Aircraft engine safety and reliability around the world will be enhanced by new tools that enable real-time in-flight engine health monitoring (EHM).
Snecma, a aircraft and rocket specialist whose commercial engines are used within many commercial jets, is using fault detection and condition monitoring data analysis algorithms with validation enabled by a software tool from IDBS, a global provider of innovative data management, analytics and modelling software. Traditionally, aircraft engines are monitored within a ground-based scheduled maintenance programme.
A Snecma proprietary research platform, Samanta, shared among all companies within the Safran group, drastically shortened EHM product development by creating prototype algorithms. Samanta comes with a database capitalising operational data for test and validation purposes. The IDBS E-WorkBook application is linked to Samanta and is used to maintain a history of the algorithms’ maturation process.
Once a prototype algorithm is matured and validated, the code is sent for compilation and execution within real-time fault detection and condition monitoring applications in Snecma’s aircraft engines. E-WorkBook provides a single collaborative platform for the capture, analysis, searching and reporting of all research and development data within a fully compliant, validated environment.
The algorithm takes inputs from the engine of the aircraft, analyses behaviour and identifies abnormality. E-WorkBook links datasets with the algorithm hence ensuring persistence of experiments. Its rich functionality improves information analysis by ensuring that validation scenarios and key performance experiments can be carried out in real-time.
Neil Kipling, CEO and Founder of IDBS, said: 'Snecma uses good data management to create better, higher value, safer products for its market. This is the essence of innovation in R&D, and it is exactly what we create our software to support. We are delighted that Snecma has demonstrated just how versatile a product E-WorkBook has become.'
