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UFI® is a patented, derivative technology from TDG Aerospace's successful NOFOD® wing ice prevention system. TDG's UFI® products are specifically designed to monitor and protect AC & DC circuits from dangerous electrical fault conditions. While UFI® technology is currently employed on a variety of commercial aircraft, it is also well-suited for military, marine or commercial applications where electrical system performance and safety are paramount.
By independently monitoring the current and voltage on each phase of AC power, UFI® technology provides unprecedented insight into the real-time health and operational status of a given three-phase electrical circuit. Where there is an increased sensitivity to catastrophic failure conditions (fuel pump circuits) or financial incentive to avoid operation-to-failure, the benefits of UFI® technology are many. UFI® technology is readily adaptable to single phase AC or DC circuits.
The above fault conditions are detected based upon programmable thresholds that are set during unit manufacture, making the UFI® device infinitely adaptable to a given load and application.
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Non-Volatile Memory
UFI® devices constantly record operational information into non-volatile memory, which can then be downloaded by maintenance technicians for assistance in preventative maintenance or troubleshooting.
Leading Edge Technology
All UFI® devices are designed to DO-254 Hardware Assurance Level B and DO-178 Software Assurance Level B.
UFI® devices constantly record operational information into non-volatile memory, which can then be downloaded by maintenance technicians for assistance in preventative maintenance or troubleshooting.
Leading Edge Technology
All UFI® devices are designed to DO-254 Hardware Assurance Level B and DO-178 Software Assurance Level B.
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UFI® Application: Aircraft Fuel Boost Pump Protection
The first application of UFI® technology is the comprehensive protection of aircraft fuel boost pump systems from:
Due to its low cost, high reliability and ease of installation, the UFI® is quickly becoming the solution of choice for operators seeking compliance with center fuel tank SFAR 88 mandates. FAA-approved STCs are currently available for fuel pump protection on a variety of aircraft, including B737NG, B757, B767 and DC-9/MD80. The UFI® is currently the only device of its kind certified to 14 CFR 25.981, Amendment 102. |
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Electrical Fault Protection
The UFI® reliably detects line-to-ground and line-to-line faults in the boost pump wire harness or pump motor windings. It will also detect intermittent opens in the wire harness, connectors or pump motor.
Extended Pump Dry-Operation
Making use of the unique current / voltage signature generated when a synchronous motor is no longer doing work, the UFI® can detect when the fuel boost pump inlet is uncovered and the pump is no longer moving fuel. Based upon regulatory guidance, the UFI® will allow this condition to persist uninterrupted for fifteen (15) seconds before removing power from the boost pump.
Un-commanded Pump Operation
In the fuel boost pump application, the UFI® installation implements redundant pump control relays and a patented startup and power-on self-test (POST) sequence to ensure that the flight crew maintains control of power supplied to the fuel boost pumps at all times. The UFI® POST sequence verifies internal system integrity and also positive control of both redundant relays in the open and closed states prior to applying power to the pump. This functionality is unique to the UFI® and not only enhances overall system safety, but also greatly reduces scheduled maintenance requirements.
Downloadable Database
The UFI® utilizes a non-volatile database to record pump operational parameters and fault information for use by maintenance personnel in troubleshooting fault conditions or accomplishing preventative maintenance. Information such as maximum startup currents, historical average current / voltage on each phase and specific fault data could be invaluable to maintenance or reliability personnel. The UFI® interfaces to a laptop computer and provides the relevant information in a .csv file that is readily imported into spreadsheet tools such as MS Excel. On more than one occasion, data recorded by the UFI® has even helped maintenance personnel troubleshoot unrelated fuel system discrepancies with the FQIS and low pressure indication systems.
The UFI® reliably detects line-to-ground and line-to-line faults in the boost pump wire harness or pump motor windings. It will also detect intermittent opens in the wire harness, connectors or pump motor.
Extended Pump Dry-Operation
Making use of the unique current / voltage signature generated when a synchronous motor is no longer doing work, the UFI® can detect when the fuel boost pump inlet is uncovered and the pump is no longer moving fuel. Based upon regulatory guidance, the UFI® will allow this condition to persist uninterrupted for fifteen (15) seconds before removing power from the boost pump.
Un-commanded Pump Operation
In the fuel boost pump application, the UFI® installation implements redundant pump control relays and a patented startup and power-on self-test (POST) sequence to ensure that the flight crew maintains control of power supplied to the fuel boost pumps at all times. The UFI® POST sequence verifies internal system integrity and also positive control of both redundant relays in the open and closed states prior to applying power to the pump. This functionality is unique to the UFI® and not only enhances overall system safety, but also greatly reduces scheduled maintenance requirements.
Downloadable Database
The UFI® utilizes a non-volatile database to record pump operational parameters and fault information for use by maintenance personnel in troubleshooting fault conditions or accomplishing preventative maintenance. Information such as maximum startup currents, historical average current / voltage on each phase and specific fault data could be invaluable to maintenance or reliability personnel. The UFI® interfaces to a laptop computer and provides the relevant information in a .csv file that is readily imported into spreadsheet tools such as MS Excel. On more than one occasion, data recorded by the UFI® has even helped maintenance personnel troubleshoot unrelated fuel system discrepancies with the FQIS and low pressure indication systems.
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UFI® Application: DC Motor Protection
TDG has levaraged its patented UFI® technology into a comprehensive safety device aimed specifically at critical DC motor load applications - such as aircraft fuel pumps. More than just ground fault / overload protection, the DC UFI® is a real-time condition monitoring device that can provide unique insight into the operational state of your DC motor load and circuit at any time. The DC UFI® is designed to protect both brushed and brushless DC motors. The DC UFI® maintains the original UFI® SFAR-88 design philosophy, and is compliant with FAA regulation 14 CFR 25.981, Amendment 102. It continues to be the only device of its kind engineered and certified to this rigorous design requirement. |
Considered to be a second-generation UFI® device, the DC UFI® leverages years of engineering expertise and on-wing data accumulated by the thousands of UFI® devices currently protecting commercial aircraft fuel systems worldwide. State-of-the-art hardware simplifies the system architecture, enhancing overall reliability while minimizing unit size.
The DC UFI® can be utilized with either solid state or electromechanical relays. Fault response times to a hard electrical (ground) fault can be measured in microseconds instead of milliseconds - while maintaining robust nuisance rejection performance.
The DC UFI® is adaptable to practically any DC motor application:
New UFI® history log architecture not only maintains historical operational data for the DC load (pump), but also now records the fault signature of detected events for future analysis.
Contact us to learn how easily the DC UFI® can be adopted to your DC fuel pump or motor protection needs.
The DC UFI® can be utilized with either solid state or electromechanical relays. Fault response times to a hard electrical (ground) fault can be measured in microseconds instead of milliseconds - while maintaining robust nuisance rejection performance.
The DC UFI® is adaptable to practically any DC motor application:
- Hardware is readily scalable
- Software is parameter driven - Protective functions, fault thresholds, sensitivity and response times are loaded during production and adjustable via the UFI® data port (using proprietary TDG tools).
New UFI® history log architecture not only maintains historical operational data for the DC load (pump), but also now records the fault signature of detected events for future analysis.
Contact us to learn how easily the DC UFI® can be adopted to your DC fuel pump or motor protection needs.