Patent ID: 8925328
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: F01D,F02C,F05D

Abstract:
1. A process for starting a gas turbine engine comprising: determining an ignition speed for the gas turbine engine that produces a particular air mass flow rate in a combustion section of the gas turbine engine; accelerating or decelerating the gas turbine engine to a rotation speed within ±5% of the ignition speed, which defines a start of an ignition window; energizing at least one igniter in the combustion section of the gas turbine engine; supplying a fuel flow to the combustion section of the gas turbine engine; determining a completion of ignition in the combustion section, wherein said completion defines an end of the ignition window; maintaining the rotation speed within ±7% of the ignition speed during the ignition window; after the ignition window end, increasing the fuel flow to the combustion section to accelerate the gas turbine engine to an operating speed; sensing ambient air conditions proximate a compressor inlet of the gas turbine engine; and determining the ignition speed as a function of the ambient air conditions.