Inside the Aircraft: Where Are Pressure Transducers Actually Used?

When you picture the technology inside an aircraft, pressure transducers probably aren’t the first components that come to mind.

Yet pressure measurement plays an important role across many aircraft systems. From hydraulics and fuel systems to engines, landing gear and environmental control, accurate pressure data helps engineers monitor performance and keep critical systems operating as intended.

So, where are aerospace pressure transducers actually used?

Let’s take a look inside the aircraft.

1. Aircraft Hydraulic Systems

Hydraulic systems are essential to many aircraft functions. They provide the force needed to operate systems such as flight controls, landing gear and brakes.

Pressure transducers can monitor hydraulic pressure within these systems, providing real-time information about system performance.

Reliable pressure measurement can help engineers and operators identify pressure changes and confirm that hydraulic systems are operating within their required parameters.

For aerospace applications, pressure transducers must combine accurate measurement with suitable mechanical and electrical configurations. This is particularly important when sensors need to integrate into compact or highly specialised aircraft systems.

2. Fuel Systems

Fuel needs to move through an aircraft system in a controlled and predictable way.

Pressure measurement can help monitor fuel delivery and system performance, giving engineers valuable information about conditions within the fuel system.

Aerospace pressure transducers can be used to measure fuel pressure at different points within a system, depending on the aircraft design and application.

For these applications, material selection and compatibility are important considerations. The pressure transducer must be suitable for the measured media as well as the surrounding operating environment.

3. Aircraft Engines and Propulsion

Aircraft engines contain numerous systems where pressure measurement provides valuable information.

Monitoring pressure can help engineers understand what is happening within an engine or propulsion system and assess whether it is performing as expected.

Pressure transducers may be used for applications such as:

• Fuel pressure measurement
• Oil pressure monitoring
• Air and gas pressure measurement
• Engine test and development
• Propulsion system monitoring

The requirements can vary considerably between applications. Pressure range, temperature, accuracy, materials and mechanical configuration all need careful consideration when selecting a pressure transducer for an aerospace propulsion system.

4. Landing Gear and Braking Systems

Landing gear and braking systems rely heavily on hydraulic pressure.

During take-off and landing, these systems need to perform reliably and consistently. Pressure measurement can provide important data about the hydraulic conditions within the system.

A pressure transducer can monitor hydraulic pressure during system operation or form part of testing and development equipment used to assess landing gear and braking performance.

These applications demonstrate why aerospace pressure measurement is not limited to the aircraft’s engine. Pressure sensors can be found throughout the systems responsible for controlling and supporting the aircraft.

5. Flight Control Systems

Flight control systems allow pilots to control the aircraft’s movement and maintain stability.

On aircraft that use hydraulic actuation, pressure provides the force required to move control surfaces and other components.

Monitoring hydraulic pressure can therefore provide engineers with important information about the condition and performance of the flight control system.

Pressure transducers used in these applications may need to fit within tight physical spaces while providing accurate and repeatable measurements. The sensor’s pressure range, size, connection type and electrical output all form part of the specification.

6. Environmental Control Systems

Pressure measurement also has a role to play in the systems that help maintain a suitable environment inside an aircraft.

Environmental control systems manage functions such as air circulation, temperature and cabin pressurisation.

Pressure sensors can monitor air pressure at different points within these systems, helping engineers understand how air is moving and how the system is performing.

This is another example of how pressure measurement extends beyond obvious applications such as hydraulics and fuel systems.

7. Aerospace Testing and Development

Not every aerospace pressure transducer ends up permanently installed in an aircraft.

Pressure measurement is also crucial during the development, testing and calibration of aerospace equipment.

Engineers use pressure measurement when developing and evaluating components, systems and prototypes. Accurate pressure data can help them understand how a system behaves under different operating conditions and verify that it performs according to its design requirements.

This makes pressure transducers valuable tools throughout the aerospace development process, from initial research and development through to production testing and maintenance.

Why Does Aerospace Pressure Measurement Need to Be So Precise?

Across all these applications, the role of the pressure transducer is essentially the same: turn pressure into useful measurement data.

However, the demands placed on the sensor can be very different.

An aerospace engineer selecting a pressure transducer may need to consider:

• Required pressure range
• Measurement accuracy
• Temperature range
• Long-term stability
• Mechanical dimensions
• Pressure connection
• Electrical output
• Materials and media compatibility
• Environmental conditions
• Application-specific quality requirements

There is no single pressure transducer that is ideal for every aerospace application. The correct solution depends on what needs to be measured and where the sensor will operate.

Silicon-on-Sapphire Technology for Aerospace Pressure Measurement

ESI Technology uses Silicon-on-Sapphire (SoS) sensing technology across its pressure measurement range.

Silicon-on-Sapphire combines the properties of silicon sensing technology with a sapphire substrate, creating a highly stable sensing element designed for demanding pressure measurement applications.

The technology offers excellent repeatability, low hysteresis and strong resistance to mechanical stress, making it well suited to applications where reliable pressure measurement is important.

For aerospace engineers, this can provide a strong foundation for pressure measurement across a wide range of applications.

When Standard Isn’t Enough: Custom Aerospace Pressure Transducers

Aircraft systems are rarely designed around a one-size-fits-all approach. Pressure measurement requirements can be equally specific.

An aerospace application may require a particular pressure range, electrical output, connector, pressure port, material or physical configuration.

ESI Technology can develop customised pressure transducers around specific application requirements. This allows the sensor to be designed around the system rather than forcing the system to accommodate a standard sensor.

Customisation can be particularly valuable when space is limited, operating conditions are demanding or a particular interface is required.

Pressure Measurement Across the Aircraft

Pressure transducers may be small components, but their applications extend throughout an aircraft.

From hydraulic systems and flight controls to fuel, propulsion, landing gear, environmental control and aerospace testing, pressure measurement provides engineers with important information about system performance.

Choosing the right pressure transducer starts with understanding the application. Pressure range, accuracy, temperature, materials, mechanical design and electrical requirements all contribute to the final specification.

With experience in pressure measurement and aerospace applications, ESI Technology provides both standard and customised pressure transducer solutions for demanding aerospace requirements.

Looking for a pressure transducer for an aerospace application? Contact ESI Technology to discuss your requirements and find the right pressure measurement solution for your system. [email protected], call +44(0)1978 262255 or find your local distributor here