NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : Compressor Stall Warning System

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

Compression systems are subject to aerodynamic instabilities that limit the stable operating range of the compressor. Recent research have shown that the Hynes-Greitzer model accurately predicts the mass flow at which a compressor stalls, and that a traveling wave, predicted by the model, is present prior to stall. Currently no stall warning system is available and aircraft are being flown with an unnecessarily large margin of safety at the expense of lower efficiency. SSCI proposes a compressor stall warning system that combines existing flight data, a priori information, and the compressor map with the Hynes-Greitzer model to give a stall warning indicator whenever the compressor is approaching the stall point.

The objective of Phase I is to show that currently available flight data and a priori information are sufficient to provide a reliable stall indicator. The concept will be extended in Phase II to include measurements of flow perturbations. The addition of this instrumentation will allow monitoring of engine degradation with time and allow appropriate maintenance steps to be taken on a timely basis.

Prof. James D. Paduano from MIT, who has done pioneering work on control and identification of these fluid dynamic instabilities, will provide consulting support. A collaboration with the engine manufacturers will be developed in Phase II.

Both current and future commercial and military aircraft will benefit enormously from the proposed stall warning indicator as this would allow more efficient operation with smaller stall margins. The savings in cost and safety are enormous leading to a very high commercial potential for the proposed innovation.

Dr. Christiaan van Schalkwyk
Scientific Systems Company, Inc.
500 West Cummings Park Suite 3000
Woburn, MA 01801

Scientific Systems Company, Inc.
500 West Cummings Park Suite 3000
Woburn, MA 01801