Enhanced TF40B Gas Turbine Engine Bleed Air Anti-Ice System (BAAS) Development
The Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) upgrades the current TF40B gas turbine engine and analog control system to an Enhanced TF40B (ETF40B) gas turbine with a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. This upgrade and enhancement will provide additional engine horsepower, increased engine reliability, modern digital engine control equipment, and a Bleed Air Anti-Ice System (BAAS) for the LCAC during cold weather operations. The original permanent BAAS system for the SLEP configured LCAC has been redesigned as a “removable kit” to reduce overall craft weight and to minimize maintenance for the crews. The development has been an ongoing effort between the Navy, Textron Marine & Land Systems who is the LCAC craft builder, and Vericor Power Systems, who is the ETF40B manufacturer. This paper will document and outline the BAAS development effort and the many lessons learned during the design of a prototype BAAS system for the ETF40B engine.