ADVACT - Development of Advanced Actuation Concepts to Provide a Step Change in Technology Use in Future Aero-engine Control Systems
Overview
Background & policy context:
Major strides have been made in the area of monitoring and control of gas turbine engines, though very little has changed in what is physically controlled or the actuator mechanisms themselves. This project reviewed the available advanced actuation technologies, identifid how they can be used within a gas turbine, assessed the benefits and demonstrated the technology applicability with laboratory work.
Objectives:
Recent developments in actuation mechanisms provide many opportunities for new control functions that could provide a step change in the capabilities of machines.
The prime objective of the ADVACT project was to provide the technical background to enable the achievement of improvements in operation, availability, costs and environmental impact of gas turbines by the provision of extended in-flight actuation and control of engine parameters. The work investigated the applications and technologies to the stage where laboratory demonstrations were completed and the requirements of the applications are understood.
Two potential applications for gas turbines were investigated within ADVACT. These are for flow control in intakes and on aerofoil cascades. Intakes benefit from improved control during the infrequent events of high incidence operation such as cross winds, rotation and spillage during windmill. This allows a thinner intake lip to be used which should lead to greater efficiency at all other times. Aerofoil control should give improved efficiency or operating envelope and may provide an alternative for mechanically actuated variable guide vanes (VGVs).
Methodology:
The project conducted research on the following technologies:
Boundary layer control and MEMS devices
The state of a boundary layer can have a significant influence on the ability for an airflow to remain attached to the surface. Control of the boundary layer can maintain attachment for longer, cause detachment or increase the amount of turning achieved by an aerodynamic device. That continuous sucking or blowing of air through the surface affects the layer has been known for many years.
Shape memory alloys (SMAs)
For most practical actuator applications, the SMA is loaded by an external spring element. When heated, the SMA will move towards a pre-set shape, when cold, the SMA can be deformed to a different shape by the external spring. In this way a repeated two-way actuator can be produced. Partially due to domination by the medical market, but also due to metallurgical limitations and the need to maintain very accurate composition control, production had previously been limited to small sections up to around 10 mm wide strip or 2 mm diameter wire.
High temperature electromagnetic (EM) actuators
Conventional electromagnetic (EM) actuators are highly versatile, but are typically restricted to around 200o C, primarily by the insulation. This is a severe limitation for gas turbine applications, where the area just outside of the core engine is typically up to 360o C. All types of EM actuators including solenoids, motors etc. are of course used in cooler areas for applications ranging to small valves to thrust reverser actuation. Numerous potential applications have been identified ranging from turbine tip clearance to fluid system controls.
Vibration control systems
Control of engine rotor vibration remains a major reliability facet of engine design and is a significant cost in engine manufacture and operation. Low vibration is essential to ensure the long life of many engine components such as the rotor bearings and the engine external systems. At higher levels of response, excessive rotor vibration causes significant wear of the casing liners, increasing the blade tip to casing clearances, leading to loss of engine efficiency and increase in CO2 emissions. Transmission of vibration into the airframe is also increasingly becoming a concern as airframers strive to improve the cabin environment for the comfort of the passengers.
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