JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
MTU Aero Engines is leading a three-year effort to develop predictive engine controls, as part of the six-nation European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP). MTU, with FiatAvio, ITP, Snecma and Volvo Aero, will focus research on electric controls for combat aircraft engines, in the drive to develop an all-electric engine.
The €22 million ($21.7 million) Smart Engine project has received €9 million state funding as one element of ETAP, which involves France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The engine manufacturers are contributing the remaining 60% of funding.
MTU says surge monitoring is likely to be the field of research with the widest application, pointing to early estimates of 1-2% fuel savings. MTU is working on laser gap and vibration sensors to monitor clearances between blade tips and outer casings - too large a gap can cause unstable airflow and a compressor surge and stall.
A smart engine would regulate compressor pressure ratios and temperatures according to onboard efficiency calculations. MTU is also looking at more localised cooling of the outer casing of a low-pressure compressor to achieve the optimal gap.
Michael Suss, MTU vice president engineering, says that to develop an all-electric engine - replacing hydraulic components with electronically controlled parts - there will have to be work on integrated control units to minimise weight. He says bringing together the monitoring and control units alone would save 4kg (9lb).
The research builds on the Eurojet EJ200's digital engine control and monitoring unit, which includes a pre-compressor surge detector and an engine health monitor.
Source: Flight International
