초록 ▼

A controller receives a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted by a single-spool turboshaft engine to a controllable load. A torque command determined responsive to a measure of inlet pressure, from a control schedule responsive to the power-level command, is repres

A controller receives a power-level command representative of a level of power to be transmitted by a single-spool turboshaft engine to a controllable load. A torque command determined responsive to a measure of inlet pressure, from a control schedule responsive to the power-level command, is representative of a level of torque to be transmitted by an element to drive the controllable load. Under some operating conditions, a rotational speed command provides for at least nearly minimizing a measure of associated fuel consumption when the transmitted torque is regulated to the level corresponding to the torque command by controlling one of the controllable load and a fuel flow to the engine, and the other of the controllable load and the fuel flow to the engine is controlled so as to regulate an associated rotational speed to a level corresponding to the rotational speed command.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load, comprising: a. an inlet-pressure-sensor input that provides for receiving an inlet-air-pressure signal from an inlet-air-pressure sensor indicative of a pressure of air being inlet to s

1. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load, comprising: a. an inlet-pressure-sensor input that provides for receiving an inlet-air-pressure signal from an inlet-air-pressure sensor indicative of a pressure of air being inlet to said single-spool turboshaft engine;b. an inlet-air-temperature-sensor input that provides for receiving an inlet-air-temperature signal from an inlet-air-temperature sensor indicative of a temperature of said air being inlet to said single-spool turboshaft engine;c. a power-level input that provides for receiving a power-level-input command signal;d. a processor operatively coupled to an associated memory, wherein i. said processor provides for determining a corrected torque command signal responsive to both said inlet-air-pressure signal and said power-level-input command signal,ii. said corrected torque command signal is representative of a level of torque to be transmitted by an element operatively connecting said single-spool turboshaft engine to said controllable load so as to drive said controllable load,iii. said processor provides for determining a rotational speed command signal representative of a rotational speed responsive to an engine speed of said single-spool turboshaft engine,iv. for at least one mode of operation: a) said rotational speed command signal is responsive to a corrected rotational speed command signal responsive to said corrected torque command signal,b) said processor provides for generating and outputting a torque command to one of said single-spool turboshaft engine or said controllable load, wherein said torque command is responsive to said corrected torque command signal and to said inlet-air-pressure signal, andc) said processor provides for generating and outputting a rotational speed command to the other of said single-spool turboshaft engine and said controllable load, wherein said rotational speed command is responsive to said corrected rotational speed command signal and to said inlet-air-temperature signal. 2. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 1, wherein said corrected rotational speed command signal responsive to said corrected torque command signal provides for minimizing or nearly minimizing a measure of fuel consumption of said single-spool turboshaft engine. 3. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 1, wherein said single-spool turboshaft engine is configured to provide a source of propulsion for an aircraft, further comprising at least one input from or responsive to at least one sensor providing for an indication of whether said aircraft is likely operating at an altitude above ground less than a threshold altitude level above ground, and said rotational speed command signal is responsive to whether or not said aircraft is likely operating at said altitude above ground less than said threshold altitude level above ground. 4. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor providing for said indication of whether said aircraft is likely operating at said altitude above ground less than said threshold altitude level above ground comprises a RADAR or LIDAR sensor that provides for directly measuring said altitude above ground of said aircraft. 5. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor providing for said indication of whether said aircraft is likely operating at said altitude above ground less than said threshold altitude level above ground comprises: a. a navigation sensor in cooperation with an associated map database that provides at least a measure of an elevation of said ground below said aircraft, andb. either an altimeter of said aircraft or said navigation sensor that provides a measure of said altitude above ground of said aircraft. 6. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor providing for said indication of whether said aircraft is likely operating at said altitude above ground less than said threshold altitude level above ground comprises a Landing Gear Down and Locked (GDAL) sensor that provides for indicating whether or not a landing gear of said aircraft is down and locked. 7. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor providing for an indication of whether said aircraft is likely operating at an altitude above ground less than a threshold altitude level above ground comprises a weight-on-wheels sensor that provides for indicating whether or not said aircraft is supported by a landing gear of said aircraft. 8. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 7, wherein when said weight-on-wheels sensor provides an indication that said aircraft is supported by said landing gear of said aircraft AND said power-level-input command signal corresponds to less than a takeoff level of power of said single-spool turboshaft engine, then said rotational speed command signal is responsive to said corrected rotational speed command signal responsive to said corrected torque command signal, and said corrected rotational speed command signal responsive to said corrected torque command signal provides for minimizing or nearly minimizing a measure of fuel consumption of said single-spool turboshaft engine. 9. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 7, wherein when said weight-on-wheels sensor provides an indication that said aircraft is not supported by said landing gear of said aircraft AND one other of said at least one sensor provides either an indication that said landing gear of said aircraft is down and locked OR an indication that said aircraft is likely operating at an altitude above ground less than a threshold altitude level, then said rotational speed command signal provides for said rotational speed used for takeoff of said aircraft. 10. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 1, further comprising a torque control system that provides for controlling a torque from said single-spool turboshaft engine to said controllable load by controlling one of a fuel flow to said single-spool turboshaft engine or a load level of said controllable load. 11. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 10, further comprising a torque sensor operatively associated with said torque control system, wherein said torque sensor provides to said torque control system a measure of torque transmitted by said element operatively coupling said single-spool turboshaft engine to said controllable load. 12. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 10, further comprising a torque estimator operatively associated with said torque control system, wherein said torque estimator provides to said torque control system an estimate of torque transmitted by said element operatively coupling said single-spool turboshaft engine to said controllable load, wherein said estimate of torque from said torque estimator is responsive to either at least one measure of a corresponding at least one variable associated with the operation of said single-spool turboshaft engine or at least one measure of a corresponding at least one variable associated with the operation of said controllable load. 13. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rotational speed control system that provides for controlling a rotational speed of at least one of said single-spool turboshaft engine or said controllable load by controlling one of a fuel flow to said single-spool turboshaft engine or a load level of said controllable load. 14. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 13, wherein said controllable load comprises a variable-pitch propeller assembly, and said rotational speed control system comprises a mechanical governor of said variable-pitch propeller assembly, wherein said mechanical governor provides for controlling a pitch of said variable-pitch propeller assembly. 15. A control system for controlling a single-spool turboshaft engine operatively connected to a controllable load as recited in claim 13, further comprising a rotational speed sensor operatively associated with said rotational speed control system, wherein said rotational speed sensor provides to said rotational speed control system a measure of rotational speed of at least one of said controllable load, said single-spool turboshaft engine, or said element that provides for coupling said controllable load to said single-spool turboshaft engine.