ENGINE CONTROL

SYSTEMS
ESA 272 Aircraft Subsystem Elements
Concept of Engine Control (1)
Objective: To control a flow of fuel and air to the engine to ensure
it can operate at optimum efficiency over a wide range of speeds,
altitudes and temperatures while allowing the pilot to handle the
engine without fear of malfunction
Issues:
Thrust cannot be measured
Changes in ambient condition and aircraft maneuvers cause distortion
into the fan/compressor
Harsh operating environment high temperatures and large vibrations
Safe operation avoid stall, combustor blow out etc
Need to provide long operating life 20,000 hrs
Engine components degradation need to have reliable performance
throughout the operating life

Concept of Engine Control (2)
Engine can be controlled by controlling:
Fuel flow to vary demanded engine speeds, to handle the
engine without damages
Air flow to operate the engine efficiently throughout the aircraft
flight envelope and with adequate safety margins
Exhaust gas flow burning the exhaust gases and varying the
nozzle area to provide additional thrust
Types of aircraft engine (1)
Turbojet

Types of aircraft engine (2)
Turboprop

Types of aircraft engine (3)
Turbofan
Types of aircraft engine (4)
Turboshaft

Environment within gas
turbine

Operational Limits
Structural limits
Maximum fan and core speeds: N1 (rotational speed of LPC) and
N2 (rotational speed of HPC) both in rpm
Maximum turbine blade temperature
Safety limits:
Adequate stall margin compressor and fan
Lean burner blow out minimum fuel
Operational limit:
Maximum turbine inlet temperature
To provide long life for the engine

Why important?
Maximum fuel limit protects against surge/stall (flow
instability), over-temperature, over-speed, and over-pressure
Minimum fuel limit protects against combustor blow-out
(flame failure occurs at high altitude operation)
Fuel Flow control (1)
Power or thrust can be controlled by regulating the fuel flow
into the combustor
When higher thrust is required, throttle is opened and fuel
pressure to the burner increases due to higher fuel flow.
Increases in fuel pressure increase gas temperature which in
turn increase the acceleration of the gases through the
turbine to give a higher engine speed, greater air flow which
resulting in increase in thrust.
Changes in altitude, air temperature, and aircraft speed
change the density of the air at the engine intake and the
mass of air flowing through the engine.
To maintain conditions demanded by pilot, fuel control unit
(FCU) or fuel management unit (FMU) is used



FCU/FMU
Hydro-mechanical device mounted on the engine
Contain valves to direct fuel and to restrict fuel flow
Contain pneumatic capsules to modify flows according to
prevailing atmospheric conditions
Contain dashpot/spring/damper combinations to control
acceleration and deceleration rates
Fuel Flow control (2)
Air flow control
To ensure efficient operation over a wide range of
environmental condition to maintain a safe margin from the
engine surge line.
It can be control through variable compressor vanes or bleed
valves (but not for military applications)
Bleed air compressed air taken from within the engine (after
the compressor stage(s) and before the fuel is injected in the
burners
Bleed air purposes: Air for conditioning systems, anti-icing,
pressurizing the cabin, pneumatic actuators

Engine control system
parameters (1)
Active control process which involves engine sensors, control
units and actuators
Engine control system
parameters (2)
Sensors located within gas turbine engine to perform controlling
function
Engine control system
parameters (3)
Signals Sensors
Throttle position Transducer - connected directly to the throttle
level (either by electrical signaling or connected
to the end of control rods for mechanical
operation)
Air data (altitude and
airspeed)
Using air data computer (ADC) or flight control
system air data sensors
Total temperature Using temperature probe mounted at the engine
face, intakes or on aircraft structure
Engine speed Using pulse probes function to have magnetic
field interrupted by moving metallic parts of the
engine or gear box
Engine temperature Using thermocouples- arrange as a ring of parallel
connected thermocouples to obtain mean gas
temperature
Engine control system
parameters (4)
Signal Sensors
Pressure ratio Diaphragm operated device
Two high accuracy pressure sensors and electronics
Nozzle position Position sensors located to the nozzle actuation
mechanism
Fuel flow Turbine flow meter installed in fuel pipework
Fuel control unit (FCU)
Fuel flow control Solenoid, torque motor or stepper motor
Air flow control Inlet Guide Vanes (IGV) or bleed valves located between
engine stages
Modern Civil Aircraft Engine
Control
Full Authority Digital Engine Control System (FADEC)
Mounted on fan casing
Monitor and control:
N1 and N2
Temperature and pressure
Exhaust gas temperature (EGT)
Oil temperature
Turbine High pressure (HPT) and turbine low pressure (LPT) cooling
loops
Engine start
Fuel control