Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No.

4, 2013

A Digital Diagnostic System for a Small

Turbojet Engine

Rudolf Andoga*, Ladislav Főző**, Ladislav Madarász***,

Tomáš Karoľ***
*
Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Aeronautics, Department of Avionics,
Rampová 7, 04121 Košice Slovakia, e-mail: [email protected]
**
Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Aeronautics, Department of Aviation
Engineering, Rampová 7, 04121 Košice Slovakia, e-mail: [email protected]
***
Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Informatics and Electrical
Engineering, Department of Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence, Letná 9,
04200 Košice Slovakia, e-mail: ladislav.madarasz @tuke.sk, [email protected]

Abstract: During the lifecycle of a system not only functionality but also other aspects like
safety and reliability are very important. These terms are even more important when
connected to aviation in engine and avionic systems control. The reason is simple, a failure
must not cause a shutdown of a system during the flight as it would cause a catastrophe.
The article deals with the proposal of a progressive diagnostics/backup system using a
modified voting method with computational backup models using neural networks. The
proposed architecture is expected to be suitable for turbojet engines and was tested on a
laboratory object, a small turbojet engine MPM-20 with positive results under operational
conditions.

Keywords: digital control; diagnostics; backup; neural network, turbojet engine

1 Introduction – Diagnostics in Aircraft Systems

Progressive approaches in control and advances in the field of artificial
intelligence have found their place in diagnostic systems. The application of such
systems has shown the potential to increase the reliability and safety of the
diagnosed system [1, 2, 3]. The problem of diagnostics is especially important in
the field of aircraft avionic systems [1, 2, 3]. Modern aircraft are dependent on the
errorless operation of different systems that are usually backed up and have built
in diagnostics [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. With the advent of digital systems, the field of
diagnostics offers new possibilities in the implementation of progressive
algorithms instead of traditional voting and bulky hardware back-up methods [2,
3]. Modern computers can run back-up controller and sensor models, thus creating

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

highly redundant networks with greatly increased reliability [5, 6, 7, 8]. Moreover,
digital/electronic/electric devices and algorithms are more susceptible to errors,
either due to interference or algorithmic overload problems; on the other hand
miniaturization offers ways to overcome such problems [6, 7]. The article will
deal mainly with application of new approaches in diagnostics and back-up
systems in the area of turbojet engines. As a test bed, a small turbojet engine
MPM-20 that has been transformed into a digitally controlled system will be used.
The engine is derived from TS-20/21 engines and is an ideal test bed for scientific
purposes [9, 10, 11, 12].

2 Intelligent Engine Control System with Diagnostics

As the engine TS-21 has been adapted to full digital control [9, 10], the safety and
diagnostics of critical parameters come into the forefront. The situational control
system of the engine had to be expanded with diagnostic and back-up modules
that detect faults in the digital control, sensors as well as the back-up systems to
transfer the current engine control strategy into a back-up mode [2, 6, 7, 8]. The
basic architecture of the designed system is shown in the figure 1 [12].

MPM - 20

X Y

U
SITUATIONAL SWITCHING

SITUATIONAL PRESTART STARTUP OPERATIONAL

CLASSIFIER CONTROL CONTROL CONTROLER

DIAGNOSTIC BACKUP
MODULES SYSTEM

Figure 1
The situational control system with diagnostics and backup modules

The function of the system can be described as follows:

 The measured values (input, state, output and action) are deployed
through the diagnostic module where model comparison will show if the
measured parameters are erroneous.

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

 In case of an error in any of the parameters, its value will be replaced by

a value of the back-up sensor or an analytic back-up will be used
(synthetic value calculated by a model).
 Further these values will enter the situational classifier that will select the
actual state of the engine and the appropriate control algorithm.
The whole control process can be broken down into three basic situational frames
which are [12]:
 pre-start diagnostics,
 start-up control,
 operational control and control with degraded control modes [2, 12].
Regarding software implementation, the whole situational control and diagnostic
system is using Matlab/Simulink and LabView systems. Although both overlap in
functionality, LabView is used mainly for data acquisition that is run with
National Instruments data acquisition hardware, data visualization, simple
calculations for certain situational frames (pre-start control, pre-start diagnostics)
and is also used for running the back/up diagnostic module with voting method
that will be described later. Matlab/Simulink is used for complex calculations and
complex control algorithms and models. Simulink runs all neural networks and
dynamic engine models used for diagnostics situational classifier and control,
including servo-valve control and operational engine control.

2.1 Pre-start diagnostics

This situational frame is based on the pre-start control of aggregates that are
necessary for start and operation of the engine. With its realization a diagnostic
expert system has been chosen (Fig. 2) [12].
INTERPRETATIV
USER INTERFACE
MECHANISM

REQUIREMENTS MEASURED DATA FROM

KNOWLEDGE CONTROL THE MPM 20
BASE MECHANISM
MEASURED
DATA

ACTUAL MODEL
DATABASE

Figure 2
The scheme of the diagnostic expert system for MPM-20

The designed expert system is used to test all observed engine sensors tied to the
engine parameters. The system using its knowledge base decides if all the
parameters are at their usual levels and decides if the engine can be started.

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

The whole process can be described as follows:

 Measured data are processed by the expert system and its knowledge
base with rules in the form of inference network.
 The results of the process are shown to the user in the graphical interface.
The expert system has been implemented in LabView environment. Its knowledge
base in the form of the inference network is shown in the Figure 3.
It is possible start It is not possible
the engine start the engine

L L L L L L L L L

Power supply Power supply

Power supply Power supply Power supply
Power supply Faulty Faulty Faulty failure of the failure of the
failure of the flow failure of the flow failure of the RPM
failure (EZOP) thermocouple T2C thermocouple T3C thermocouple T4C pressure sensor pressure sensor
meter 1 meter 2 meter
P2C P3C

Figure 3
The inference network of the pre-start diagnostic expert system

2.2 Pre-Start and Start-Up Control

To implement the proposed algorithms, the hydro-mechanical fuel control unit has
been replaced by the computer controlled servo valve LUN 6743. This represents
the action element for control and it runs in Matlab and LabView environment as
described in the beginning of the chapter 2. The flowchart is depicted in the Fig. 4.
Using a digitally-controlled actuator to meter fuel flow into the engine together
with digitally-controlled auxiliary systems allows us to build a flexible control and
diagnostic system utilizing the concept of a wireless sensor network in the future
[14]. All elements can be controlled and turned on or off independently, tied only
by algorithmic software links. This allows us to build a complex control system
utilizing different control strategies according to situational control methodology.
However, the utilization of complete digital control system puts higher demands
on the functionality of all elements, because a failed sensor can cause catastrophic
failure during digital engine startup that would not appear with hydromechanical
control, where the lack of pressure will not allow any actuation. Now the system is
dependent on values of speed, temperature and pressure that are presented in a
digital form. The start-up of the engine is composed of two phases:
 Phase before ignition (control of auxiliary units – see Figure 4)
 Phase after ignition (situational frame startup – use of fuzzy situational
controller) [9]

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

A part of the start-up control is also formed by implementation of micro-

situational start-up fuzzy controller. This controller handles the engine and
controls fuel flow according to the speed, temperature and temperature derivation
using fuzzy inference system rule base, while also handling atypical situations
during start-up after fuel ignition, such as excess temperatures, flameouts, stalls.
The start-up controller is also tasked with decreasing the exhaust temperature
peaks and securing smooth acceleration towards a normal idle operational state
[9].
START

Start the palications

Turn on the
MATLAB and
main switch
LabVIEW

NO The engine
connection switch is
turned on?

YES

Turn on the spark Turn on the oil

Engine startup
plugs pump

NO The speed NO The speed

of compresor is over of compresor is over
8 000 RPM? 20 000 RPM?

YES
YES

Execute- the „start

Turn on
signal“/
the fuel
Execute- fuzzy Disconnect the Disconect the
pump
startup regulator electrical starter spark plugs

NO
Turn off the engine?

YES

Turn off the

main switch

STOP

Figure 4
The inference network of the pre-start diagnostic expert system

2.3 Operational Control

During the operational control of the engine we use a double looped control circuit
with inner loop controlling the fuel metering valve and the outer loop controlling
the speed or other parameters of the engine using the methodology of situational

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

control [11]. This means that the engine is controlled with different algorithms in
different situational frames that are classified by the situational classifier. Normal
operational is decomposed into different situational frames, such as stable
operation, acceleration, deceleration, degraded modes, etc. [9]

3 Diagnostic and Backup Module

The core of the diagnostics and backup system is represented in the block of
diagnostics/backup in Figure 1. The present control of the engine is done via fuel
supply parameter and, as such, the engine represents a complex system with a
single degree of freedom. The controlled parameter that defines the thrust of the
engine is its speed. The speed of the engine determines the mass air flow through
it, thus determining its thrust. As a testing parameter for the implementation of the
presented diagnostic/backup approach, the parameter of speed has therefore been
chosen. Contrary to other diagnostic systems, the presented system acts as a
diagnostic but also backup system at the same time [13, 14, 15]. The primary way
of obtaining of the engine’s speed is the optical sensor [10, 11], while the other
ways are synthetic model values of:
 successive integration dynamic model,
 a neural network.

Sensors
Diagnostic module

n n_measured
Optical sensor

Mechanical flow QPal Successive n_model

meter integration model n_control
Voting
method
T4C
K thermocouple
n_neural
Neural network
Pressure meter p2C

Figure 5
The structure of the diagnostic module

The structure of the diagnostic/backup module is shown in Figure 5. It shows that

every input into the selection block has an independent sensor suite. This
eliminates their mutual influence and increases reliability. The optical sensor can
produce two types of erroneous outputs:
 A random value – caused by an electro-magnetic environmental conditions,

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

 Sensor failure – caused by a loss of power, loss of communication channel,

or loss of reflex area on the compressor blade.
The designed structural scheme for the realization of the diagnostic/backup
module utilizing the concepts of majority methods is shown in the Figure 6.
I1

Block of system
V4
M1
I2 breakdown

Block of pair
M2
comparison
I3 M3

Gateway Average value

IP

-
+ ε1 V1
q1(ε1)

-
+ ε2 V2
q2(ε2)

-
+ ε3 V3
q3(ε3)

IC
Gateway Average value

Figure 6
The scheme of the diagnostic/backup system for engine speed measurement

The operation of the diagnostic/backup module can be described as follows:

 The input of the system consists of three parameters representing the speed of
engine’s compressor n (I1- optical sensor, I2- successive integration model, I3-
neural network). These signals are transferred through a block of pair
comparison, where the maximal errors between the compared pair are defined
in Table 1. The allowed error is computed as the sum of the allowed errors for
each pair. The optical sensor operates with a maximal error of 200 rpm. The
models have defined errors as the maximal absolute error compared to real
world testing data. The successive integration model has the tolerated error of
2510 rpm and a neural network has the maximal absolute error of 696 rpm.

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

Table 1
Pair comparison of individual inputs

Pair comparison of Allowed error margin (εi,pov+

i-th and j-th input: εj,pov)[rpm]:
I1 and I2 2710
I1 and I3 896
I2 and I3 3006

 After pair comparison, the inputs in the defined tolerances are set and gating
elements values M1, M2 and M3 are set. These values {0,1} directly influence
the inputs into the average value IP.
 If all the gates are set to the value of 0, the activation of the block – “Total
Failure” is executed. The action element is then put into failsafe position and
total failure is also signalized.
 IP at last enters substraction elements where the error residuum εi is generated
and transferred through the function of qi. This function sets if the given input
is without error or not. State is represented by signalization Vi. The allowed
residuum are set as follows:
 optical sensor

1, for :  i  2000 

 
q1    (1)
0, for :  i  2000 
 
 artificial neural network

1, for :  i  1500 

 
q2    (2)
0, for :  i  1500 
 
 successive integration model

1, for :  i  800 

 
q3    (3)
0, for :  i  800 
 
 The values Vi gate the input signals Ii and the arithmetic value IC is then
computed and enters the control circuit.

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

3 Practical Evaluation of the Proposed Model

The proposed and implemented diagnostic/backup system has been
experimentally tested on an MPM-20 engine within its operational speed range.
This means that all tests presented in the following figures contain real-world
measured data where the diagnostic system is operating in real time and uses data
obtained from the data acquisition system. The data acquisition system consists of
sensors, National Instruments data acquisition hardware (cDAQ 9172, NI 9263,
NI 9205, NI 9472, NI 9423, NI 9213) and National Instruments LabView software
used for data acquisition. The system runs at a sampling rate of 100 Hz for
analogue channels, at 10 Hz for speed measurements and at 100 Hz for
computations. Everything is down sampled to the rate of 10 Hz in result, which is
sufficient for a turbojet engine with the time constant of 2 seconds [10, 11].
The faultless operation of the system is shown on the graph presented in Figure 7.
The engine was run for 70 seconds and the graph shows the course of its speed
obtained by different means (optical sensor, polynomial model, neural network)
during accelerations and decelerations and the output from the diagnostic/backup
system. During the following experiments, failures of sensors were simulated as
we cannot physically damage a sensor or computational model (control system
input in general) so a special algorithm in LabView was prepared that triggered
preprogrammed sensor failures by adding a preset value to its output or
completely zeroing its output, thus generating an error signal.
The following real-world tests were executed:
 simulation of the random added values of individual inputs,
 simulation of failures of individual inputs,
 total failure of the sensors.

Figure 7
Outputs during faultless operation

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

Testing with Generated Random Faults

Individual outputs were burdened by added speed of 15000 rpm. The response of
the system can be seen in Figure 8. The output in the graph shows that the
generated errors of individual outputs did not translate into the final output of the
diagnostic system. The figure also shows that some real failures occurred on the
optical sensor (at 30 and 45 seconds). This test demonstrates that the proposed
diagnostic/backup system can handle such failures and won’t translate them
further into the control system where the speed of the engine is used.

Figure 8
Measured data with applied random errors

Simulation of Failures of the Outputs

In this case during operation of the engine, failures of individual outputs were
generated by setting them to zero. The resulting output is shown in Figure 9. The
test again shows that output of the diagnostic/back-up module is not influenced by
any of the failures. The green line represents the signal, which is sent into the
control system and is not influenced by any of the failures.

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

Figure 9
Measured data with failures of individual inputs

Total System Failure

The last experimentally evaluated part was the testing of the total failure mode. In
this case, the model value of the neural network was increased by 25 000 rpm and
the value of 15 000 rpm was added to the successive iteration model (Fig. 10).

Figure 10
Response of the system to total failure with degraded control mode

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R. Andoga et al. Digital Diagnostic System for a Small Turbojet Engine

Under such conditions, the voting method cannot decide which of the outputs is
relevant, because every one of them exceeds the maximal value for pair
comparison. The output of the diagnostic module is then set to zero with a signal
of total failure mode in the graphic user interface and the activation of a failsafe
regime of control. In the failsafe regime of control, the fuel flow supply into the
engine is preset to 0.9 l/min. this is shown in the figure 10. If the errors are gone,
the fuel flow supply is set back into normal operational mode and the control
system transitions into normal control laws for the stable operating regime.
The occurrence of random failures was precisely simulated in the LabView
environment, and it is possible to compare the outputs of the diagnostic/backup
system with true sensor value of the speed.
During the test with random errors, the diagnostic system operated with a mean
average error of MAE=210.116 rpm and maximal absolute average error
MAAE=539.40 rpm. The representative graphical depiction of these courses is
shown in Fig. 11.
In the experiment with individual input failures the errors were as follows MAE=
241.756 rpm a MAAE=577.2548 rpm. The course of the error is shown in Fig. 11.

A B

Figure 11
Difference of values from optical sensor and diagnostic system in the experiment with random values
(A) and the experiment with input failures (B)

The presented figures show that the highest error occurred with the failure of the
optical sensor (time between 42 and 47 seconds), as it operates with the highest
precision and was taken as the reference in the creation of models. However, this
error is on the level of 500 – 600 rpm (5% of the operating range) and is
acceptable for the diagnostic system.
The real-world tests show that the designed and realized diagnostic/backup system
operates correctly according to demands put on it. The method is relatively simple
for implementation and its main advantage is combination of backup and
diagnostic properties in a single unit contrary to other approaches in the field of
turbojet engines [6, 7, 13].

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Acta Polytechnica Hungarica Vol. 10, No. 4, 2013

Conclusions
The presented diagnostic/backup system utilizes the voting majority method,
which is, however, expanded with the methodology of quorum and model based
parameter evaluation. The main advantage of such a system is that it combines
diagnostics and at the same time operates as a backup system as it uses all
available data to synthesize output value. Applying neural networks and
successive iteration computational models into the system allows us to increase
redundancy of the system without adding any back-up sensor. This redundancy
can be increased further by utilizing other measured inputs. The system is
designed in a modular way and can be implemented to distributed computational
architectures so each module can run on different hardware if needed. The other
advantage is its incorporation into situational control systems, which allow
controlling the engine under all situations including atypical ones.
Acknowledgement
The work presented in this paper was supported by VEGA, Grant Agency of
Ministry of Education and Academy of Science of Slovak Republic under Grant
No. 1/0298/12 – “Digital control of complex systems with two degrees of freedom”
and grant No. 1/1117/11 – “Integration of automatic flight control algorithms
with control algorithms of aircraft turbocompressor engines”. The work
presented in this paper was also supported by KEGA under Grant No. 018TUKE-
4/2012 – “Progressive methods of education in the area of control and modeling
of complex systems object oriented on aircraft turbo-compressor engines.
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