The project

As part of an aircraft certification programme our team of specialist engineers worked with a client to develop and qualify a new fuel transfer pump designed to improve the overall fuel system reliability.

The transfer pump was changed from an existing brushless Direct Current (DC) motor design that contained an electronics pack to rectify the variable frequency of the Alternating Current (AC) power supply; to a simpler induction motor design that operates directly off the variable frequency AC power supply. As a result, the new transfer pump had a more variable fuel transfer rate, now dependant on supply frequency, when compared to its predecessor.

• WEC specialist engineers collaborated with the client and equipment supplier to develop and define the tests necessary to demonstrate the new pump satisfied the relevant requirements.
• WEC were required to work as part of a trans-national team to develop and define appropriate tests. The test programme was required to provide evidence to support the demonstration of compliance with requirements at both equipment and system level.
• Equipment level tests included: hydraulic, endurance, thermal, explosion proofness, electrical (including lightning) and vibration.
• System level tests included: transfer rate at various operating conditions, reprime, defuel rate, unusable fuel and normal operation. System level performance was also investigated.