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Old 25th Feb 2009, 22:11
  #13 (permalink)  
Andy_RR
 
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Not at all likely any time soon.

An engine is an engine is an engine and controlling any of them isn't all that different. Sadly, the FADEC stuff that's on the market is either really old technology or really bad technology compared to what's available in the automotive sector. The Aerosance system is both of these.

The only reason that FADEC hasn't hit aero engines in a big way is to do with production volumes. Most controllers in the automotive sector are made in the millions p.a. In the aero engine sector, you'd be lucky to move 1000 p.a. even if you didn't have the onerous certification burdens of each type/installation. At these volumes the return-on-investment and uncertain market penetration scupper even the best laid plans.

Don't hold your breath for something meaningful from either TCM or Lycoming for more than a few years to come.

BTW, back to the original question re: direct injection. The benefits that the automotive sector are looking for with this (low load fuel consumption reduction) are not relevant for aero engines. There are some advantages to be had (improved knock resistance, for example), but I'm not sure whether the added complexity is a price worth paying (yet). Controlling carbon fouling of the injector on an air-cooled cylinder head could be a complete engineering nightmare too...
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