Static and Total Pressure Sensor Development Methodology based on Elastic Sensing Elements and Optical Rules

Abstract

Information on the parameters of static atmospheric pressure and total pressure of the incoming air flow is the primary information in the air signal system, which is part of the integrated aircraft control system. This information makes it possible to calculate the altitude and speed of the aircraft for automated and automatic control. Static and total pressures are measured by aerometric parameter sensors, whose technical characteristics largely determine the range and values of the measurement accuracy of the air signal system. Relying on the requirements for aircraft flight safety and in accordance with the existing standards for horizontal and vertical separation, rather stringent requirements are imposed on the accuracy of air pressure measurement. Instrumental errors in measuring static and total air flow pressures with a probability of 0.95 should not exceed 0.02 and 0.05 % of the measurement range. The considered original aerometric pressure sensor based on an optical rule, whose high sensitivity requires minimal deformation of the elastic sensitive element, makes it possible to fulfill these requirements. The non-contact digital information retrieval and the operation of the information system under vacuum conditions significantly increased the efficiency of measurement processes. The paper focuses on an algorithm for calculating the main design parameters of elastic sensitive elements in almost the entire range of their standard sizes taking into account the technical capabilities of the secondary converter. The results of the experiments and experimental studies confirmed the sufficiency of theoretical methods for calculating the parameters of elastic elements for pressure sensors