Session: 05-01: GT Performance

Paper Number: 152417

Development of an Engine Controller for an Allison M250 Engine 

The global demand to reduce harmful emissions is driving the aviation industry towards cleaner and more efficient propulsion systems. In addition to sustainable aviation fuels, innovative engine cycle adaptations are gaining attention as means to further lower emissions and increase efficiency. One concept is the Water-Enhanced Turbofan (WET) cycle, where steam is injected into the combustion chamber to decrease emissions such as nitrogen oxides and boosting overall engine performance. Another approach is the coupling of a conventional gas turbine with electrical units for hybrid electric propulsion. The latter two concepts are currently being investigated by the Institute of Combustion Technologies at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on a modified Allison M250-C20B engine. The original rotor blades of the helicopter are replaced by a motor generator unit (MGU). To facilitate detailed measurement and analysis the engine is equipped with advanced instrumentation. Implementing innovative engine cycles, such as WET, changes the operating conditions, which potentially lead to instability in the existing engine control system, consisting the fuel control unit (FCU). The FCU manages the fuel flow and guarantees safe engine operation by preventing conditions like rotor overspeed and turbine overtemperature. To address this, a digital FCU is developed to replace the existing pneumatic-mechanical controller of the M250. This paper provides an overview of current FCU technologies, discusses the hardware developments for the fuel train in the laboratory, and explores the development of a digital Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with domain randomization to account for model inaccuracies, enabling reliable control of innovative engine cycles.

Presenting Author: Nils Jakobs German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology

Presenting Author Biography: - scientific reasearcher at Institute of Combustion Technology at German Aerospace Center
- M.Sc. study in aerospace engineering at University of Stutgart
- B.Sc. study in mechanical engineering at University of Stuttgart

Authors:

Nils Jakobs German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Martin Henke German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Jan Zanger German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Oliver Kislat German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Cedric Kraus German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Thomas Krummrein German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Anna Marcellan German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Andreas Mader German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Anika Moosbrugger German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Hannah Seliger-Ost German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Anes Mohammed Asmi German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology
Andreas Huber German Aerospace Center, Institute of Combustion Technology