Canada Hangfa core testing machine based on LED ice detector

Although in recent years the researchers understanding of the core engine icing phenomenon in the sky has achieved great progress, but the development of reliable sensor system pilot warning of danger of the work is still in the initial stage of relative.

With a conventional engine and aircraft in low altitude by water vapor in the visual liquid water ice, weather radar cannot detect the current weather conditions to lead core engine and the accumulation of ice from ice crystals. In addition, in some cases it may be possible to show that the pilot's presence of ice crystals, such as the static accumulation of ice crystals and the change in the cockpit noise frequency, is too late to avoid potential hazards.

The solid state sensor is used to measure the brightness of the reflected light.

The accumulation of ice crystals on the surface of the turbofan engine and the compressor casing will result in thrust loss, flameout and even damage. In the face of suffering ice probability is more and more high, especially the global air traffic with the highest growth rate in the subtropical region, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) led the research work is trying to improve the detection capability of weather radar for ice. Other organizations and companies are working on sensors that can provide alarm for the accumulation of ice in the engine. Canada Podium energy group Podium HangYu branch recently announced a probe of ice accumulation and utilization of light reflectivity of the reflective material sensor (RMS) system details. This sensor uses all solid state structure, there is no moving parts, than some other programs (including the National Research Council ultrasound and electrostatic particle detector) is more simple, more durable.

Podium detector system consists of a light emitting diode (LED) light beam through a small window on the engine casing to flow, when the ice crystals in the optical window surface, will feel the change of the reflection light photoelectric diode installed in LED, to detect the ice crystal growth. At the same time, the corrosion protection and temperature detection function are integrated in the upstream side of the optical window.

The sensor is directly connected with the full authority digital control system (FADEC) of the engine, and can also be connected to the engine indication and alarm system. The sensor can trigger the air flow heating function of the guide vanes in real time and open the adjustable air valve to remove ice. The sensor adopts the double LED configuration allowed in different illumination conditions flexibly calibrated, and the whole system is highly integrated, do not need to install the measuring probe near the guide vanes or other parts of the engine position.

HangYu Podium Division said sensor system will not cause significant impact on the performance of the engine, the light emitting diode and photodiode have a diameter of only 3 mm, the optical window size is only 13 mm. The initial ground test conducted in Montreal, Canada, shows that the performance of the measurement unit is excellent, and a prototype system has been developed to identify the ice sheet under simulated icing conditions. There are plans to conduct a wider range of tests, the next step is also considered to carry out high-altitude and special wind tunnel testing, the engine and aircraft manufacturers have been in talks to help further research and development and application of the system.

For more information about LED, please click on LED network or pay attention to WeChat public account (cnledw2013).