Granted Patent B2

US 12,331,692 · App. 18/203,993 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Inventors: Peter Swann (Derby, GB); Craig W Bemment (Derby, GB); Alastair G Hobday (Derby, GB); Benjamin J Keeler (Derby, GB); Christopher P Madden (Derby, GB)

Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC

F02C9/28B64D27/10B64D37/04G08G5/32

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. A method of operating an aircraft comprising a gas turbine engine and a fuel tank arranged to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

determining at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel arranged to be provided to the gas turbine engine; and

proposing or initiating a change to a flight profile of the aircraft based on the at least one fuel characteristic,

wherein the at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel comprises at least one of:

i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;

ii. percentage of nitrogen-containing species in the fuel;

iii. presence or percentage of a tracer species or trace element in the fuel;

iv. hydrogen to carbon ratio of the fuel;

v. percentage composition information for hydrocarbons present in the fuel;

vi. naphthalene content of the fuel;

vii. oxygen content of the fuel;

viii. thermal stability of the fuel; and

ix. level of coking of the fuel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the change to the flight profile based on the at least one fuel characteristic comprises at least one of:

(i) a change to the intended altitude; and

(ii) a change to the intended route.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel comprises:

obtaining at least one fuel characteristic of any fuel already present in the fuel tank prior to refuelling;

determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel added to the fuel tank on refuelling; and

calculating at least one fuel characteristic of the resultant fuel in the fuel tank after refuelling.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising receiving forecast weather conditions for an intended route of the aircraft, wherein the received forecast weather conditions are used to influence the changes in planned route and/or altitude.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the at least one fuel characteristic is performed based on detection of at least one fuel property.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the detection is performed on-wing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the at least one fuel characteristic is performed based on received fuel composition data.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the fuel composition data are provided to the aircraft on refuelling.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel characteristic is determined for fuel in one or more fuel tanks of the aircraft.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one fuel characteristic is inferred from performance of the gas turbine engine during at least one of taxi, take-off and climb of the aircraft, and wherein the planned flight profile during cruise is changed based on the at least one inferred fuel characteristic.

11. A propulsion system for an aircraft comprising:

a gas turbine engine;

a fuel tank arranged to contain a fuel to power the gas turbine engine; and

one or more processors arranged to:

determine at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel arranged to be provided to the gas turbine engine; and

propose or initiate a change to a flight profile of the aircraft based on the at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel,

wherein the at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel comprises at least one of:

i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;

ii. percentage of nitrogen-containing species in the fuel;

iii presence or percentage of a tracer species or trace element in the fuel;

iv. hydrogen to carbon ratio of the fuel;

v. percentage composition information for hydrocarbons present in the fuel;

vi. naphthalene content of the fuel;

vii. oxygen content of the fuel;

viii. thermal stability of the fuel; and

ix. level of coking of the fuel.

12. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are arranged to initiate or propose at least one of the following based on the at least one fuel characteristic:

(i) a change to the intended altitude; and

(ii) a change to the intended route.

13. The propulsion system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more processors are arranged to initiate or propose a change to at least one of the following based on the at least one fuel characteristic:

(i) a trajectory; and

(ii) a flight path angle.

14. A method of operating an aircraft comprising a gas turbine engine and a fuel tank arranged to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

determining at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel arranged to be provided to the gas turbine engine; and

proposing or initiating a change to a flight profile of the aircraft based on the at least one fuel characteristic, the change to the flight profile based on the at least one fuel characteristic comprising a change to at least one of: (i) a trajectory and (ii) a flight path angle,

wherein the at least one fuel characteristic of the fuel comprises at least one of:

i. percentage of sustainable aviation fuel in the fuel;

ii. percentage of nitrogen-containing species in the fuel;

iii. presence or percentage of a tracer species or trace element in the fuel;

iv. hydrogen to carbon ratio of the fuel;

v. percentage composition information for hydrocarbons present in the fuel;

vi. naphthalene content of the fuel;

vii. oxygen content of the fuel;

viii. thermal stability of the fuel; and

ix. level of coking of the fuel.

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (45)