Model-based Fault Diagnosis of an Aircraft Environmental Control System

Abstract

An environmental control system (ECS) creates habitable living conditions inside an aircraft by pressurizing the cabin, controlling temperature and providing breathing air. This has a major impact on a crew’s comfort, performance and safety. The objective of this thesis was to develop a simulation model of an aircraft’s ECS and use it to acquire more knowledge of the ECS’s dynamic response. Another area of interest was how modifications affect ECS performance. The project also included comprehensive measurements in order to verify the simulation model. The thesis resulted in a partially verified simulation model which is valid in some of the most common flight situations. The model still needs further development and thorough testing to increase simulation accuracy and validity. Especially accurate implementation of the dynamic response needs further investigation and research. Despite an unfinished model, we were able to gather new knowledge of the ECS and its characteristics.