Powering wireless sensors for rotorcraft HUMS

Thumbnail Image
Date
2014
Authors
Burrow, S.
Bowden, J.
Clare, L.
Wells, D.
Hewitt, D.
Sartor, P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Wireless sensors have been widely suggested as a technology to extend the capability of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) on rotorcraft. Free from the constraints of hard wiring, wireless systems not only appear to offer a cost-effective solution, but in cases of instrumenting rotating or hard to reach parts, sometimes the only solution. Wireless data connections can be implemented using a range of mature technologies, however to be a truly wireless system, power cabling must be also be eliminated. This requires either local energy storage in a battery, energy harvesting (where power is generated from the ambient conditions of the sensor node), or a form of wireless power transfer. Of these solutions, only batteries can be considered mature. In this paper the power requirements of a wireless HUMS sensor node, designed to be mounted directly on the rotor head, are described and the possible power solutions considered. The very best energy-dense batteries currently available could power this node for many 100’s of flight hours (for a reasonable battery volume) but it is unlikely these chemistries would be acceptable in the high stress rotating environment; battery technologies that are proven for high g environments would power this node for just a few 10’s of flight hours. A vibration-powered generator is described which can produce up to 50mW average power during flight, potentially providing the 1000+ flight hours desirable for whole lifetime monitoring of rotor head parts.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Collections