Model-based method and system to detect heat exchanger fouling
US10295284B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 18, 2016 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/50
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A computer-implemented method, environmental control system (ECS) for an aircraft, and system are provided. Air temperatures at the inlet and outlet of a ram air duct for an ECS are measured. Also, air temperatures at outlets from one or more heat exchangers arranged in the ram air duct are measured. The temperatures are typically measured when the aircraft is on the ground and when aircraft engines supplying air to the ECS are operating at idle. Shortly thereafter, the heat exchangers are manually inspected to determine a level of actual fouling (e.g., dirt, dust, or other debris accumulated on heat exchanger surfaces). A supervised machine learning or other statistical analysis is performed on the measured temperatures and associated actual fouling levels to develop a model that predicts an amount of heat exchanger fouling, based on the temperature measurements. An alert can be output if the predicted fouling exceeds a fouling threshold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.