SBIR-STTR Award

Modern turboshaft engine control components address such parameters as pressure, temperature, shaft speed, fuel flow, and the position of variable geometry components. however, electronic control com- ponents are susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and shielding carries substantial penalties in weight and engine cost. fiber optic alternative components can offer real advantages in weight and emi immunity, but considerable development is required to realize these benefits in a working system. to address this area, aurora optics and teledyne cae propose to identify promising engine locations for a prototype system on a production engine, resolve integration issues relevant to the installation of a fiber optic control system on the engine, evaluate several very promising sensor technologies for demonstration in the system, select a key technology for each required sensor point, and design a complete demonstration control system. in phase ii, the, the control components will be obtained and/or designed and built; assembled into a complete control system, installed on a production engine, and tested in place. the technologies suggeted for early consideration for the fiber optic control components are photoelastic, magneto-optic, code plate, two-color pyrometry, and back reflection

Keywords:

In Phase I Aurora Optics analyzed in depth the state of the art in fiber optic technology and determined that sensors, cables, connectors, and opto-electronics are, or soon will be, fully capable of implementation in turboshaft engine control systems. Based on this information and an in depth analysis of current engine systems operational and environmental requirements, a complete high-performance baseline sensor system was designed. In Phase II Aurora proposes to design, make-or-buy, assemble, calibrate, and test a complete seven-sensor system, including engine inlet pressure, compressor discharge pressure, engine inlet temperature, turbine inlet temperature, rotary position, shaft speed, and shaft torque sensor, cables, and electro-optic interface. Following environmental testing, the system will be installed in an engine test cell at a selected engine company and tested for performance during a representative range of engine operating conditions. Assuming satisfactory results, and with suitable arrangements by the Army, the system will finally be installed and flight tested on a selected Army flight vehicle.

Keywords:
FIBER OPTIC SENSORS OPTOELECTRONIC SENSOR SYSTEM CONTROL SYSTEMS TURBOSHAFT ENGINES