Combustion Test Stand Challenges and Solutions

Three key challenges inherent in the operation of a combustion test stand are:

1. the potential hazards associated with the energy release of the combustion process;
2. the complexity of the test stand hardware and the combustion device; and,
3. the need for rapid and precise timing of test stand actuator control.

As listed in the table at right, three solutions which address these challenges are: 1) the use of Automatic Control Functions within the data acquisition and control software; 2) a Centralized Operator Station; and, 3) Remote Operation of the test stand.  Each of these solutions is outlined below and is included in the implementation of a typical BML Combustion Control System.

Solutions Incorporated into BML's Combustion Control System Technology

1. Automatic Control Functions
Automatic control functions offer the capability to perform operations on the stand with little or no operator input.  This allows actions to be performed which are beyond the abilities of a human operator due to complexity or timing requirements.  An important safety benefit of automatic control is the ability to automatically execute test stand shutdown procedures in the event of anomalies.

2) Centralized Operator Station
A centralized operator station with an intuitively designed user interface provides the operator with oversight and understanding of the state of the test stand.  The centralized station can aid safe operation by providing the operator with immediate cues to potential issues on the stand and easy access to all control channels .

An intuitively designed user interface addresses the challenge of system complexity by allowing a large amount of data to be presented in a readily understood format and permits large numbers of control channels to be readily accessible by the operator.

3) Remote Operation Capability
Remote operation of the stand enhances safety by physically separating test personnel and the potentially hazardous combustion device.