Aircraft General Knowledge

Engines
Lesson 20: The Gas Turbine Fuel System
The Engine Fuel System
• Provides the correct quantity of fuel at the correct
pressure under all conditions
• Two types:
• The hydro mechanical unit uses a mechanical fuel
control unit. (older system)
• The FADEC uses an engine electronic controller
(EEC) to control fuel flow via a fuel metering unit.
• Both systems also have low pressure and high
pressure fuel pumps and a high pressure shut off
valve.
Low Pressure Fuel Pump
• Guarantees positive fuel pressure at the HP
pump inlet
The High Pressure Fuel Pump
• Two types:
• Spur gear fixed volume pumps.
• Multi-plunger variable volume pumps.
 Spur Gear HP Pump
• Spur gear fixed volume pumps are used
for low pressure air-spray fuel burners.
Light and simple.
• Deliver more pressure than is required.
• A relief valve returns excess fuel to the
inlet side of the pump.
•
Variable Volume HP Pump
• Pump stroke adjusted by swash plate.
• Control piston adjusts swash plate angle
Fuel Heater
 Fuel Control Unit (FCU)
• Ensures the correct ratio of fuel and air during all
phases of engine operation.
• When the pilot demands more thrust, the FCU
commands the control piston in the HP fuel pump to
move.
• More fuel is delivered to the fuel spray nozzles so
combustion temperature increases. This causes the
gases to exit the combustor faster which increases
engine speed.
• The amount of fuel required for a given thrust setting
depends on the mass entering the combustor.
Fuel Control Unit (FCU)
• The FCU senses:
• The thrust lever position or angle.
• Air temperature and pressure.
• Rapid acceleration and deceleration.
• Engine speed.
• Exhaust gas temperature.
• Compressor delivery pressure
Fuel Control Unit (FCU)
• An acceleration control unit (ACU) limits
fuel flow to prevent over fuelling.
• A barometric pressure control unit,
compensates for changes in intake
pressure.
FADEC – Full Authority Digital
Engine Control
• Has almost completely replaced hydro mechanical
units.
• Are duplicated for redundancy and have their own
power supply.
• Comprises an Electronic Engine Controller (EEC) and
a Fuel Metering Unit (FMU).
• The EEC is a digital computer which sends control
commands to the FMU.
• The FMU regulates HP pump output pressure.
 FADEC - EEC Unit
The major functions are:
Deliver the correct amount of fuel to the engine.
Fuel shut-off when commanded by the pilot or the EEC.
Overspeed protection.
Controlling compressor airflow.
Ensuring manifold fuel draining on shut-down and
returning excess fuel to the tanks.
FADEC System
 Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger
• Uses heat from the oil to warm the fuel.
• The oil in the FOHE is always at higher
pressure than the fuel to prevent fuel
entering the oil system in the event of an
internal leak.
• Fuel warming is important because it reduces
the risk of fuel waxing.
• Is located upstream from the HP fuel pump to
guarantee it doesn’t become clogged.
Types of Jet Fuel - AVTUR
• Has a specific gravity between 0.62 and
0.88.
• JET A is used in the USA. Most other
countries use Jet A-1.
• May contain additives to inhibit oxidization
and corrosion. Some may also contain anti-
static agents. One of the most common
additives is Fuel System Icing Inhibitor
(FSII).
AVTAG
• JET B (AVTAG) is a cold weather fuel whose
use for commercial operations is prohibited
by EU-OPS.
• Dangerous
• Freezes at -60 C.
• Flash Point -18 C
Properties of Fuels

(EU))

(USA)
-
CANADAA
Fuel Waxing
• The freezing point of JET A is - 40ºC, the freezing point of JET A-
1 is - 47ºC.
• JET A-1 is more suitable for long international flights, especially
on polar routes during the winter.
• Cold kerosene forms waxy deposits (waxing) which can clog
filters and pipes.
• Jet fuel does not become solid at one temperature. It gradually
changes from containing a few wax crystals, to a slush and then
finally to near-solid wax.
• The freezing point of fuel is well above the temperature at
which it completely solidifies.
• Fuel pumps submerged in the fuel tanks of
a multi-engine aircraft are ;
• a) low pressure variable swash plate
pumps.
• b) centrifugal low pressure type
pumps.
• c) centrifugal high pressure pumps.
• d) high pressure variable swash plate
pumps.
• Concerning the fuel system high-pressure shut-off
valve ( HPSOV ) of a gas turbine engine ;
• a) the HPSOV is located between the HP fuel
pump and the fuel control unit.
• b) ignition is activated before fuel is delivered
by the HPSOV to the fuel nozzles.
• c) manual HPSOV control from the cockpit is
not possible with FADEC equipped engines.
• d) the HPSOV is mounted in the wing front spar
near the pylon.
• Fuel flow information for gas turbine engines
is ;
• a) measured in the line between the
fuel control unit and the engine burners.
• b) not used on aircraft.
• c) measured at the outlet of the high
pressure fuel pump.
• d) measured in the line between the
booster pump and the engine.
• The functions of a LP booster pump in a gas
turbine fuel system are to ;
• a) pressurise the fuel dump system and
increase the pressure during refuelling.
• b) avoid vapour locking and increase the
pressure during refuelling.
• c) avoid vapour locking and prevent
cavitation of the HP fuel pump.
• d) increase the pressure during refuelling
and prevent cavitation of the HP fuel pump.
 Has two channels, each
channel has its own computer,
memory, sensors individually.
Has two channels, each channel has
its own computer, memory, sensors
individually.