Open AccessSimulating faults in a Boeing 737-200 Environmental Control System using a thermodynamic model
Author(s) -
Manuel Esperon-Miguez,
Ian K. Jennions,
Ignacio Camacho Escobar,
Nile Hanov
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of prognostics and health management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.336
H-Index - 21
ISSN - 2153-2648
DOI - 10.36001/ijphm.2019.v10i2.2731
Subject(s) - environmental control system , heat exchanger , component (thermodynamics) , work (physics) , key (lock) , fault (geology) , instrumentation (computer programming) , thermodynamic system , thermodynamic process , control system , environmental science , aerospace engineering , engineering , computer science , mechanical engineering , material properties , thermodynamics , geology , physics , computer security , electrical engineering , seismology , operating system
The Environmental Control Systems ( ECS ), used to provide air to the aircraft cabin at the correct pressure and temperature, is a key driver of maintenance interruptions for military and civil aircraft. Fault detection is particularly difficult, due to the lack of instrumentation and the ability of the ECS’s control system to mask symptoms. Understanding how component degradation affects measurable thermodynamic parameters is key to developing a condition monitoring system for an ECS. This work focuses on the development of a thermodynamic model of a Boeing 737-200 ECS capable of simulating faults in three types of component: heat exchangers, valves, and water separators. The thermodynamic model has been validated using data collected on a ground-based instrumented B737-200 ECS. The results show how a thermodynamic model can be used to simulate the change of temperatures and pressures across the ECS when components degrade.