstract: A Williams International FJ44-3A turbofan engine was used to demonstrate the high-speed fan noise reduction potential of a foam-metal liner installed in close proximity to the fan rotor. The engine was tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center’s Aeroacoustic Propulsion Laboratory. Two foam-metal liner designs were tested and compared to the hardwall baseline. Traditional single degree-of-freedom liner designs were also evaluated to provide a comparison to the state-of-the art design. This report presents the test setup and documents the test conditions. Far-field acoustic levels and limited engine performance results are also presented. The results show that the foam-metal liner achieved up to 5 dB of attenuation in the forward-quadrant radiated-acoustic power levels, which is equivalent to the traditional single degree-of-freedom liner design. Modest changes in engine performance were noted.

Multidisciplinary Analysis of a Geared Fan Intercooled Core Aero-Engine

Abstract: The reduction of CO2 emissions is strongly linked with the improvement of engine specific fuel consumption, along with the reduction of engine nacelle drag and weight. One alternative design approach to improving specific fuel consumption is to consider a geared fan combined with an increased overall pressure ratio intercooled core performance cycle. The thermal benefits from intercooling have been well documented in the literature. Nevertheless, there is very little information available in the public domain with respect to design space exploration of such an engine concept when combined with a geared fan. The present work uses a multidisciplinary conceptual design tool to analyze the option of an intercooled core geared fan aero engine for long haul applications with a 2020 entry into service technology level assumption. With minimum mission fuel in mind, the results indicate as optimal values a pressure ratio split exponent of 0.38 and an intercooler mass flow ratio of 1.18 at hot-day top of climb conditions. At ISA midcruise conditions a specific thrust of 86 m/s, a jet velocity ratio of 0.83, an intercooler effectiveness of 56%, and an overall pressure ratio value of 76 are likely to be a good choice. A 70,000 lbf intercooled turbofan engine is large enough to make efficient use of an all-axial compression system, particularly within a geared fan configuration, but intercooling is perhaps more likely to be applied to even larger engines. The proposed optimal jet velocity ratio is actually higher than the value one would expect by using standard analytical expressions, primarily because this design variable affects core efficiency at midcruise due to a combination of several different subtle changes to the core cycle and core component efficiencies at this condition. The analytical expressions do not consider changes in core efficiency and the beneficial effect of intercooling on transfer efficiency, nor do they account for losses in the bypass duct and jet pipe, while a relatively detailed engine performance model, such as the one utilized in this study, does. Mission fuel results from a surrogate model are in good agreement with the results obtained from a rubberized-wing aircraft model for some of the design parameters. This indicates that it is possible to replace an aircraft model with specific fuel consumption and weight penalty exchange rates. Nevertheless, drag count exchange rates have to be utilized to properly assess changes in mission fuel for those design parameters that affect nacelle diameter.

Optimization Study of an Intercooled Recuperated Aero-Engine

Abstract: The design space of an intercooled recuperated aero-engine has been explored using detailed engine and aircraft performance, weight, and dimensions modeling. The design parameters of the engine fan, core, intercooler, recuperator, cooling-air ratio, and variable-geometry settings for the low-pressure turbine have been optimized for minimum mission fuel. Analysis shows that the improvement achieved in terms of performance against the datum design can be attributed primarily to an increase in thermal efficiency. A parametric study has also been carried out around the optimal design to understand the impact of the chosen design parameters on mission fuel burn. The study demonstrates in detail the substantially more complex interrelationship that the different fan design parameters have in terms of engine performance compared to what is typical for conventional turbofan designs. Furthermore, the optimal pressure ratio split between the low-pressure compressor and the high-pressure compressor aligns well with a previous analytical study. It is also revealed that the increased amount of cooling air required when a hot bleeding concept is adopted is in fact beneficial for mission fuel burn. Finally, the study concludes that the potential of using variable geometry in the low-pressure turbine for improving fuel burn is limited by the high-pressure turbine blade-metal temperature.

Engine Concept Study for an Advanced Single-Aisle Transport

Abstract: The desire for higher engine efficiency has resulted in the evolution of aircraft gas turbine engines from turbojets, to low bypass ratio, first generation turbofans, to today's high bypass ratio turbofans. Although increased bypass ratio has clear benefits in terms of propulsion system metrics such as specific fuel consumption, these benefits may not translate into aircraft system level benefits due to integration penalties. In this study, the design trade space for advanced turbofan engines applied to a single aisle transport (737/A320 class aircraft) is explored. The benefits of increased bypass ratio and associated enabling technologies such as geared fan drive are found to depend on the primary metrics of interest. For example, bypass ratios at which mission fuel consumption is minimized may not require geared fan technology. However, geared fan drive does enable higher bypass ratio designs which result in lower noise. The results of this study indicate the potential for the advanced aircraft to realize substantial improvements in fuel efficiency, emissions, and noise compared to the current vehicles in this size class.

Potential Benefits to Commercial Propulsion Systems from Pressure Gain Combustion

Abstract: A study was conducted to analyze the potential fuel burn benefits of pressure gain combustion technology applied to commercial aircraft. The propulsion systems of modern, large aircraft consist of either turboprop or turbofan engines with annular combustors; airflow through these combustors typically experiences a stagnation pressure drop around 4% which at the system level reduces the engine performance. Use of Pressure Gain Combustion can replace the pressure drop with a pressure rise around 15-20%. Properly used in a modern turbofan, this rise in fluid total pressure can reduce aircraft fuel consumption from 4-9%.

First and Second Law Analysis of Future Aircraft Engines

Abstract: An optimal baseline turbofan cycle designed for a performance level expected to be available around year 2050 is established. Detailed performance data are given in take-off, top of climb, and cruise to support the analysis. The losses are analyzed, based on a combined use of the first and second law of thermodynamics, in order to establish a basis for a discussion on future radical engine concepts and to quantify loss levels of very high performance engines. In light of the performance of the future baseline engine, three radical cycles designed to reduce the observed major loss sources are introduced. The combined use of a first and second law analysis of an open rotor engine, an intercooled recuperated engine, and an engine working with a pulse detonation combustion core is presented. In the past, virtually no attention has been paid to the systematic quantification of the irreversibility rates of such radical concepts. Previous research on this topic has concentrated on the analysis of the turbojet and the turbofan engine. In the developed framework, the irreversibility rates are quantified through the calculation of the exergy destruction per unit time. A striking strength of the analysis is that it establishes a common currency for comparing losses originating from very different physical sources of irreversibility. This substantially reduces the complexity of analyzing and comparing losses in aero engines. In particular, the analysis sheds new light on how the intercooled recuperated engine establishes its performance benefits.

Geared turbofan engine with high compressor exit temperature

Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan includes a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis. A compressor section includes at least a first compressor section and a second compressor section, wherein components of the second compressor section are configured to operate at an average exit temperature that is between about 1000° F. and about 1500° F. A combustor is in fluid communication with the compressor section. A turbine section is in fluid communication with the combustor. A geared architecture is driven by the turbine section for rotating the fan about the axis.

Modeling Commercial Turbofan Engine Icing Risk with Ice Crystal Ingestion

Abstract: The occurrence of ice accretion within commercial high bypass aircraft turbine engines has been reported under certain atmospheric conditions. Engine anomalies have taken place at high altitudes that have been attributed to ice crystal ingestion, partially melting, and ice accretion on the compression system components. The result was degraded engine performance, and one or more of the following: loss of thrust control (roll back), compressor surge or stall, and flameout of the combustor. As ice crystals are ingested into the fan and low pressure compression system, the increase in air temperature causes a portion of the ice crystals to melt. It is hypothesized that this allows the ice-water mixture to cover the metal surfaces of the compressor stationary components which leads to ice accretion through evaporative cooling. Ice accretion causes a blockage which subsequently results in the deterioration in performance of the compressor and engine. The focus of this research is to apply an engine icing computational tool to simulate the flow through a turbofan engine and assess the risk of ice accretion. The tool is comprised of an engine system thermodynamic cycle code, a compressor flow analysis code, and an ice particle melt code that has the capability of determining the rate of sublimation, melting, and evaporation through the compressor flow path, without modeling the actual ice accretion. A commercial turbofan engine which has previously experienced icing events during operation in a high altitude ice crystal environment has been tested in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) altitude test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center. The PSL has the capability to produce a continuous ice cloud which are ingested by the engine during operation over a range of altitude conditions. The PSL test results confirmed that there was ice accretion in the engine due to ice crystal ingestion, at the same simulated altitude operating conditions as experienced previously in flight. The computational tool was utilized to help guide a portion of the PSL testing, and was used to predict ice accretion could also occur at significantly lower altitudes. The predictions were qualitatively verified by subsequent testing of the engine in the PSL. The PSL test has helped to calibrate the engine icing computational tool to assess the risk of ice accretion. The results from the computer simulation identified prevalent trends in wet bulb temperature, ice particle melt ratio, and engine inlet temperature as a function of altitude for predicting engine icing risk due to ice crystal ingestion.

NASA Fixed Wing Project Propulsion Research and Technology Development Activities to Reduce Thrust Specific Energy Consumption

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of the propulsion research and technology portfolio of NASA Fundamental Aeronautics Program Fixed Wing Project. The research is aimed at significantly reducing the thrust specific fuel/energy consumption of notional advanced fixed wing aircraft (by 60 percent relative to a baseline Boeing 737-800 aircraft with CFM56-7B engines) in the 2030 to 2035 time frame. The research investments described herein are aimed at improving propulsive efficiency through higher bypass ratio fans, improving thermal efficiency through compact high overall pressure ratio gas generators, and exploring the potential benefits of boundary layer ingestion propulsion and hybrid gas-electric propulsion concepts.

Low noise turbine for geared turbofan engine

Abstract: A gas turbine engine is utilized in combination with a gear reduction to reduce the speed of a fan relative to a low pressure turbine speed. The gas turbine engine is designed such that a blade count in the low pressure turbine multiplied by the speed of the low pressure turbine will result in operational noise that is above a sensitive range for human hearing. A method and turbine module are also disclosed.

Conceptual Design and Structural Analysis of an Open Rotor Hybrid Wing Body Aircraft

Abstract: Through a recent NASA contract, Boeing Research and Technology in Huntington Beach, CA developed and optimized a conceptual design of an open rotor hybrid wing body aircraft (HWB). Open rotor engines offer a significant potential for fuel burn savings over turbofan engines, while the HWB configuration potentially allows to offset noise penalties through possible engine shielding. Researchers at NASA Langley converted the Boeing design to a FLOPS model which will be used to develop take-off and landing trajectories for community noise analyses. The FLOPS model was calibrated using Boeing data and shows good agreement with the original Boeing design. To complement Boeing s detailed aerodynamics and propulsion airframe integration work, a newly developed and validated conceptual structural analysis and optimization tool was used for a conceptual loads analysis and structural weights estimate. Structural optimization and weight calculation are based on a Nastran finite element model of the primary HWB structure, featuring centerbody, mid section, outboard wing, and aft body. Results for flight loads, deformations, wing weight, and centerbody weight are presented and compared to Boeing and FLOPS analyses.

Advanced Single-Aisle Transport Propulsion Design Options Revisited

Abstract: Future propulsion options for advanced single-aisle transports have been investigated in a number of previous studies by the authors. These studies have examined the system level characteristics of aircraft incorporating ultra-high bypass ratio (UHB) turbofans (direct drive and geared) and open rotor engines. During the course of these prior studies, a number of potential refinements and enhancements to the analysis methodology and assumptions were identified. This paper revisits a previously conducted UHB turbofan fan pressure ratio trade study using updated analysis methodology and assumptions. The changes incorporated have decreased the optimum fan pressure ratio for minimum fuel consumption and reduced the engine design trade-offs between minimizing noise and minimizing fuel consumption. Nacelle drag and engine weight are found to be key drivers in determining the optimum fan pressure ratio from a fuel efficiency perspective. The revised noise analysis results in the study aircraft being 2 to 4 EPNdB (cumulative) quieter due to a variety of reasons explained in the paper. With equal core technology assumed, the geared engine architecture is found to be as good as or better than the direct drive architecture for most parameters investigated. However, the engine ultimately selected for a future advanced single-aisle aircraft will depend on factors beyond those considered here.

Thrust efficient turbofan engine

Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow with higher energy per unit mass flow than that contained in the ambient air and a power turbine that converts the gas stream flow into shaft power. The turbofan engine further includes a propulsor section including a fan driven by the power turbine through a geared architecture at a second speed lower than the first speed for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path. An Engine Unit Thrust Parameter defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first rotational speed of the power turbine is less than about 0.15 at a take-off condition.

Progress In Gas Turbine Performance

Abstract: Public awareness and political concern over the environmental impact of the growth in civil aviation over the past 30 years have intensified industry efforts to address CO2 emissions [5]. CO2 emissions are directly proportional to aircraft fuel burn and one way to minimise the latter is by having engines with reduced Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) and installations that minimise nacelle drag and weight. Significant factors affecting SFC are propulsive efficiency and thermal efficiency. Propulsive efficiency has been improved by designing turbofan engines with bigger fans to give lower specific thrust (net thrust divided by fan inlet mass flow) until increased engine weight and nacelle drag have started to outweigh the benefits. Thermal efficiency has been improved mainly by increasing the Overall Pressure Ratio (OPR) and Turbine Entry Temperature (TET) to the extent possible with new materials and design technologies.

A Demonstration of a Retrofit Architecture for Intelligent Control and Diagnostics of a Turbofan Engine

Abstract: A retrofit architecture for intelligent turbofan engine control and diagnostics that changes the fan speed command to maintain thrust is proposed and its demonstration in a piloted flight simulator is described. The objective of the implementation is to increase the level of autonomy of the propulsion system, thereby reducing pilot workload in the presence of anomalies and engine degradation due to wear. The main functions of the architecture are to diagnose the cause of changes in the engine s operation, warning the pilot if necessary, and to adjust the outer loop control reference signal in response to the changes. This requires that the retrofit control architecture contain the capability to determine the changed relationship between fan speed and thrust, and the intelligence to recognize the cause of the change in order to correct it or warn the pilot. The proposed retrofit architecture is able to determine the fan speed setting through recognition of the degradation level of the engine, and it is able to identify specific faults and warn the pilot. In the flight simulator it was demonstrated that when degradation is introduced into an engine with standard fan speed control, the pilot needs to take corrective action to maintain heading. Utilizing the intelligent retrofit control architecture, the engine thrust is automatically adjusted to its expected value, eliminating yaw without pilot intervention.

Mean Flow and Noise Prediction for a Separate Flow Jet with Chevron Mixers

Abstract: Experimental and numerical results are presented here for a separate flow nozzle employing chevrons arranged in an alternating pattern on the core nozzle. Comparisons of these results demonstrate that the combination of the WIND/MGBK suite of codes can predict the noise reduction trends measured between separate flow jets with and without chevrons on the core nozzle. Mean flow predictions were validated against Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), pressure, and temperature data, and noise predictions were validated against acoustic measurements recorded in the NASA Glenn Aeroacoustic Propulsion Lab. Comparisons are also made to results from the CRAFT code. The work presented here is part of an on-going assessment of the WIND/MGBK suite for use in designing the next generation of quiet nozzles for turbofan engines.

Reverse core gear turbofan

Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan at an axially outer location. The fan rotates about an axis of rotation. The fan delivers air into an outer bypass duct, and across a booster fan positioned radially inwardly of the outer bypass duct. The booster fan delivers air into a radially middle duct, and across a cold turbine into a radially inner core duct being directed into a compressor. From the compressor, air flows axially in a direction back toward the fan through a combustor section, and across an exhaust of the turbine section as directed into the middle duct. A gear reduction drives the fan from a fan drive turbine section. A method is also disclosed.

Aligned and Unaligned Coherence: A New Diagnostic Tool

Abstract: The study of combustion noise from turbofan engines has become important again as the noise from other sources like the fan and jet are reduced. A method has been developed to help identify combustion noise spectra using an aligned and unaligned coherence technique. When used with the well known three signal coherent power method and coherent power method it provides new information by separating tonal information from random process information. Examples are presented showing the underlying tonal structure which is buried under broadband noise and jet noise. The method is applied to data from a Pratt and Whitney PW4098 turbofan engine.

Aircraft Engine Performance Study Using Flight Data Recorder Archives

Abstract: Aircraft emissions are a significant source of pollution and are closely related to engine fuel burn. The onboard Flight Data Recorder (FDR) is an accurate source of information as it logs operational aircraft data in situ. The main objective of this paper is the visualization and exploration of data from the FDR. The Airbus A330 223 is used to study the variation of normalized engine performance parameters with the altitude profile in all the phases of flight. A turbofan performance analysis model is employed to calculate the theoretical thrust and it is shown to be a good qualitative match to the FDR reported thrust. The operational thrust settings and the times in mode are found to differ significantly from the ICAO standard values in the LTO cycle. This difference can lead to errors in the calculation of aircraft emission inventories. This paper is the first step towards the accurate estimation of engine performance and emissions for different aircraft and engine types, given the trajectory of an aircraft.

Ultra high bypass ratio turbofan engine

Abstract: An ultra high bypass ratio turbofan engine includes a variable pitch fan, a low pressure turbine, a reduction gearbox, and a plurality of outlet guide vanes. The ultra high bypass ratio turbofan engine has a bypass ratio between about 18 and about 40. The variable pitch fan and the low pressure turbine are coupled together by the reduction gearbox. The reduction gearbox reduces the speed of the variable pitch fan relative to the low pressure turbine. The plurality of outlet guide vanes are spaced aft of the variable pitch fan and are axially swept. The variable pitch fan and the low pressure turbine are configured to generate a fan pressure ratio between about 1.15 and about 1.24.

Modelling and Analysis of Turbofan Engines Under Windmilling Conditions

Abstract: Engine windmilling and relight performance is a matter of safety in aviation. Two of the most important properties that engine designers must have a feeling for, even from the very early design stages, are the windmilling engine mass flow and internal drag. However, only empirical approaches are available so far to perform such studies. This work is focused on the development and validation of a first principles methodology for the prediction of the aforementioned properties, based on the simple frictional flow theory. Considerations about the modeling of the pressure loss factors are also made. Validation of the method is carried out by comparing the predicted windmilling drag and mass flow against test data of several high-bypass civil engines for a typical range of operating conditions. The results compare favorably with the test data, proving the robustness and reliability of this approach. Fully dimensionless parameters are defined to describe the windmilling performance, independent of the engine de...

A Methodology to Improve the Robustness of Gas Turbine Engine Performance Monitoring Against Sensor Faults

Abstract: For turbine engine performance monitoring purposes, system identification techniques are often used to adapt a turbine engine simulation model to some measurements performed while the engine is in service. Doing so, the simulation model is adapted through a set of so-called health parameters whose values are intended to represent a faithful image of the actual health condition of the engine. For the sake of low computational burden, the problem of random errors contaminating the measurements is often considered to be zero mean, white, and Gaussian random variables. However, when a sensor fault occurs, the measurement errors no longer satisfy the Gaussian assumption and the results given by the system identification rapidly become unreliable. The present contribution is dedicated to the development of a diagnosis tool based on a Kalman filter whose structure is slightly modified in order to accommodate sensor malfunctions. The benefit in terms of the diagnostic reliability of the resulting tool is illustrated on several sensor faults that may be encountered on a current turbofan layout.