Patent ID: 7840333
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: F02C,F05D

Abstract:
1. A starter controller that controls the speed of a gas turbine engine during start-up, the starter controller comprising: an event detector that detects events associated with the start-up of the gas turbine engine based on inputs that include an engine start request, an engine speed measurement, and a light-off detection measurement; and a torque controller that generates a torque command that causes the speed of the gas turbine engine to increase at a defined rate until the event detector detects a light-off event and causes the speed of the gas turbine engine to increase at an increased rate following detection of the light-off event, wherein if the measured speed of the gas turbine engine increases to a upper threshold without the event detector detecting a light-off event, then the torque controller generates a torque command that causes the speed of the gas turbine engine to decrease at a defined rate until the event detector detects a light-off event or the measured speed of the gas turbine engine reaches a lower threshold.