FIBER OPTIC COMPONENTS FOR TURBOSHAFT ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS

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 COMPONENTS 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.