Fuel flowrate control system and fuel thermal management are very important for aeroengine and the overall aircraft, and it has been researched for several decades. This survey paper makes a comprehensive and systematic overview on the exiting fuel flowrate regulation methods, thermal load of fuel metering units, fuel-based thermal management, and the fuel tank’s thermal management topology network with drain and recirculation. This paper firstly reviews the mechanism, technical advantages, and technical challenges of the fuel metering unit with flowrate control valve and constant pressure difference valve compensator, flowrate control valve and variable displacement pump-based pressure difference compensator, and motor-based flowrate regulation. Then, the technical characteristics of above fuel flowrate control methods related to thermal management are discussed and compared. Meanwhile, the behaviors of recirculated fuel flow within single tank system and dual tank system are explored. Thirdly, the paper discusses the future directions of fuel flowrate control and thermal management. The survey is significant to the fuel flowrate control and fuel thermal management of the aircraft.

Aviation axial piston pump is an important energy conversion component in aircraft hydraulic system, and the study on the nonlinearity of key operating mechanism is very necessary for improving the reliable operation of the pump. Addressing the aviation axial piston pump, this article analyzes nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the center spring return mechanism by using theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. Firstly, mathematical models of oil-film forces of slipper/swash plate pair and cylinder/port plate pair are derived. Then, based on the nonlinear dynamic theory, some specific theoretical analysis methods such as Lyapunov index spectrum, bifurcation diagram, time series, phase plane portrait, Poincaré map, and power spectrum are used to carry out the numerical simulation of nonlinear dynamic behaviors. The result indicates that characteristics of the center spring can reveal the reason for the nonlinear vibration of the center spring return mechanism. Meanwhile, the behavior of the oil thickness of slipper/swash plate pair is in the periodic and steady motion, and the variation of the oil thickness of cylinder/port plate pair is in chaotic vibration, which establishes the theoretical foundation of the aviation axial piston pump for the traceability and suppression of vibration. The obtained results are of important guidance significance for optimal design and dynamic control of the center spring return mechanism of aviation axial piston pump.