Health Monitoring of Variable Geometry Gas Turbines for the Canadian Navy

Abstract

The Canadian Department of National Defence has identified a need for improved Engine Health Monitoring procedures for the new Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF). The CPF propulsion system includes two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, a high-pressure-ratio engine with multiple stages of compressor variable geometry. A general method for predicting the thermodynamic performance of variable geometry axial compressors has been developed. The new modeling technique is based on a meanline stage-stacking analysis and relies only on the limited performance data typically made available by engine manufacturers. The method has been applied to the LM2500-30 marine gas turbine and the variations in engine performance that can result from a malfunction of the variable geometry system in service have been estimated.