Overview
The HP-SMART-EMA project developed and tested an innovative concept of extremely light, reliable and smart electrical actuator for control systems of turbine engines that will be capable of interfacing and connecting to the engine / turbine control unit in a plug-and-play manner. This innovative concept of smart electrical actuators was based on a multi-disciplinary approach that considered mechanisms, control electronic, control software and power supply in an integrated way, as will be shown in the following subchapters. The main topics developed in this proposal were related to the temperature levels and environmental conditions (combustion gas, oxidation) that are the normal aero engine working conditions, and result to be highly demanding for any electromechanical system working under these conditions.
Funding
Results
Executive Summary:
The HP-SMART-EMA project was focused on developing and testing an innovative concept of extremely light, reliable and smart electrical actuator for control systems of turbine engines, capable of interfacing and connecting to the engine / turbine control unit in a plug-and-play manner. The electrical actuator was used to control in position the inlet flaps of a turboshaft engine for helicopter application, replacing the current hydraulic actuators.
The main topics that were being developed in this project were related to the temperature levels and environmental conditions (combustion gas, oxidation) that are the normal aero engine working conditions, and result to be highly demanding for any electromechanical system working under these conditions. One of the major challenges in the aeronautic sector was to have electrical actuators that are light, reliable and easy to interface to a control unit, able to work under severe conditions (high temperatures mainly). In this respect, Electro-Mechanical Actuators (EMA) have several advantages above Electro-Hydraulic Actuators (EHA) like better efficiency or reduced maintainability improving significantly the management of operational interrupts.
So forth, the trend is to design a more electrical aircraft, and in consequence a more electrical engine for actuation and control. The energy from the engine is converted to electrical energy and distributed through a net to cover all the energy aircraft needs. EMA represents the next generation of actuation system for most of the commercial aircrafts and aero engines. This innovative concept of smart electrical actuators is based on a multi-disciplinary approach that considers mechanisms, control electronic, control software and power supply in an integrated way.