Descrizione del progetto
Tecnologia a fibre ottiche per il rilevamento delle perdite di aria calda negli aeromobili
I condotti dell’aria calda nella fusoliera degli aeroplani convogliano l’aria riscaldata dai gas di scarico del motore al sistema di riscaldamento della cabina. Alcuni di questi condotti sono situati vicino a strutture in carbonio, che sono più inclini al surriscaldamento rispetto ai metalli. I sistemi avanzati di rilevamento delle perdite elettriche rilevano le perdite nei condotti dell’aria calda, ma sono in grado di segnalare solo il superamento della temperatura critica. Alla luce di tali premesse, il progetto HADES, finanziato dall’UE, intende sviluppare una tecnologia a fibre ottiche innovativa, robusta e affidabile per rilevare le perdite di aria calda negli aeromobili. Selezionando la tecnologia a fibre ottiche più adatta, il progetto si propone di superare i limiti dei sistemi elettrici e di soddisfare i requisiti necessari per le applicazioni aeronautiche.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
CS2-IA - Innovation actionCoordinatore
51063 Koln
Germania