Aircraft Fuel System Calculation

Basic problems of design and validation of airplane fuel system have been analyzed. Based on this, the key technologies have been studied. One fluid network algorithm for fuel system and characteristic calculation model of elements has been built. At last, validation has been done for a certain airplane fuel system using the developed simulation program.A fluid network algorithm is presented. It divides the fuel system into corresponding elements and nodes. Fuel system could be described by limited kinds of elements and fluids.Based on the design concepts of the typical element, all the algorithm for elements have been established and the common and typical element library for airplane fuel system have been built.The calculating method of gradually reducing the remnants of the nodes is used to deal with the network. This technique has significant distinguishing features in universality and simplicity of operation. The calculating process is steady and convergent well.Especially, the fuel transfer by gravity has been analyzed and new calculation method for gravity feed has been presented.For a certain airplane fuel system, the oil transfer and gravity feed problems under different flight conditions have been predicted, and the results meet the engineering requirements well.