CLOSED LOOP BENCH TESTING of the NEXT GENERATION CONTROL SYSTEM for HELICOPTER ENGINES

A United States Army-sponsored development program of an advanced control system for turbo-shaft engines has completed the bench test phase. A powerful multi-processor Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) has been interfaced to a Variable Displacement Vane Pump (VDVP). The VDVP combines fuel pumping and metering within one component to reduce parts count, save weight, and improve thermal efficiency. The FADEC utilizes commercially available, highly integrated electronic components which provide high bandwidth at substantially reduced cost. This paper summarizes the performance of the system when operating with a real time computer simulation of the Sikorsky BLACK HAWK helicopter and Pratt & Whitney Canada 3000 SHP engines.