Jet engine performance improved by engine radar

Citation

(2006), "Jet engine performance improved by engine radar", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778aaf.005

Jet engine performance improved by engine radar

Jet engine performance improved by engine radar

Keywords: Jet engines, Aircraft, Radar

BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) has developed a novel system, Engine Health Diagnostics Using Radar (EHDUR), to accurately determine the health and characteristics of installed jet engines on both civil and military aircraft, providing benefits to both engine performance and the maintenance process. EHDUR is reported to also detect foreign objects entering engines and so allow measures to be taken to prevent consequent engine failure and possible aircraft and human loss.

EHDUR, developed in partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence, uses low power, spread spectrum radar technology to provide continuous monitoring of engine performance. The system monitors the air intakes and compressor stages and is engine type independent which allows standardisation of equipment across multiple platforms.

According to BAE Systems the technology “listens” for changes in the engine blade vibration characteristics and can provide early indication of fatigue occurring within the engine. Existing techniques to determine and measure fatigue require specialist engine test equipment. EHDUR overrides these requirements and allows fatigue to be measured and analysed with the engine in place on the aircraft. The system will reportedly detect changes in the vibration characteristics of an engine and changes in engine speed. Operating profiles based on these findings can then be set which reduces the risk of blade failure, increases engine life and improves maintenance and efficiency.

With Foreign Object Debris having a major impact on engine health, performance and lifespan as well as safety, a system that is capable of detecting, analysing and classifying foreign objects entering the air intake has direct implications for safe engine operation and maintenance scheduling.

EHDUR provides this with its ingestion debris monitoring system (IDMS) which discriminates between damaging and non-damaging objects entering the air intake. A warning is then provided if a potentially damaging item has been ingested which allows for immediate remedial action by ground crew after the flight, thereby reducing the inherent uncertainty of a visual engine inspection. EHDUR uses conformal radar antennae within the air intake to minimise disruption to airflow. It is also easily adapted to stealthy aircraft where spread spectrum techniques are coupled with ultra low power transmission to ensure no increase in airframe radar cross section.

David Shephard, who is leading the EHDUR project at the ATC comments, “The increasing requirements placed on jet engine performance coupled with greater operational usage subjects engines to extreme stress. EHDUR allows the effects of these stresses on engine performance to be determined. This simple, reliable, accurate engine diagnostics tool measures, analyses and evaluates an engine over its operational life thus maximising its performance, safety and lifespan.”

As well as its ability to be integrated into new civil and military aircraft or retrofitted to existing engine installations, EHDUR can also be used in marine turbine power plants, vehicle turbines and electrical power generation plants.