Method and system for monitoring the performance of a heat exchanger

A system for monitoring the performance of a fluid heat exchanger for use with an engine, the heat exchanger comprising a first fluid flow path therethrough and a second fluid flow path therethrough, the system comprising:

• a first temperature sensor positioned in the first fluid flow path at an exit from the heat exchanger;
• a second temperature sensor positioned in the second fluid flow path at an entry to the heat exchanger;
• a processor configured to receive a first temperature measurement value from the first temperature sensor, and a second temperature measurement value from the second temperature sensor, the processor being further configured to calculate a temperature difference between the first and second temperature measurement values;
• and
• an alert generator configured to generate an alert signal to a user, the alert signal being generated if the temperature difference is greater than a threshold value, wherein
• the threshold value is a first threshold value indicative of a complete blockage of the first fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, the first threshold value being pre-determined based on a nominal fuel-to-oil heat exchanger performance and an analysis of the resultant performance of the fuel-to-oil heat exchanger due to blockage for a range of engine operating conditions.

A system for monitoring the performance of a fluid heat exchanger for use with an engine, the heat exchanger comprising a first fluid flow path therethrough and a second fluid flow path therethrough, the system comprising:

• a first temperature sensor positioned in the first fluid flow path at an exit from the heat exchanger;
• a second temperature sensor positioned in the second fluid flow path at an entry to the heat exchanger;
• a processor configured to receive a first temperature measurement value from the first temperature sensor, and a second temperature measurement value from the second temperature sensor, the processor being further configured to calculate a temperature difference between the first and second temperature measurement values;
• and
• an alert generator configured to generate an alert signal to a user, the alert signal being generated if the temperature difference is greater than a threshold value, wherein
• the threshold value is a second threshold value indicative of a partial blockage of the first fluid flow path through the heat exchanger, the second threshold value being pre-determined based on a nominal fuel-to-oil heat exchanger performance and an analysis of the resultant performance of the fuel-to-oil heat exchanger due to blockage for a range of engine operating conditions.