Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
Guest Ron Freimuth

Fuel Management Systems

Recommended Posts

Guest ChrisTrott

Hi, I'm trying to design a fuel management system for older aircraft with many tanks (primarily the B-707/KC-135 and DC-8 aircraft). Part of this is being able to realistically control how the airplane consumes fuel from its tanks. The big problem I run into is being able to burn or transfer fuel from the center tanks into the wings before burning off the wing tanks. If you don't do this in these aircraft, you will encounter a sigificant reduction in range as the Center of Gravity moves too far forward and you are using a substantial amount of up trim to keep the nose in position since the fuel makes the nose want to go down. Now, the idea I've had is to devise a system using fuel selector gauges that have only and on and off position to simulate the boost pumps in each tank and that there is one for each tank (instead of the multiple that really exist to account for the simulator's deficiencies). So baiscally I'm wondering if I can create 8-10 fuel selectors within FS2002 and also if I can create selectors such as I suggested or if there's another way. I don't want to be putting the wing tanks in the center of the plane in place of the center tanks so they'll burn first because that's cheating and is confusing to other people who might use a panel with this system or this addon for panels.Your thoughts and Ideas are appreciated.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest AndrewW

Hello Chris, I am about to start a similar project for Concorde. The fuel panel consists of 11 fuel tanks. Fuel is being moved around the aircraft all the time on Concorde, the flight engineer is working constantly throughout the flight! "If you don't do this in these aircraft, you will encounter a significant reduction in range as the Centre of Gravity moves too far forward and you are using a substantial amount of up trim to keep the nose in position since the fuel makes the nose want to go down."This applies to Concorde also. On routes between London - New York, the fuel is pumped around the tanks to avoid this. On the London - Barbados route, which is 3900nm (200nm over the aircrafts max range) a full fuel load is required. On a number of flights, tank 11 (the rear tank) has become full, which then restricts the amount of fuel which can be pumped back, the CG then deviates from its correct position - and you get into the situation which you have described above. http://ftp.avsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3dda226d048cd562.jpgThis image shows the fuel panel on Concorde. The four main collector tanks can be seen in the centre of the image (tanks 1,2,3,4) - as well as the boost pump switches. Wing tanks are shown on the left/right (tanks 5,6,7,8). Above this the forward tanks (5A, 7A, 9,10). The rear tank (tank 11) is show in the center of the photo below tanks 1-4. I believe this setup is the similar to that used on the 707/DC8 etc? So far, the only K: events I know, which may be of use are: - Used to move fuel around the tanks, although rather limitedSET_FUEL_TRANSFER_FORWARDSET_FUEL_TRANSFER_AFTSET_FUEL_TRANSFER_AUTOSET_FUEL_TRANSFER_OFFThe following are used to select which tanks to feed from: E.g. Only Tanks 1,2,3,4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

I try with 10 tanks in my C-141 but the L/R tip tanks was not usable. I put the fuel selector for this tanks and the engine shutdown. In other forum say me. "the fs2002 has a bug" those tanks aren

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest ChrisTrott

I'm not personally doing the coding (not my area), but am working on the bitmap and gauge layout with Michael Verlin over at HJG for this project. He and I were wondering if my idea would work. What you're wanting to do Andrew is close. Let me make an example of how I want to be able to do this-In the RC-135W (a plane the requires a LOT of fuel management) has 9 fuel tanks-Fwd BodyCtr WingAft Body#1 Reserve#1 Main#2 Main#3 Main#4 Main#4 ReserveUsual fuel consumption schedule is to be feeding the engines from the 4 main wing tanks while at the same time transferring fuel from the Center tanks (Fwd Body then Aft Body then Center Wing) to those tanks to keep them topped off. With the normal fuel transfer system, you can't do that. Finally, the Wings would be drained to 1,500 LBS each before the #1 and #4 reserve tanks would be used to feed the 4 mains, then the final 1500 LBS would be burned. With the current system, you can't do that. It's not a matter of moving the fuel forward or aft, it's a matter of moving it out of the Center tank(s) into the wings.On another note- even the 737 is the same way. You burn out of the Wings and feed the center into the wings to keep them topped. Most aircraft with 2 or 4 engines are setup this way since the Center tanks are technically "auxiliary" tanks since they are not required to have fuel in them to feed an engine since the rule of thumb is that you have 1 tank that feeds directly to each engine on the plane.Any ideas?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Due to this "buggyness" and limitations in the FS fuel system, the only thing I can suggest is using a simplistic tank system in the menu, and then build a complete fuel system using gauges only. I don't believe it is possible to influence the CG position though, but any fuel mismanagement can be "punished" by cutting the fuel lines with i.e. the event (K:TOGGLE_FUEL_VALVE_ENG1).This works for me. I will "punish" with an engine shutdown (fuel valve turned off) if an attempt is made on crossfeeding from a dead engine (since the fuel pump is no longer running). Not using the mains makes sure crossfeeding actually works. This is on a Cessna 421B though, dunno how things would work out on a jet.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest ChrisTrott

Actually, having flown several extreme range flights with the RC-135W I can attest that the CG is indeed affected by poor fuel management in FS2002, just as it was in FS2000. I believe the problem with most aircraft not seeming to be affected is very simple- poor placement of the CG and Fuel tanks in releation to the CG in the model. I have found several models, incluing Kevin Trinkle and Gary Carlson's models where the plane will sit WAY aft if you mis-load the fuel system. Try filling the wings and putting nothing in the center tank and then taking off. You'll get an extremely premature rotation and have to use a TON of down trim to keep the plane flying right. In the real world, such a fuel mis-load would have ended up in the plane being on it's tail just sitting there, but that's an FS2002 limitation on the static state of the airplanes.Also, if you put too uch fuel forward or too much weight forward, you'll find that you can also break the nose gear on most planes too. I've done this on several occasions when not paying attention to how I was setting up the fuel and weight loadings on aircraft.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Oh, I ment I don't think it is possible to affect CG shift as an xml means of transferring fuel amonst the tanks by code. Haven't tried the events for fuel transfer though, so I'm not sure they even work in xml. There are some events that doesn't work.Anyway, due to the limitations in the system, you most likely will have to compromise.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

You can check the CG position during the flight with the AFSD aplication. This program display you several data via FSUIPC. You can download and check it.Jose

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

There are some CG variables available directly from xml variables, but I haven't checked their operation fully yet. If these work, there is nothing stopping you from doing "nasty" stuff :D

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Ron Freimuth

>Hi, I'm trying to design a fuel management system for older >aircraft with many tanks (primarily the B-707/KC-135 and >DC-8 aircraft). Part of this is being able to realistically >control how the airplane consumes fuel from its tanks. The >big problem I run into is being able to burn or transfer >fuel from the center tanks into the wings before burning off >the wing tanks. If you don't do this in these aircraft, you >will encounter a sigificant reduction in range as the Center >of Gravity moves too far forward and you are using a >substantial amount of up trim to keep the nose in position >since the fuel makes the nose want to go down. In FS2K and FS2K2, trim has no effect on drag. Thus, a forward CG has no effect on drag and range. This is because the MSFS trim does not generate a 'Lift' component -- only a Pitching moment. A real elevator or H. Stab trim generates lift and moment. In a real AC, aft CG requires Down elevator (or H. Stab). That adds some lift so the Wing CL is reduced. Thus, Wing Induced drag is reduced with Up elevator, but not with Up trim in FS2K+. If one really trims the elevator (by using a trim control on a JS that changes the Elevator deflection), then range will change. Another shortcomming of MSFS. I think FS98 allowed 'elevator trim', but the MS flight dynamics amateurs often mess up good elements in the flight model code they purchased. Rather than fixing or improving it. MSFS unrealistic tank drainage is another example of them not understanding real AC. Ron

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Thanks for the great info. I do want my CoG to be placed correctly in the model. And I can report that getting it just a little bit off can produce spectacular behavoir in the aircraft! My first adjustment the plane would just do endless ever widening and lowering loops until it hit the ground.I have a question for the experts. A website for a pusher observation aircraft said the following:"The Seeker gives a remarkably smooth ride; one is seated forward of the Centre of Gravity, so the heave of the aeroplane in turbulence is offset (so far as the occupants are concerned) by the accompanying pitch, with the result that the effects of turbulence are greatly reduced, by comparison with an aeroplane of conventional layout."AND"A pusher layout does have one peculiarity to bear in mind, however; a burst of power in an undershoot situation gives no additional lift - so one cannot "pick it up by the bootstrap" if one gets too low, too slow."Does FS model this behavoir?Steve

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Ron Freimuth

>Thanks for the great info. I do want my CoG to be placed >correctly in the model. And I can report that getting it >just a little bit off can produce spectacular behavoir in >the aircraft! My first adjustment the plane would just do >endless ever widening and lowering loops until it hit the >ground. I think Herve' Sors just UL'ed the new, AFSD v1.30 to the avsim library. AFSD shows CG and now 'distance from FS_Reference'. Also, current weight, fuel, and more other parameters than you want to see. :) I always work to get the FS AC so CG is 25% MAC (assuming that is correct for the AC) with full fuel and payload. Normally, CG changes as fuel is burned. Often the fuel tanks are a bit aft of the 25% MAC and as fuel is burned, the CG moves forward slightly. This corrects for the lower flight weight and little change in pitch trim occurs. A typical CG range is 15% to 35% MAC. But, since the Mean Aerodynamic Chord is only 5 ft or so for SEL's, that is only +/- 6 inches. The Lear 45 in FS has a CG range that is forward typical. I think the CoL for the Wing is set behind the MAC/4 and the virtual wing set forward. So the CG variable gives a balanced flight model when it shows something like 10% to 25%. I generally do not set the wing parameters in aircraft.cfg to the real wing. Rather, I set the virtual wing: a rectangle with the LE MAC/4 ahead of the CG. I don't know just how FSEdit calculates the changes in the AIR file from info in aircraft.cfg, but I do know some of it is bad! I haven't seen see much effect on flight as the CG changes, other than pitch trim. Unless the CG is at something like 50% MAC. Which would be half way back along the wing. However, I do think a forward CG does make the static pitch more stable. I just noticed a graph for the phugoid oscillation vs CG for a Cherokee, maybe I'll check the DF Archer some time to see if the phugoid changes anything like the graph. >I have a question for the experts. A website for a pusher >observation aircraft said the following: >>"The Seeker gives a remarkably smooth ride; one is seated >forward of the Centre of Gravity, so the heave of the >aeroplane in turbulence is offset (so far as the occupants >are concerned) by the accompanying pitch, with the result >that the effects of turbulence are greatly reduced, by >comparison with an aeroplane of conventional layout." >AND FS should model that, but you don't feel the difference. The location of the VIEW is what counts. If it is in the middle of a tranport AC you won't see the runway correctly. Especially when pitch changes during landing. One should see the effect of turbulence when he is some distance from the CG in an FS AC. Since AC pitch, etc. correctly from the spot view.>"A pusher layout does have one peculiarity to bear in mind, >however; a burst of power in an undershoot situation gives >no additional lift - so one cannot "pick it up by the >bootstrap" if one gets too low, too slow." >>Does FS model this behavoir? >Steve FS can model many things. Usually the limit is the designer, not the FS 'flight model'. We are currently looking at prop effects in the AIR file. However, MS killed the 'Prop effect on H. Stab' in FS2K2. Another bug they don't plan to fix for FS2K2. I did a pusher prop RQ-1 Predator flight model and it flies nicely. I reversed one of the 'stability deriviatives' to account for the inverted 'V' tail under the fuselage. However, I don't think the parameter was large enough to see the effect in turns. I think the public specs on the Predator are undertated. Based on basic aeronautics my model could stay up 40 hours at 65-70 kts. I think it can carry 300 gallons of fuel and the 100 HP Rotex powerplant normally is running at about 35%. The high aspect ratio of the wing helps. We have a research and development Forum on MS AIR files at: , it's linked from a pull down menu at the top. Ron

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

> We have a research and development Forum on MS AIR files >at: >> , it's linked from a pull down >menu at the top. >> Ron Hmm, doesn't seem to work (pulldown menu doesn't exist, apparently anyway) with my version of Opera.I've been looking for this place in the past, no wonder I could never find the forum :DJust thought I'd let you know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Ron Freimuth

>> We have a research and development Forum on MS AIR files >>at: >>>> , it's linked from a pull down >>menu at the top. >>>> Ron >>Hmm, doesn't seem to work (pulldown menu doesn't exist, >apparently anyway) with my version of Opera. It seems to take a while to load. I just got there again by clicking on the link above and see 'Message Boards'. The direct URL to the AIR file Forum was listed twice in my Aired.ini. At the top of the file and in Info for REC 1101. But, it changed more than once and I'm not sure what is shown in the aired.ini linked from one of the recent messages right here.Ron>>I've been looking for this place in the past, no wonder I >could never find the forum :D >>Just thought I'd let you know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Ron,The aired.ini on http://www.avhistory.org/ seems dated and optimized to CFS compared to the one I got directly from you. Has it been updated to account for all the known/unknown issues for fs2002.I also downloaded and installed the CFS3 avsdk.msi. It seems to give some new details for MOI I had not seen before. Its in the Aircraft Container Overview.doc, p.7. It must be what FS2002 Aircraft Editor uses since they refer designers to FSAE to build the aero.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...