Advanced Test Cell Diagnostics for Gas Turbine Engines (USAF Automated Jet Engine Test Strategy – AJETS)

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Roemer ◽  
Gregory J. Kacprzynski ◽  
Michael Schoeller ◽  
Ron Howe ◽  
Richard Friend
Keyword(s):  
Anomaly Detection ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Engine Test ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Test Strategy ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Test Cells ◽  
And Performance

Improved test cell diagnostics capable of detecting and classifying engine mechanical and performance faults as well as instrumentation problems is critical to reducing engine operating and maintenance costs while optimizing test cell effectiveness. Proven anomaly detection and fault classification techniques utilizing engine Gas Path Analysis (GPA) and statistical/empirical models of structural and performance related engine areas can now be implemented for real-time and post-test diagnostic assessments. Integration and implementation of these proven technologies into existing USAF engine test cells presents a great opportunity to significantly improve existing engine test cell capabilities to better meet today’s challenges. A suite of advanced diagnostic and troubleshooting tools have recently been developed and implemented for gas turbine engine test cells as part of the Automated Jet Engine Test Strategy (AJETS) program. AJETS is an innovative USAF program for improving existing engine test cells by providing more efficient and advanced monitoring, diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities. This paper describes the basic design features of the AJETS system; including the associated data network, sensor validation and anomaly detection/diagnostic software that was implemented in both a real-time and post-test analysis mode. These advanced design features of AJETS are currently being evaluated and advanced utilizing data from TF39 test cell installations at Travis AFB and Dover AFB.

Upgrading Engine Test Cells for Improved Troubleshooting and Diagnostics

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Roemer ◽  
Rolf F. Orsagh ◽  
Gregory J. Kacprzynski ◽  
James Scheid ◽  
Richard Friend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States Air Force ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Fault Classification ◽  
Engine Test ◽  
Sensor Validation ◽  
Software Modules ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Test Cells ◽  
Diagnostic Software

Upgrading military engine test cells with advanced diagnostic and troubleshooting capabilities will play a critical role in increasing aircraft availability and test cell effectiveness while simultaneously reducing engine operating and maintenance costs. Sophisticated performance and mechanical anomaly detection and fault classification algorithms utilizing thermodynamic, statistical, and empirical engine models are now being implemented as part of a United States Air Force Advanced Test Cell Upgrade Initiative. Under this program, a comprehensive set of real-time and post-test diagnostic software modules, including sensor validation algorithms, performance fault classification techniques and vibration feature analysis are being developed. An automated troubleshooting guide is also being implemented to streamline the troubleshooting process for both inexperienced and experienced technicians. This artificial intelligence based tool enhances the conventional troubleshooting tree architecture by incorporating probability of occurrence statistics to optimize the troubleshooting path. This paper describes the development and implementation of the F404 engine test cell upgrade at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station.

Design and Development of a Small Jet Engine Test Cell

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mathioudakis ◽  
P. Argyroupoulos
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Test Chamber ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Engine Test ◽  
Technical Aspects ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Educational Benefits ◽  
Engineering Degree

The process of designing a test cell for a small jet engine is described. The test cell was designed to support educational activities in the field of gas turbines. The design was undertaken by a student, as a part of his requirements for obtaining a Mechanical Engineering Degree. The requirements for the design are first laid out, according to the characteristics of the engine to be tested and the restrictions posed by the installation location. The phases of designing and construction are presented. Technical aspects of design choices for setting up the test chamber are presented. The choice of instrumentation and the way it is arranged is discussed. Results from the first tests conducted on the finished facility are presented, first, to check how design targets have been met and second, to show what kind of information can be provided to support gas turbine courses. The fact that a multidisciplinary knowledge is applied in the project is discussed. Educational benefits for the student that has undertaken the project are discussed, while particular choices made for a better suitability for subsequent educational use are highlighted.

Plant Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics: Remote, Real-Time and Automation

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomo Jiang ◽  
Craig Foster
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Anomaly Detection ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Performance Monitoring ◽  
Performance Modeling ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Remote Monitoring System ◽  
And Performance

Combined cycle gas turbine plants are built and operated with higher availability, reliability, and performance than simple cycle in order to help provide the customer with capabilities to generate operating revenues and reduce fuel costs while enhancing dispatch competitiveness. The availability of a power plant can be improved by increasing the reliability of individual assets through maintenance enhancement and performance degradation recovery through remote efficiency monitoring to provide timely corrective recommendations. This paper presents a comprehensive system and methodology to pursue this purpose by using instrumented data to automate performance modeling for real-time monitoring and anomaly detection of combined cycle gas turbine power plants. Through thermodynamic performance modeling of main assets in a power plant such as gas turbines, steam turbines, heat recovery steam generators, condensers and other auxiliaries, the system provides an intelligent platform and methodology to drive customer-specific, asset-driven performance improvements, mitigate outage risks, rationalize operational patterns, and enhance maintenance schedules and service offerings at total plant level via taking appropriate proactive actions. In addition, the paper presents the components in the automated remote monitoring system, including data instrumentation, performance modeling methodology, operational anomaly detection, and component-based degradation assessment. As demonstrated in two examples, this remote performance monitoring of a combined cycle power plant aims to improve equipment efficiency by converting data into knowledge and solutions in order to drive values for customers including shortening outage downtime, lowering operating fuel cost and increasing customer power sales and life cycle value of the power plant.

Discrete tones in subsonic jet engine test cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
G. Desmarais ◽  
J. Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Engine Test ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
Test Cells ◽  
Subsonic Jet

Gas Turbine Engine Test Cell Modeling

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Salinas ◽  
E. E. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Turbine Engine ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Dimensional System ◽  
Engine Test ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Coordinate Model ◽  
Cartesian Coordinate

A numerical simulation of the aerothermal characteristics of a gas turbine engine test cell is presented. The three-dimensional system is modeled using the PHOENICS computational fluid dynamics code. Results predict the velocity field, temperatures, pressures, kinetic energy of turbulence, and dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy. Numerical results from two versions, a cartesian coordinate model and a body fitted coordinate model, are compared to experimental data. The comparison shows good quantitative and very good qualitative agreement, suggesting that numerical modeling would be useful in the preliminary design of gas turbine test facilities.

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