Description du projet
Technologie de fibres optiques pour la détection des fuites d’air chaud dans les aéronefs
Dans la construction aéronautique, les conduits d’air chaud acheminent l’air chauffé par les gaz d’échappement des moteurs vers le système de chauffage de la cabine. Certains conduits sont situés à proximité de structures en carbone, qui sont davantage sujettes à la surchauffe que les métaux. Bien que les systèmes électriques avancés de détection des fuites détectent les fuites dans les conduits d’air chaud des avions, ils n’émettent un signal que lorsque la température critique est dépassée. Dans ce contexte, le projet HADES, financé par l’UE, entend mettre au point une technologie innovante, robuste et fiable à base de fibres optiques pour détecter les fuites d’air chaud dans les avions. En choisissant la technologie de fibre optique la plus appropriée, le projet entend dépasser les limites des systèmes électriques et répondre aux exigences nécessaires pour les applications aéronautiques.
Objectif
Light carbon structures are increasingly used in modern aircrafts for reducing weight and thus fuel consumption. The carbon materials are more sensitive to overheating than metals. Hot air ducts are used to conduct air heated by engine exhaust to the cabin heating system. At several locations, those hot air ducts are installed within or in close proximity to the carbon structures. Therefore, reliable and precise hot air leak detection is an essential safety feature of modern aircrafts. The proposed activity aims at developing an innovative, powerful and reliable fibre-optic technology for an aircraft hot air leak detection system and validating it in a representative aircraft environment.
State-of-the-art electrical hot air leak detection systems detect and localize leaks in aircraft hot air ducts by analyzing electric shortcuts. However, the response of such systems just indicates that the critical temperature is exceeded. It is impossible to vary the threshold setting along the cable and false alarms due to stray signals are common. Localization of leaks is difficult and the sensor cables are irreversibly damaged by exceeding the critical temperature.
Based on our deep understanding of using fibre-optic sensing systems in harsh and safety-critical environments, LIOS will select the optimum fibre-optic technology for hot air leak detection in aircrafts, which overcomes the limitations of the electrical systems, complies with the requirements of the tender and fulfils the other essential requirements of aircraft applications. LIOS will demonstrate the technology’s capabilities, using a proof-of-concept system in the LIOS laboratories. After testing, we will re-design the demonstrator to enable a demonstration within an aircraft environment, allowing to pass the respective environmental tests and to fulfil the requested TRL of 6. The re-designed demonstrator will be installed at the facilities of the topic manager and tested in collaboration with the topic manager.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringthermodynamic engineering
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringaircraft
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre optics
Programme(s)
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
CS2-IA - Innovation actionCoordinateur
51063 Koln
Allemagne