SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIGHTOFF DETECTION IN TURBINE ENGINES

摘要

A system and method is provided for lightoff detection in a turbine engine that provides improved accuracy and consistency. The system and method use engine temperature and engine rotation speed sensor data to determine a first time interval during which the lightoff is estimated to have occurred. A peak gradient in the temperature sensor data within the first time interval and a peak gradient in the engine rotation sensor data within the first time interval are then determined. The temperature peak gradient time and the engine rotation peak gradient time are then used as boundaries to determine a narrowed time interval within the first time interval. The minimum gradient in the engine rotation sensor data in the narrowed time interval is determined, with the minimum gradient time in the engine rotation sensor data comprising an accurate estimate of lightoff time for the turbine engine.