ECU Over-Temperature Shutdown in Failed-Fixed Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engine control units (ECUs) face overheating issues due to extreme temperatures, which can lead to component damage and failure, especially during engine shutdown conditions without forced cooling, exceeding the operational temperature limits of electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for managing over-temperature excursions in ECUs, involving temperature monitoring and power enable devices that disable actuators if temperature thresholds are exceeded, with independent power sources and multiple temperature sensors to prevent thermal damage, allowing safe engine operation in high-temperature environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ECU operates without forced cooling during engine shutdown, then the system maintains operational capability, but the temperature exceeds component limits causing damage and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature monitoring and power enable device continuously monitors temperature before damage occurs and preemptively disables the ECU when thresholds are approached, preventing thermal damage before it happens
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses temperature sensors to provide continuous feedback to the power enable device, which adjusts power supply based on real-time temperature conditions, creating a closed-loop thermal management system
2Temperature
If the ECU is mounted on a cooling system to cope with extreme temperatures, then thermal protection is improved, but the device complexity and potential for cooling failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the critical thermal protection function from the mechanical cooling system by implementing an independent electronic monitoring and power control system that operates autonomously based on temperature feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU system monitors its own temperature and autonomously controls its own power supply to prevent overheating, without requiring external intervention or complex mechanical cooling infrastructure
3Reliability
If multiple temperature thresholds and independent monitoring are implemented, then thermal protection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature protection is segmented into multiple discrete threshold levels (first threshold and second threshold), allowing staged response to different thermal conditions and enabling more nuanced thermal management
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing over-temperature excursions in an electronic control unit of a control system having failed-fixed capability and an operationally independent temperature monitoring and power enable function. The method includes receiving a temperature signal indicative of a temperature associated with an electronic control unit, determining if the temperature associated with the electronic control unit exceeds a first selected threshold, determining if the temperature associated with the electronic control unit exceeds a second selected threshold, and ascertaining if an engine associated with the control system is operational. The method also includes that if the engine is not operational and the temperature exceeds the first selected threshold, then disabling an actuator associated with the control system. In addition, the method also includes that if the temperature associated with the electronic control unit exceeds the second selected threshold, then disabling an actuator associated with the control system.