A health monitoring system and adaptive adjustment method for a scramjet cooling channel
By combining fiber optic sensor arrays and intelligent analysis modules, the status of the cooling channels of scramjet engines can be diagnosed in real time, enabling adaptive flow regulation. This addresses the shortcomings of existing monitoring and regulation technologies, thereby improving engine safety and performance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) (INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SHENZHEN)
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-15
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-10
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies struggle to achieve real-time, in-situ, and high-precision thermo-mechanical state monitoring of the cooling channels of scramjet engines, lack early fault diagnosis capabilities, and have an open-loop regulation system that cannot respond to dynamic thermal loads, thus limiting engine performance.
A distributed monitoring system using a fiber optic sensor array, combined with an intelligent analysis and decision-making module, is used to diagnose the status of the cooling channels in real time. Adaptive flow control is achieved through pump and valve regulation, forming a closed-loop control system.
It enables precise fault diagnosis and health management of cooling channels, improves engine safety and lifespan, adapts to dynamic heat load changes, and enhances system integration and engineering practicality.
Smart Images
Figure CN122360946A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of aero-engine management and condition monitoring technology, specifically to a scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system and adaptive adjustment method. Background Technology
[0002] As the core power unit for hypersonic flight, the scramjet engine's combustion chamber must withstand extreme aerodynamic and thermal loads, with peak heat flux densities reaching the MW / m² level. To ensure structural integrity, the combustion chamber walls generally employ regenerative or active cooling channels, achieving thermal protection through convective heat transfer from the fuel or a dedicated coolant. Real-time, in-situ, and high-precision thermo-mechanical state monitoring of the cooling channels, and adaptive flow adjustment based on the monitoring data, are crucial for ensuring safe engine operation, improving thermal efficiency, and extending service life.
[0003] Currently, the monitoring and adjustment of the cooling channels for scramjet engines mainly face the following technical bottlenecks:
[0004] 1. Limited monitoring methods make it difficult to obtain the true internal state. Existing monitoring technologies mainly rely on thermocouples and infrared thermal imaging. Thermocouples are contact-type point measurements with low spatial resolution, making it difficult to achieve distributed arrangement in complex cooling structures. Furthermore, the metal leads are prone to failure under high temperature and vibration environments, and easily introduce electromagnetic interference. Infrared thermal imaging can only obtain the temperature distribution of the outer wall surface and cannot penetrate the wall to obtain the internal fluid temperature, pressure, and inner wall thermal parameters of the cooling channel. It is also significantly affected by the obstruction of combustion products and changes in wall emissivity. Neither method can simultaneously obtain multi-physical field information such as pressure and strain, making it difficult to comprehensively assess the "thermal-fluid-solid" coupling state of the cooling channel.
[0005] 2. Lack of effective early diagnosis capabilities for faults such as coking and blockage. Hydrocarbon fuels are prone to cracking and coking on high-temperature walls, leading to a reduction in cooling channel flow area and an increase in thermal resistance, which is a major fault mode threatening engine safety. Traditional monitoring methods struggle to detect the formation of minute coking layers in a timely manner, typically only triggering an alarm after a significant increase in pressure drop or localized overheating, thus lacking early warning capabilities.
[0006] 3. The open-loop control system cannot respond to dynamic thermal loads. Existing cooling flow control is mostly based on preset operating conditions or simple temperature thresholds for open-loop adjustment, and cannot perform real-time closed-loop optimization based on the actual thermal state inside the cooling channel. When the aircraft's speed and airspace change rapidly, a fixed cooling strategy is prone to local overheating or overcooling, which restricts the expansion of engine performance limits. Summary of the Invention
[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems in existing technologies, this invention proposes a health monitoring system and adaptive adjustment method for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine. According to the system and method, this invention uses a high-fidelity sensor data through an intelligent analysis and decision-making module to diagnose the cooling channel status (such as overheating, coking, and unstable flow) in real time, and automatically generates control commands to achieve adaptive flow regulation by adjusting pump valves. This forms a complete closed loop of "perception-analysis-decision-execution," realizing a leap from passive monitoring to active thermal management.
[0008] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above problems is as follows: This invention proposes a health monitoring system for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine, the system comprising: The status perception and monitoring module is used to acquire data on changes in the optical properties of the cooling channel wall. The data transmission and conversion module is used to filter and reduce noise in the optical property change data, and convert it into a dataset of temperature, pressure and vibration physical quantities. The intelligent analysis and decision-making module analyzes and judges the real-time status of the cooling channel based on the dataset and historical model, decides the adjustment target, and generates corresponding pump control commands. The strategy execution and regulation module is used to execute control commands and regulate the flow rate of the cooling medium.
[0009] Furthermore, the state sensing and monitoring module includes fiber optic measuring points and fiber optic leads. Multiple fiber optic measuring points are distributed in an array within the cooling channel. Based on the characteristics of the internal physical effects of the fiber optics changing with temperature, in-situ, passive, and interference-resistant measurement of the axial and outlet cross-sectional temperatures of the cooling channel is achieved.
[0010] Furthermore, the data transmission and conversion module includes a light source, an isolator, a beam splitter, a circulator, a photodetector, and an AD acquisition card. The light source provides stable optical power input; the isolator prevents reactive light from damaging the light source and ensures system stability; the beam splitter proportionally distributes and combines the optical path; the circulator enables sequential unidirectional light guidance, effectively isolating incident and reflected light; the photodetector receives modulated optical signals from fiber optic measurement points and converts information reflecting the cooling channel flow field into corresponding analog electrical signals; the AD acquisition card performs high-speed, high-precision sampling, quantization, and encoding of the analog electrical signals output by the photodetector.
[0011] Furthermore, the intelligent analysis and decision-making module includes a host computer, which is used to analyze and make decisions based on temperature, pressure, and vibration data, and generate pump control commands.
[0012] Furthermore, the strategy execution and adjustment module includes a pump, a fuel tank, a cooling channel, and a combustion chamber. The pump inlet is connected to the fuel tank outlet via a pipeline, the fuel tank outlet is connected to the cooling channel inlet via a pipeline, and the cooling channel outlet is connected to the combustion chamber. The pump is used to receive instructions from the host computer and dynamically adjust the fuel flow rate by adjusting the pump speed or valve opening.
[0013] This invention also proposes an adaptive adjustment method based on a scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system, the method comprising the following steps: Step 1: The state perception and monitoring module 1 senses the changes in the optical properties of the cooling channel wall at fiber optic measuring point 5; Step 2: The data transmission and conversion module filters and reduces noise on the optical property change data, and converts it into a dataset of temperature, pressure and vibration physical quantities. Step 3: The intelligent analysis and decision-making module analyzes and judges the real-time status of the cooling channel based on the dataset and historical model, decides the adjustment target, and generates corresponding pump control commands. Step 4: The strategy execution and adjustment module receives the control command and dynamically adjusts the fuel flow by adjusting the pump speed or valve opening to achieve closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the cooling channel status.
[0014] Furthermore, in step three, the intelligent analysis and decision-making module includes a host computer. When the host computer detects that the temperature of the inner or outer wall of the cooling channel or the outlet temperature exceeds the preset safety threshold, the module generates and issues a command to increase the flow rate of the cooling medium, thereby enhancing the convective heat transfer capacity and achieving active suppression of over-temperature conditions. When the host computer detects that the temperature gradient in the cooling channel increases abnormally or the flow signal oscillates, the module generates and issues a dynamic adjustment command to perform closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the cooling medium flow rate to suppress thermal stress concentration and stabilize the flow state.
[0015] Furthermore, when the host computer detects that the pressure value or pressure gradient in the cooling channel exceeds the corresponding coking warning threshold, it determines that there is a risk of coking or that a coking layer has already formed in the cooling channel. Based on the determination result, the intelligent analysis and decision module generates and issues control commands to increase the medium flow rate of the corresponding cooling circuit. By increasing the flow rate and shearing action, it achieves physical scouring and suppression of the coking layer and enhances the heat exchange capacity of the area to reduce the local temperature and slow down the coking process.
[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: 1. Constructing an intelligent closed-loop adaptive control system: This invention uses a high-fidelity sensor data analysis and decision-making module to diagnose the cooling channel status (such as overheating, coking, and unstable flow) in real time, and automatically generates control commands to achieve adaptive flow regulation by adjusting pump valves. This forms a complete closed loop of "sensing-analysis-decision-execution," realizing a leap from passive monitoring to active thermal management.
[0017] 2. Provides accurate fault diagnosis and health management capabilities: By analyzing derived parameters such as temperature gradient and pressure gradient, the system can identify and locate faults such as coking, blockage, thermal stress concentration and coolant leakage at an early stage, realize predictive maintenance, and provide key data support for engine life prediction and intelligent health management.
[0018] 3. High system integration and strong engineering applicability: This invention highly integrates sensing, transmission, demodulation, decision-making, and execution modules, proposing a clear technical path and implementation plan. The fiber optic sensing system has strong reusability and simple wiring, significantly improving the system's engineering feasibility and maintainability, making it suitable for the integrated and intelligent development needs of future hypersonic vehicles. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system of the present invention.
[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the adaptive adjustment method for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine according to the present invention.
[0021] In the diagram: 1-Status perception and monitoring module; 2-Data transmission and conversion module; 3-Intelligent analysis and decision-making module; 4-Strategy execution and adjustment module; 5-Fiber optic measuring point; 6-Fiber optic lead; 7-Light source; 8-Isolator; 9-Bundle splitter; 10-Circulator; 11-Photodetector; 12-AD acquisition card; 13-Host computer; 14-Pump; 15-Fuel tank; 16-Cooling channel; 17-Combustion chamber. Detailed Implementation
[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment proposes a health monitoring system for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine, comprising: The state sensing and monitoring module 1 includes fiber optic measuring points 5 and fiber optic leads 6. Multiple fiber optic measuring points 5 are arranged in an array within the cooling channel 16. After being connected via fiber optic leads 6, their output ends are connected to the input end of the data transmission and conversion module 2. Depending on the selected fiber type (e.g., FBG fiber, Fabry-Perot cavity fiber), the internal physical effects of the fiber (wavelength, intensity, scattering frequency, phase, etc.) will deterministically change with the local temperature variations along the axial direction and at the outlet section of the cooling channel in the scramjet engine combustion chamber. It directly modulates the optical signal, enabling in-situ, passive, and interference-resistant measurement under high-temperature and high-pressure interference environments.
[0023] The data transmission and conversion module 2 includes a light source 7, an isolator 8, a beam splitter 9, a circulator 10, a photodetector 11, and an AD acquisition card 12. The light source 7 is used to provide stable optical power input; the isolator 8 is used to prevent reactive light from damaging the light source and to ensure system stability; the beam splitter 9 is used to proportionally distribute and synthesize the optical path; the circulator 10 is used to realize sequential unidirectional light guidance of the optical signal, effectively isolating the incident light and reflected light; the photodetector 11 is used to receive the modulated optical signal from the fiber optic measuring point 5 and convert the information reflecting the cooling channel flow field into the corresponding analog electrical signal; the AD acquisition card 12 is used to perform high-speed, high-precision sampling, quantization, and encoding of the analog electrical signal output by the photodetector 11.
[0024] Its working principle is as follows: The light source 7 generates an optical signal, which first passes through the isolator 8 to prevent reflected light from affecting the stability of the light source, and then enters the beam splitter 9. The circulator 10 transmits the optical signal from its left port to its right port and outputs it to the external optical fiber link. At the same time, it guides the optical signal returned from the external link from the right port to the lower port. The light output from the lower port is converted into an analog electrical signal by the photodetector 11, and finally sampled and quantized into a digital signal by the AD acquisition card 12 for use by the subsequent processing system.
[0025] The intelligent analysis and decision-making module 3 includes a host computer 13, whose input is connected to the output of the AD acquisition card 12. Based on real-time data such as temperature, pressure, and vibration, it analyzes and judges the current state of the cooling channel. It decides whether adjustment is needed and the adjustment target, and translates the adjustment requirements into specific control commands for the pump 14.
[0026] The strategy execution and adjustment module 4 includes a pump 14, a fuel tank 15, a cooling channel 16, and a combustion chamber 17. The inlet of the pump 14 is connected to the outlet of the fuel tank 15 through a pipeline, the outlet of the fuel tank 15 is connected to the inlet of the cooling channel 16 through a pipeline, and the outlet of the cooling channel 16 is connected to the combustion chamber 17. The control commands issued by the host computer 13 are transmitted to the controller or valve actuator of the pump 14. By adjusting the speed of the pump 14 or the valve opening, the fuel flow from the fuel tank 15 to the cooling channel 16 can be dynamically adjusted.
[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment also proposes an adaptive adjustment method for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine, including the following steps: Step 1: The state perception and monitoring module 1 senses the changes in the optical properties of the cooling channel wall at fiber optic measuring point 5; Step 2: The data transmission and conversion module 2 filters and reduces noise on the optical property change data, and converts it into a dataset of temperature, pressure and vibration physical quantities. Step 3: The intelligent analysis and decision-making module 3 analyzes and judges the real-time status of the cooling channel based on the dataset and historical model, decides the adjustment target, and generates the corresponding pump control command. When the host computer 13 detects that the temperature of the inner or outer wall of the cooling channel or the outlet temperature exceeds the preset safety threshold, the module generates and issues a command to increase the flow rate of the cooling medium, thereby enhancing the convective heat transfer capacity and realizing the active suppression of over-temperature conditions; when the host computer 13 detects that the temperature gradient in the cooling channel increases abnormally or the flow signal oscillates, the module generates and issues a dynamic adjustment command to perform closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the cooling medium flow rate to suppress thermal stress concentration and stabilize the flow state.
[0028] When the host computer 13 detects that the pressure value or pressure gradient in the cooling channel exceeds the corresponding coking warning threshold, it determines that there is a risk of coking or that a coking layer has already formed in the cooling channel. Based on the determination result, the intelligent analysis and decision module 3 generates and issues control commands to increase the medium flow rate of the corresponding cooling circuit. By increasing the flow rate and shearing action, it achieves physical scouring and suppression of the coking layer and enhances the heat exchange capacity of the area to reduce the local temperature and delay the coking process.
[0029] Step 4: The strategy execution and adjustment module 4 receives the control command and dynamically adjusts the fuel flow rate by adjusting the pump speed or valve opening to achieve closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the cooling channel status.
[0030] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention, based on the technical essence of the present invention and within the spirit and principles of the present invention, shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A health monitoring system for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine, characterized in that, The system includes: The state perception and monitoring module (1) is used to acquire data on changes in the optical properties of the cooling channel wall. The data transmission and conversion module (2) is used to filter and reduce noise on the optical property change data and convert it into a dataset of temperature, pressure and vibration physical quantities. The intelligent analysis and decision-making module (3) analyzes and judges the real-time status of the cooling channel based on the dataset and historical model, decides the adjustment target and generates the corresponding pump control command; The strategy execution and adjustment module (4) is used to execute control commands and adjust the flow rate of the cooling medium.
2. The scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The state sensing and monitoring module (1) includes fiber optic measuring points (5) and fiber optic leads (6). Multiple fiber optic measuring points (5) are distributed in an array within the cooling channel (16). Based on the characteristics of the internal physical effects of the fiber changing with temperature, in-situ, passive, and interference-resistant measurement of the axial and outlet section temperature of the cooling channel is realized.
3. The scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The data transmission and conversion module (2) includes a light source (7), an isolator (8), a beam splitter (9), a circulator (10), a photodetector (11), and an AD acquisition card (12). The light source (7) is used to provide stable optical power input; the isolator (8) is used to prevent reactive light from damaging the light source and to ensure system stability; the beam splitter (9) is used to proportionally distribute and synthesize the optical path; the circulator (10) is used to realize sequential unidirectional light guiding of the optical signal and isolate incident light from reflected light; the photodetector (11) is used to receive the modulated optical signal from the fiber optic measuring point (5) and convert the information that reflects the flow field of the cooling channel into the corresponding analog electrical signal; the AD acquisition card (12) is used to perform high-speed, high-precision sampling, quantization, and encoding of the analog electrical signal output by the photodetector (11).
4. The scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The intelligent analysis and decision module (3) includes a host computer (13) for analyzing and making decisions based on temperature, pressure and vibration data, and generating pump control commands.
5. The scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The strategy execution and adjustment module (4) includes a pump (14), a fuel tank (15), a cooling channel (16), and a combustion chamber (17). The inlet of the pump (14) is connected to the outlet of the fuel tank (15) through a pipeline. The outlet of the fuel tank (15) is connected to the inlet of the cooling channel (16) through a pipeline. The outlet of the cooling channel (16) is connected to the combustion chamber (17). The pump (14) is used to receive instructions from the host computer (13) and dynamically adjust the fuel flow by adjusting the speed of the pump (14) or the valve opening.
6. An adaptive adjustment method for a scramjet engine cooling channel health monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: Step 1: The state sensing and monitoring module (1) senses the changes in the optical properties of the cooling channel wall at the fiber optic measuring point (5); Step 2: The data transmission and conversion module (2) filters and reduces noise on the optical property change data and converts it into a dataset of temperature, pressure and vibration physical quantities. Step 3: The intelligent analysis and decision-making module (3) analyzes and judges the real-time status of the cooling channel based on the dataset and historical model, decides the adjustment target, and generates the corresponding pump control command. Step 4: The strategy execution and adjustment module (4) receives the control command and dynamically adjusts the fuel flow rate by adjusting the speed of the pump (4) or the valve opening, thereby realizing closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the cooling channel status.
7. The adaptive adjustment method for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine according to claim 6, characterized in that, In step three, the intelligent analysis and decision module (3) includes a host computer (13). When the host computer (13) detects that the temperature of the inner and outer walls or the outlet temperature of the cooling channel exceeds the preset safety threshold, the module generates and issues an instruction to increase the flow rate of the cooling medium, thereby enhancing the convective heat transfer capacity and realizing the active suppression of over-temperature conditions. When the host computer (13) detects that the temperature gradient in the cooling channel (16) increases abnormally or the flow signal oscillates, the module generates and issues a dynamic adjustment instruction to perform closed-loop adaptive adjustment of the flow rate of the cooling medium in order to suppress thermal stress concentration and stabilize the flow state.
8. The adaptive adjustment method for the cooling channel of a scramjet engine according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the host computer (13) detects that the pressure value or pressure gradient in the cooling channel (16) exceeds the corresponding coking warning threshold, it determines that there is a risk of coking or that a coking layer has already formed in the cooling channel; the intelligent analysis and decision module (3) generates and issues control commands based on the determination result, and increases the medium flow rate of the corresponding cooling circuit accordingly. By increasing the flow rate and shearing action, it achieves physical scouring and suppression of the coking layer, and enhances the heat exchange capacity of the area, so as to reduce the local temperature and delay the coking process.