Chapter 3 - Engine Indicating Systems Flashcards
What is N1, N2, NG and NF otherwise known as?
N1 - LP
N2 - HP
NG - Gas generator speed
NF - Free turbine (power turbine)
Which part of the tachometer generator is fitted to the engine?
Miniature 3 phase delta wound (squirrel cage) permanent magnet rotor alternator
Where a tachometer indicator uses two pointers, what will be the gearing between them?
10:1 always
What are required in the tachometer indicator to provide the torque force in the drag cup which will oppose the controlling hairspring force?
Eddy currents, will form magnetic fluxes which will be attracted to the rotating permanent magnet
What does a pulse probe (phonic wheel) consist of?
- Two permanent magnets
- Three pole pieces
- Coil assembly
What is the spacing of the pole pieces on a phonic wheel equal to?
The pitch of the teeth on the phonic wheel which is an integral part of the N1 and N2 shafts
Describe the operation of a pulse probe (phonic wheel type)?
Rotation of the shaft causes the teeth on the periphery of the phonic wheel to pass the appropriate pulse probe once per revolution
Magnetic flux experiences constant fluctuations because of the changing reluctance as the teeth pass the probes, which causes a voltage to be induced into a coil within the probe and an electrical signal to be produced
Frequency of voltage is directly proportional to the speed of rotation of the shaft phonic wheel
What is the result when the teeth of the phonic wheel are in line with the pole pieces of the pulse probe?
A path of relatively low reluctance is apparent
Why are two pulse probes used which are mounted 90° out of phase with each other?
To indicate the direction of rotation
In the electromagnetic method of measuring rotational speed, why are there two electromagnetic coils?
One dedicated to the standby indicator system, and a second dedicated to the primary N1 indication
What is the purpose of the higher tooth in the electromagnetic method of measuring rotational speed of the N1 rotor shaft?
Generate a stronger signal for a 1/rev reference for fan trim balance
Describe the operation of the eddy current sensor?
Electronic eddy current unit which consists of a permanent magnet and coil
Compressor speed is measured by the sensor unit which counts the number of fan blades passing a fixed point in a given unit of time
What does the N3 tachometer consist of?
Twelve pole permanent magnet rotor within a single phase stator
What does the propeller synchro work on the principle of?
Operating all engines at exactly the same RPM
Why is one engine always designated as the master?
The slaves will always copy the RPM of the master
What is the most common component used to measure the speed and phase difference between propellers?
Magnetic pulse probe
What happens if either the RPM or the phase of the slave engine needs to be adjusted?
Synch controller will signal the slave engine to either increase or decrease RPM as required through the governor assembly
How is EGT indication achieved?
By measuring an electrical signal produced by a system of thermocouples positioned in the hot gas stream and wired to form a parallel circuit
What are the two basic types of thermocouples?
- Contact
- Immersion
What are the materials normally used in the contact type of thermocouple?
Copper/constantan or iron/constantan
What are the materials normally used in the immersion type of thermocouple?
Chromel/alumel
What are the two types of immersion thermocouple?
- Stagnation
- Rapid response
Describe stagnation types of thermocouple?
Used in pure jet engines where gas velocities are high
Gas entry and exit holes in the sheath are staggered and of unequal size
Slows the gas flow down to allow the junction to respond to changes in gas temperature
Describe rapid response types of thermocouple?
Used in turbo prop engines where the gas velocities are low
Sampling holes are of equal size and diametrically opposite
Gas flow is directly over the junction to ensure rapid response to any change in temperature
Why are thermocouple probes normally connected in parallel?
So that the average temperature is measured
How many thermocouple probes are normally fitted?
Six or more
What is the purpose of the cold junction compensator?
To detect and correct any changes in ambient temperature at the cold junction
How else might indication of the thermocouple lead be ascertained where colour coding is impossible?
Alumel is slightly magnetic
How can you identify thermocouple leads by their colour coding?
Positive lead being chromel - red insulation
Negative lead being alumel - blue insulation
Which materials are used for the compensating cables in a thermocouple?
Constantan for alumel
Copper for chromel
Which resistor cannot be changed in a thermocouple EGT system?
Ballast resistor
Which wire material is used for trimming in the constantan cable?
Eureka
Which wire material is used for trimming in the copper cable?
Manganin
What are the two factors which affect the choice of wire material for trimming resistors?
- Temperature coefficient must be small so that resistance value is unaffected by temperature
- Wire material must have similar thermoelectric properties as the cable in which they are placed
Describe an averaging dual element thermocouple?
Thermocouples placed into the same point of the gas stream but of different lengths
What will cause a solenoid warning flag to appear?
- In the event of 115V AC supply to the indicator falling below 100V
- Servo loop monitor detecting a failure of the servo loop to back off the error signal voltage
What is the pyrometer sensor and how does it work?
A lens that gets infrared light from the LPT first stage blades
Infrared light goes through the fibre optic cable to the electronics module, which turns the infrared light into the electrical signals for the EEC
What is the speed of the synchronous motor in the tachometer indicator entirely dependent on?
The frequency of the current fed to it