Control system will 'live' inside aero engines

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November 2000 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

A control system for the next generation of aircraft engines, now under development in the United Kingdom, will improve engine efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, cut pollution and lower operating costs.

The project to produce an electronic control system, which is much more temperature-tolerant than present systems, brings together the TRW Aeronautical Systems, Lucas Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and Calidus companies, with financial support from the UK government.

Under a three-year programme of work costing 1,4 million pounds sterling on high-temperature electronics for gas-turbine engine control - known as the HiTeam2 project -the partners aim to produce and demonstrate a control system that will be able to withstand much higher temperatures than normal. This is so that it can operate inside the engine core rather than at a more remote location in the engine cowling.

A spokesman said: "The knock-on effects will be to improve engine efficiency, reducing fuel burn and delivering less environmental pollution and lower operating costs."

Alan Johnson, UK Minister for Competitiveness, announced that the government would share the cost of the project equally with industry and explained: "British firms are at the cutting edge of aerospace technology and innovative projects like this one will enable them to stay ahead of the competition in global markets.

"The HiTeam2 project aims to develop an aero-engine control system that can function at temperatures of 200°C compared with 90°C for present systems. This will produce a number of benefits in terms of engine efficiency which is good news not just for competitiveness but also the environment in terms of reduced engine noise and emissions.

"I am particularly encouraged by the HiTeam venture because it demonstrates what can be achieved by small and large firms working together in the aerospace sector. It also illustrates close cooperation between the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), both of which are supporting the project," said Johnson.

Lucas Aerospace is working on the new control system in collaboration with the Rolls-Royce aero engine group. Both can bring a wealth of aerospace engine control expertise to the project and this will be supplemented by technical input from two smaller specialist companies, TRW Aeronautical Systems and the Calidus company which supplies specialist high-temperature electronic engineering services.

The British government is supporting the initiative through the DTI's research and technology demonstration (Carad) programme which is designed to help ensure the long-term availability of essential aircraft technologies for exploitation by the UK aerospace industry through an integrated national programme of research.

Department of Trade and Industry

United Kingdom

www.dti.gov.uk

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Control system will 'live' inside aero engines

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