Distributed control system and architecture for integrated control and diagnostics of turbine engines

The advanced technology in signal processing, control, communication, modeling and simulation has provided tools and advanced the theory for the design and analysis of control system for future turbine engines. The future turbine engines are expected to utilize advanced control algorithms for continuous performance optimization. Such control algorithms will also include controller automatic reconfiguration for accommodating engine faults, failures and deteriorations. This dissertation focused specifically on the development of distributed control systems and architectures for integrating control and diagnostics of turbine engines. Robust and optimal controller design methodologies together with algebraic principles were used to design structured controllers. A decision-making algorithm was developed for controller adaptation and reconfiguration in a distributed control environment. The distributed control architecture employs networked control systems concepts for communication among control elements of the gas turbine engine under normal, fault and degraded conditions. The goal of this dissertation is to provide a formal design procedure and systematic process of integrating emerging technologies in signal processing, communication and control for future turbine engine advanced operations. The architecture was implemented on the Modular Aero-Propulsion System Simulation (MAPSS) model. MAPSS is a simulation model of a modern high pressure ratio military type turbine engine. The significance results of the dissertation are the developed methodology and architecture for the design of decentralized controllers for aircraft propulsion systems. The expected benefits of the developed distributed control system and architecture are: reduction in engine weight, cost, increased modularity, and improvement in engine performance