The subsonic flight test evaluation phase of the NASA F-15 (powered by F 100 engines) performance seeking control program was completed for single-engine operation at part- and military-power settings. The subsonic performance seeking control algorithm optimizes the quasi-steady-state performance of the propulsion system for three modes of operation. The minimum fuel flow mode minimizes fuel consumption. The minimum thrust mode maximizes thrust at military power. Decreases in thrust-specific fuel consumption of 1 to 2 percent were measured in the minimum fuel flow mode; these fuel savings are significant, especially for supersonic cruise aircraft. Decreases of up to approximately 100 degree R in fan turbine inlet temperature were measured in the minimum temperature mode. Temperature reductions of this magnitude would more than double turbine life if inlet temperature was the only life factor. Measured thrust increases of up to approximately 15 percent in the maximum thrust mode cause substantial increases in aircraft acceleration. The system dynamics of the closed-loop algorithm operation were good. The subsonic flight phase has validated the performance seeking control technology, which can significantly benefit the next generation of fighter and transport aircraft.
Subsonic Flight Test Evaluation of a Performance Seeking Control Algorithm on an F-15 Airplane
1992
20 pages
Report
No indication
English
Aircraft , Aeronautics , Jet & Gas Turbine Engines , Algorithms , Engine control , F-15 aircraft , Feedback control , Flight tests , Life (Durability) , Propulsion system performance , Temperature control , Thrust control , Turbofan engines , Fuel consumption , Fuel flow , Inlet temperature , Kalman filters , Optimization , Thrust , Transport aircraft