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Aviation History
1997
1997 - 2285.PDF
INDUSTRY FADEC is replaced on Eurof ighter engine IAN SHEPPARD/LONDON INITIAL PRODUCTION-standard Eurojet EJ200 engines installed on the Italian DA3 Euro- fighter EF2000 prototype have been fitted with a new full-author ity digital engine-control (FADEC) system after the original unit was found to be overweight and unreliable. The engines are undergoing ground runs in Turin before being flown by the end of the month, says Eurojet, the Rolls-Royce, FiatAvio, ITP and MTU consortium. The 03A standard engine's new FADEC has been developed by Daimler-Benz Aerospace's (Dasa) aero-engine unit at MTU Munich. Vice-president of electronic sys tems Klaus Fuchs confirms that the original CI FADEC it developed was "too heavy and unreliable". Fuchs admits that, at one stage, R- R was sceptical about Dasa's ability to develop the C2 version and con sidered a Lucas design instead. Each of the five EF2000s being flown with EJ200s is equipped with two dual-redundant units. Richter says that, thanks to simulation and engine test-rig work, "...we have virtually 100% confidence in the final design". Because of workshare arrange ments, the engine-monitoring unit (EMU), which "supervises" sen sors and actuators, has been devel oped as a separate unit. Richter admits that not having the EMU EJ200 full-authority digital engine-control (FADEC) system Source: Daimler-Benz Aerospace MTU Munich al l l Ignition system Fuel system Air-flow Engine control oil system system Engine monitoring unit - _ .Pressure ^^_1*sensors FADEC unit i^^^^^^^r . "serial link iiiiiiiim Weapons firing Distortion trim r Direct digital link !• || il rl !• • • £• c • t I 2 • " • € • 3 • £• >• £m si I: £i ™ Hardwired ' kTM nHftact Digital lines FLIGHT integrated is "crazy", but says that the next-generation unit being developed for the Future Large Aircraft is integrated, with more data correlated in real time, allow ing die engines to be operated safe ly, "closer to their physical limits". The EMU also monitors life usage, based on a simplified thermodynamic model, which combines factors such as tempera ture and stress histories into a fatigue-damage-accumulation index. Incident monitoring is also incorporated for occurrences such as "buzz, screech, high vibrations, start abort, flame-out, surge and stall of the engine", says Richter. One item new to the C2 is Fiat- Avio's oil-debris magnetic sensor (ODMS), which is "...close to being operational". The ODMS not only detects die size and num ber of ferrous particles, but it also removes 70-90% of them in con junction with a centrifuge. When a particle build-up is de tected, the EMU is able to check for signs of vibration and can pin point the problem, such as impending bearing failure, by searching the WEM simulated- failure database using pattern- recognition techniques . "The maintenance benefit is very high," says Richter. • AlliedSignal reveals China manufacturing plans ALLIEDSIGNAL Aerospace is aiming to finalise die first of three planned manufacturing joint ventures widi Chinese industry by October, strengthening its bid to participate in the Sino-European Airbus/A VIC/Singapore Tech nologies AE31X programme. The first joint venture involves a partnership with China Aero Technology Import & Export (CATIC) to produce auxiliary- power-unit (APU) components, including turbine discs, shafts and retainer rings and avionics, wheels and brakes. "It's our way of bring ing our presence into China," explains AlliedSignal China vice- president Francis Yuen. The US company hopes to an nounce die link by early October, in time for the China Aviation Expo in Beijing. Work is planned to begin in 1998 at a new site, like ly to be in the Suzhou industrial park. AlliedSignal will hold a majority 51% stake and CATIC the remainder. A second partnership is being negotiated with Aviation Indus tries of China (AVIC) and its newly named subsidiary Shanghai Avio nics, to produce weather radars, radios and aircraft communica tions addressing and reporting sys tems, and possibly traffic-collision- avoidance systems. AlliedSignal is holding separate talks with China Aviation Supplies and the Beijing Institute of Aero nautical Materials about develop ing and qualifying new linings for its brakes. According to Yuen, the joint ventures would boost Allied- Signal's investment in China to over $200 million by 2000. An ear lier joint venture with AVIC's plant in Nanjing will begin producing environmental-control-system (ECS) components in 1998. • NEWS IN BRIEF • AID FOR CONCORDE British Airways Engineering is testing an artificial-intelli gence maintenance aid with the Aerospatiale/BAC Con corde's Rolls-Royce Olym pus engines. • JSFALLIANT DUCTS Alliant Techsystems of the USA has been awarded a $6.2 million contract to manufac ture the composite inlet ducts for the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) demonstrator aircraft. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 10 - 16 September 1997 25
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