SBIR Phase I: Active Control of Gas Turbine Engines Using Eddy Current Sensors

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将利用通用动力先进技术系统(GDATS)涡流传感器(ECS)阵列开发用于主动控制叶片振动和发动机稳定性(失速和喘振)的算法。对飞机机动性和效率的日益增长的需求促使发动机设计者生产更轻的发动机，这些发动机将不得不在稳态和动态发动机表面扭曲程度增加的情况下运行。这样的发动机需要主动控制系统才能安全运行。该提出者与GDATS密切合作，积极参与开发用于检测发动机故障的信号分析和诊断工具。我们将利用ECS正在开发的诊断工具来开发主动控制算法。目前的ECS诊断工具已经能够提供叶尖间隙曲线，以及振动和失速指示器。我们建议将ECS系统的功能从诊断扩展到燃气轮机的主动和自动实时控制。从这个项目中，我们期望开发出利用GDATS ECS阵列的燃气轮机叶片振动和稳定性的主动控制算法。GDATS ECS阵列是目前最受欢迎的安装在联合攻击战斗机上的传感器系统。能够使用ECS数据计算必要的指标并估计主动振动和发动机稳定性控制所需的干扰的软件系统升级将是非常理想的。如果能够做到这一点，它将减少主动控制所需的新传感器的数量，从而潜在地节省数百万美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will address the development of algorithms for active control of blade vibration and engine stability (stall and surge) using the General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems (GDATS) eddy current sensor (ECS) array. The increased demand for aircraft maneuverability and efficiency drive the engine designers to produce lighter engines that will have to operate in the presence of increased levels of steady-state and dynamic engine-face distortion. Such engines demand active control systems for safe operation. Working closely with GDATS, the proposer has been actively involved in the development of signal analysis and diagnostic tools for the detection of engine faults. We shall leverage this ongoing development of diagnostics tools for the ECS in the development of active control algorithms. Current ECS diagnostic tools are already able to provide tip clearance profiles, as well as vibration and stall indicators. We propose to extend the functionality of the ECS system beyond diagnostics to active and automatic real-time control of gas turbine engines. From this project we expect to develop algorithms for active control of gas turbine engine blade vibration and stability that make use of the GDATS ECS array. The GDATS ECS array is currently the favored sensor system for installation on the Joint Strike Fighter. A software system upgrade capable of using ECS data to compute the necessary indicators and estimate the disturbances needed for active vibration and engine stability control will be highly desirable. If this can be accomplished it will reduce the number of new sensors needed for active control, thus potentially saving millions of dollars.