Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting and isolating structural faults is provided. To detect and isolate structural faults, a plurality of sensed features that corresponds to sensor data from the monitoring sub-system and a plurality of estimated features that corresponds to the plurality of sensed features can be generated. Further, the plurality of sensed features and the plurality of estimated features can be compared to produce a plurality of residuals. From the plurality of residuals, at least one structural fault within the vehicle are determined and isolated for further use of maintenance decision support.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining data from at least one sensor, the data pertaining to rotor loads and motion, processing, by a device comprising a processor, the data to obtain an estimate of at least one of gross weight (GW) and center of gravity (CG) for a rotorcraft, and outputting the estimate.

Abstract: A system for reconstructing sensor data in a rotor system that comprises a rotating component of the rotor system, a plurality of sensors in the rotating component to sense at least one of loads and motion characteristics in the rotating component and to generate sensor data, and an analysis unit to generate reconstructed sensor data from the sensor data using numerical analysis for low-rank matrices.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program for detecting and isolating structural faults is provided. To detect and isolate structural faults, a plurality of sensed features that corresponds to sensor data from the monitoring sub-system and a plurality of estimated features that corresponds to the plurality of sensed features can be generated. Further, the plurality of sensed features and the plurality of estimated features can be compared to produce a plurality of residuals. From the plurality of residuals, at least one structural fault within the vehicle are determined and isolated for further use of maintenance decision support.

Abstract: An example method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell flows the fuel reactant stream through a fluidized ammonia dissolving media, while simultaneously flowing water through the fluidized ammonia dissolving media to separate contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. The separated contaminant and water stream from the fluidized bed is accumulated within an accumulator, circulated through a water-control loop, and decontaminated by flowing the stream through an ion exchange bed secured in fluid communication with the water-control loop. A decontaminated water stream from the ion exchange bed is circulated back through the ammonia dissolving media. A temperature of the fuel reactant stream is controlled upstream of the fuel reactant stream entering the separator scrubber to produce a predetermined temperature of the fuel reactant stream passing through the separator scrubber.

Abstract: An example method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell flows the fuel reactant stream through a fluidized ammonia dissolving media, while simultaneously flowing water through the fluidized ammonia dissolving media to separate contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. The separated contaminant and water stream from the fluidized bed is accumulated within an accumulator, circulated through a water-control loop, and decontaminated by flowing the stream through an ion exchange bed secured in fluid communication with the water-control loop. A decontaminated water stream from the ion exchange bed is circulated back through the ammonia dissolving media. A temperature of the fuel reactant stream is controlled upstream of the fuel reactant stream entering the separator scrubber to produce a predetermined temperature of the fuel reactant stream passing through the separator scrubber.

Abstract: One aspect is a structural fault estimation system for a rotor system. The structural fault estimation system includes a plurality of sensors operable to provide a plurality of measured rotor loads and motion of the rotor system. A rotor loads and motion estimator is operable to produce a plurality of estimated rotor loads and motion for the rotor system. A rotor fault estimator is operable to determine residual rotor loads and motion as a difference between the measured rotor loads and motion and the estimated rotor loads and motion, and estimate fault magnitudes for the rotor system using least squares relative to fault models and the residual rotor loads and motion. The structural fault estimation system can perform structural fault estimation in real-time on an aircraft while in operation.

Abstract: A fluidized contaminant separator and water-control loop (10) decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (12). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving media (61) within a fluidized bed (62) while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. A fuel-control heat exchanger (57) upstream from the scrubber (58) removes heat from the fuel stream. A water-control loop (78) directs flow of the separated contaminants and water stream from an accumulator (68) through an ion exchange bed (88) which removes contaminants from the stream. Decontaminated water is directed back into the scrubber (58) to flow through the fluidized bed (62). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material (88) minimizes costs and maintenance requirements.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for determining blade clearance for asymmetrical rotors. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting displacement data of a rotor blade coupled to a shaft, receiving tachometer data determined for rotation speed of the shaft, and resampling the displacement data of the rotor blade based on the tachometer data. Resampling may include sampling the displacement data at constant increments of shaft rotation. The method may also include determining blade clearance based on the resampled displacement data.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining an impact energy signal associated with each of a plurality of teeth of a gear over a revolution of a shaft associated with the gear, generating, by a computing device comprising a processor, a profile of the impact energy signal, and declaring a fault associated with an identified tooth included in the plurality of teeth based on an analysis of the profile.

Abstract: A system and method for operating fuel cell power plant 10 includes enclosing fuel bearing components, such as fuel cell stack 28 and reformer 24, into a fuel compartment 12 separate from motorized components in a motor compartment 14, and consuming leaked fuel in the fuel compartment 12 using a fuel bearing component such as cell stack 28 and/or burner 26, thereby reducing fuel emissions from the plant.

Abstract: A method of real-time rotor fault detection includes measuring a set of loads to obtain measured signals and virtually monitoring the set of loads to obtain estimated signals. The estimated signals are subtracted from the measured signals to obtain residuals and the residuals are compared to a categorical model. A categorical output representative of a rotor fault is identified within the categorical model.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining data from at least one sensor, the data pertaining to rotor loads and motion, processing, by a device comprising a processor, the data to obtain an estimate of at least one of gross weight (GW) and center of gravity (CG) for a rotorcraft, and outputting the estimate.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to obtaining an impact energy signal associated with each of a plurality of teeth of a gear over a revolution of a shaft associated with the gear, generating, by a computing device comprising a processor, a profile of the impact energy signal, and declaring a fault associated with an identified tooth included in the plurality of teeth based on an analysis of the profile.

Abstract: A system for monitoring for pushrod faults in an aircraft includes a pushrod; a sensor (36) mounted on the pushrod (34), the sensor (36) wirelessly transmitting measured pushrod load data; a receiver (44) receiving the measured pushrod load data; a model (42) receiving flight data and generating a modeled pushrod load profile; and a fault detector (46) comparing measured pushrod load data to the modeled pushrod load profile to detect a pushrod fault.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for virtual monitoring of aircraft fleet loads are provided. The method includes calculating virtual load data associated with an aircraft from a set of orthogonal waveforms. The method also includes calculating a set of coefficients as a function of parametric data and high frequency data associated with an aircraft. The method further includes storing the set of coefficients on the aircraft and transmitting the set of coefficients to a ground-based system configured to reproduce the virtual load data based on a copy of the set of orthogonal waveforms and the received set of coefficients in order to perform aircraft fleet management.

Abstract: A system for reconstructing sensor data in a rotor system that comprises a rotating component of the rotor system, a plurality of sensors in the rotating component to sense at least one of loads and motion characteristics in the rotating component and to generate sensor data, and an analysis unit to generate reconstructed sensor data from the sensor data using numerical analysis for low-rank matrices.

Abstract: A system for monitoring for pushrod faults in an aircraft includes a pushrod; a sensor (36) mounted on the pushrod (34), the sensor (36) wirelessly transmitting measured pushrod load data; a receiver (44) receiving the measured pushrod load data; a model (42) receiving flight data and generating a modeled pushrod load profile; and a fault detector (46) comparing measured pushrod load data to the modeled pushrod load profile to detect a pushrod fault.

Abstract: Fuel processing by a reformer (42) and a shift reactor (44) converts hydrocarbon feedstock (12) and steam (36) to hydrogen-rich reformate (11), such as for use in a fuel cell power plant (47). Some of the reformate is recycled through a restriction (18) to the inlet (15) of a feedstock pump (14), thereby increasing its pressure sufficiently to cause recycle flow through a hydrodesulfurizer (21) and the secondary inlet (26) of an ejector (28) driven by the steam (36). Recycle pressure (48) is maintained by steam pressure through a valve (34) regulated by a controller (17).

Abstract: A phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) system includes a cell stack assembly having an anode, a cathode and a coolant portion. At least one heat exchanger is fluidly interconnected with at least one of the anode, the cathode and the coolant portion and provides a fluid path for receiving a fluid from the anode, the cathode and/or the coolant portion. An absorption cycle refrigerant system includes an absorber having a solution of refrigerant and absorbent, and an absorbent loop and a refrigerant loop communicating with the absorber and respectively carrying absorbent and refrigerant. The at least one heat exchanger is arranged in the absorbent loop and is configured to transfer heat from the fuel cell system to the absorption chiller.