Safe Fault Reproductions for the Fuel Metering Valve Sticking in Aeroengines

Abstract

In an aeroengine, precise regulation of fuel supply relies on controlling the flow area of the fuel metering valve (FMV). However, the intrusion of pollutants into the gap between the spool and sleeve of the FMV can lead to the FMV motion becoming stuck, a phenomenon referred to as the FMV sticking (FMVS). Due to the infrequent FMVS occurrences and the potential damages to aeroengine from artificial induction, FMVS data are scarce, impeding analysis and resolution for FMVS. To address this issue, this article investigates the safe reproduction for FMVS. We propose introducing an appropriate bias into the control law output in the FMV control loop, allowing for the reconstructions of resultant forces on the FMV under sticking, thereby reproducing the FMV motions under sticking. The implementation of this method only requires minor adjustments to the code of control law, ensuring ease of implementation and prevention of aeroengine damages. Theoretical validation affirms its effectiveness in reproducing the FMVS at any level. Hardware-in-loop experiments demonstrate the effectiveness, safety, and ease of implementation of the proposed method.