Systems and methods for detecting chips in fluid of aircraft engine

1. A method for detecting chips in fluid of an aircraft engine, the method comprising:

dynamically setting, in an engine computer, a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid, wherein the first threshold is set as a function of a configuration of the aircraft engine;

measuring a resistance value across a first magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine at a first location and transmitting the resistance value to the engine computer of the aircraft engine;

comparing, in the engine computer, the resistance value to the first threshold; and

issuing, from the engine computer, a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the resistance value to the first threshold comprises converting the resistance value to a chip size based on a correlation between resistance and chip size, and comparing the chip size to the first threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising displaying the chip size on a display of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring a resistance value comprises measuring the resistance value across a circuit connected in parallel with the first magnetic chip detector.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising issuing, from the engine computer, a second warning indicative of a circuit malfunction when the resistance value is above a resistance limit value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed continuously as the aircraft engine is running.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the resistance value comprises measuring the resistance value over time.

8. A method for detecting chips in fluid of an aircraft engine, the method comprising:

dynamically setting, in an engine computer, a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid;

measuring a resistance value across a first magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine at a first location and transmitting the resistance value to the engine computer of the aircraft engine;

comparing, in the engine computer, the resistance value to the first threshold;

issuing, from the engine computer, a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold;

dynamically setting a second threshold independently tunable from the first threshold;

measuring a resistance value across a second magnetic chip detector mounted to the fluid system of the engine at a second location;

comparing the resistance value from the second magnetic chip detector to the second threshold; and

issuing a second warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value from the second magnetic chip detector exceeds the second threshold.

9. A chip detection system for an aircraft engine, the detection system comprising:

a magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine at a first location;

a resistance measurement circuit comprising a circuit connected in parallel with the magnetic chip detector and configured for measuring a resistance value across the magnetic chip detector; and

an engine computer coupled to the resistance measurement circuit and configured for:

dynamically setting a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid;

receiving the resistance value from the resistance measurement circuit;

comparing the resistance value to the first threshold;

issuing a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold; and

issuing a second warning indicative of a circuit malfunction when the resistance value is above a resistance limit value.

10. The detection system of claim 9 , wherein comparing the resistance value to the first threshold comprises converting the resistance value to a chip size based on a correlation between resistance and chip size, and comparing the chip size to the first threshold.

11. The detection system of claim 10 , wherein the engine computer is further configured for transmitting a signal for displaying the chip size on a display of the aircraft.

12. The detection system of claim 9 , wherein dynamically setting a first threshold comprises setting the first threshold based on at least one of a current condition of the aircraft engine and a flight mission.

13. The detection system of claim 9 , wherein dynamically setting the first threshold comprises setting the first threshold as function of a configuration of the aircraft engine.

14. The detection system of claim 9 , wherein measuring the resistance value comprises measuring the resistance value over time.

15. The detection system of claim 9 , further comprising a second magnetic chip detector mounted to the fluid system of the engine at a second location, and having a second threshold independently tunable from the first threshold.

16. A method for detecting chips in fluid of an aircraft engine, the method comprising:

dynamically setting, in an engine computer, a first threshold for detecting chips in the fluid;

measuring a resistance value across a circuit connected in parallel with a first magnetic chip detector mounted to a fluid system of the aircraft engine and transmitting the resistance value to the engine computer of the aircraft engine;

comparing, in the engine computer, the resistance value to the first threshold;

issuing, from the engine computer, a first warning indicative of a chip in the fluid when the resistance value exceeds the first threshold; and

issuing, from the engine computer, a second warning indicative of a circuit malfunction when the resistance value is above a resistance limit value.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein comparing the resistance value to the first threshold comprises converting the resistance value to a chip size based on a correlation between resistance and chip size, and comparing the chip size to the first threshold.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transmitting a signal for displaying the chip size on a display of the aircraft.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein measuring the resistance value comprises measuring the resistance value over time.