Turbine Engine Monitoring Systems: Can They Benefit Component Improvement Program Management

摘要

The purpose of this study was to identify if the data collected by Turbine Engine Monitoring Systems (TEMS) could benefit an engine's Component Improvement Program (CIP) management. The initial plan was to identify and assess any benefits by comparing an engine with a CIP (PWA TF30) but not TEMS against an engine with a CIP and a TEMS (GE TF34). This was not possible, however, because the TEMS data were not being used to assist with TF34 CIP management because of the lack of a Central Data Base to collate and transform the data. The engine duty cycle was identified as the key to many important areas of a CIP, including engine component life usage and failure replication and diagnosis. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the current methods used to identify as engine's duty cycle lack the accuracy and reliability that are required to manage modern gas turbine engines. The main thrust of the recommendations is that a central data base be established so that the TF34 CIP manager can utilize TEMS data. In addition, a comparison using cost analysis is recommended to firmly establish the benefits to both long and short term engine management. Keywords: Theses; Aircraft engines.