Contribution of the MEE Toward an Integrated Propulsion System

This paper describes how the MEE (More Electric Engine) system contributes toward an integrated propulsion control system, with a particular focus on commercial aircraft. Current aircraft systems control the engine rotational speed or pressure ratio to control propulsion, but in future aircraft systems, control of the engine thrust itself will be required. Because controlling engine thrust can be used as an effective method of changing the aircraft speed and/or attitude, various approaches to engine thrust control have been investigated and developed. In this investigation, key technical issues have emerged; one is which is the need for an enhanced engine thrust response for stable control of the aircraft. The other is accurate estimation of engine thrust in flight. Incremental data processing capability is also required due to the need for additional monitoring, evaluation and calculation of engine parameters to ensure safe engine operation. The authors investigated approaches to such key technical issues and found that a more electric architecture for the engine, i.e. MEE, would be an attractive and effective approach to implementing engine thrust control in aircraft.