Aircraft Engine Bleed Air Contamination Detection System

Aircraft bleed air at high temperature and pressure comes directly from the engine before jet fuel is added. This air is used to perform aircraft functions such as pressurizing the cabin and running the air-conditioning unit. Contaminants in bleed air can damage aircraft components, and the goal of this project is to create a system to detect contaminants when they reach significant levels. The mechanical subsystems were designed to reduce the extreme conditions of the bleed air stream to within the functional range of the sensor used to detect the contaminants. The electrical subsystem communicates information about contaminant levels to a microcontroller for processing. The microcontroller also provides an indicator to the user interface for aircraft operators.