US 12,241,426 B2
Systems and methods of controlling load share and speed of engines in multiple-engine propulsion systems
Christopher David King, Salem, MA (US); and Jessie Thorup, Malden, MA (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 3, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/238,777.
Prior Publication US 2020/0217253 A1, Jul. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. F02D 25/00 (2006.01); F02D 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC F02D 25/00 (2013.01) [F02D 29/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An engine control system, comprising:
a memory device and a processor, wherein the memory device comprises computer-executable instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the engine control system to perform a method of controlling load share between a plurality of engines of a multiple engine propulsion system, comprising at least a first engine and a second engine, the method comprising:
determining, during operation of the multiple engine propulsion system, a load difference between a first load of the first engine and a second load of the second engine;
determining, during operation of the multiple engine propulsion system, a load share participation value indicative of a load share participation regime for the first engine, the load share participation value depending at least in part on one or more operating conditions of the second engine, wherein the load share participation value is determined to be one of:
a full-participation load share regime when the one or more operating conditions of the second engine indicate that the second engine is operating normally and is capable of control to reduce the load difference by actuating any of a plurality of controllable components of the second engine;
a partial-participation load share regime when the one or more operating conditions of the second engine indicate that the second engine has at least one first abnormal operating condition in which only a subset of the plurality of controllable components of the second engine may be utilized to reduce the load difference; and
a non-participation load share regime when the one or more operating conditions of the second engine indicate that the second engine has at least one second abnormal operating condition in which none of the plurality of controllable components of the second engine may be utilized to reduce the load difference and is incapable of control to reduce the load difference based on the at least one second abnormal operating condition;
generating, during operation of the multiple engine propulsion system, a load sharing requirement control command for the first engine based on the load share participation value, wherein:
when the load share participation value is a partial-participation load share regime, the load sharing requirement control command includes at least one control command configured to control the first engine to reduce the load difference subject to at least one limitation on decreasing the first load of the first engine; and
controlling the first engine based at least in part on the load sharing requirement control command to thereby reduce the load difference.