Modelling and reducing fuel flow pulsation of a fuel-metering system during pump mode switching in a turbofan engine

In this research, the transient characteristics of a new type fuel metering system for aircraft turbofan engines using two types of pumps, a gear pump and a centrifugal pump, were studied by modelling and simulation. This new fuel metering system is capable of hydraulically unloading the operating state of each pump by the pump mode switching mechanism within the permissible range of the pump rotation speed and the fuel flow rate and it is possible to reduce the fuel temperature rise due to the pressure loss in the circuit in the operation region of the entire fuel system. In addition to this, by using a small centrifugal pump that can realize high discharge flow rate, it is possible to reduce weight compared to the conventional fuel system. However, when the pump mode is switched, unexpected fluctuation in the fuel flow rate can occur when a large change in the inlet pressure of the system occurs, the pressure control unit cannot follow the change, and the transient phenomenon cannot be suppressed. At this time, the pressure waveform generated at the time of changing the pump mode includes a high frequency component such that the pressure control unit, which plays a role of keeping the metering valve differential pressure constant, cannot follow up. Therefore, in this paper, we focused on the frequency of the pressure change waveform when the pump mode was changed and studied the model of the fuel system inlet pressure in the gear pump mode. Based on that model, we propose a method to reduce the frequency characteristics of the pressure change occurring at the time of pump mode change.