Simulation of Gravity Feed Oil for Aeroplane

The traditional method to calculate the gravity feed is to assume that only one tank in fuel system supplies the needed fuel to the engine, and then calculated for the single branch. Actually, all fuel tanks compete for supplying oil. Our method takes into consideration all fuel tanks and therefore, we believe, our method is intrinsically superior to traditional methods and is closer to understanding the real seriousness of the oil supply situation. Firstly, the thesis gives the mathematical model for fuel flow pipe, pump, check valve and the simulation model for fuel tank. On the basis of flow network theory and time difference method, we established a new calculation method for gravity feed oil of aeroplane fuel system, secondly. This model can solve the multiple-branch and transient process simulation of gravity feed oil. Finally, we give a numerical example for a certain type of aircraft, achieved the variations of oil level and flow mass per second of each oil tanks. In addition, we also obtained the variations of the oil pressure of the engine inlet, and predicted the maximum time that the aeroplane could fly safely under gravity feed. These variations show that our proposed method of calculations is satisfactory.