Flow vector analyzer for flow bench

• US 20040187563A1
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronald J. Fleming
• Original Assignee: Ronald J. Fleming
• Inventors: Fleming, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,923,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/04 Details

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for airflow testing, especially for air testing of gas turbine components on an airflow test bench. Various embodiments of the present invention include the use of a measurement section downstream of the component being tested. The measurement section, in one embodiment, includes apparatus for measurement of gas properties at a plurality of spaced-apart radial locations and/or a plurality of spaced-apart circumferential locations. In another embodiment, the invention includes a method for testing a component including a comparison of gas properties measured in both forward and reverse flow directions.

Claims

1-13. -13. (cancelled)

14. A method for evaluating a gas flow characteristic of a gas path component for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

providing a source of gas, a chamber including a support member for supporting the component, and a rotatable measurement section located downstream of the component and having therein at least one flow-responsive measurement device;

mounting the component with the support member;

placing the measurement device at a first location downstream of the component;

directing a flow of the gas from the source into the chamber and through the component;

flowing the gas exiting the component proximate to the measurement device;

making a first measurement of a property of the gas with the measurement device placed at the first location;

rotating the measurement device to a second location downstream of the component;

directing a flow of the gas from the source into the chamber and through the component;

flowing the gas exiting the component proximate to the measurement device; and

making a second measurement of a property of the gas with the measurement device placed at the second location.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the measurement device is movable along an arc, and said moving is by rotating the measurement device through a portion of the arc.

16. A method for evaluating a gas flow characteristic of a gas path component for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

providing a source of gas and a chamber including a support member for supporting the component;

mounting the component in a first flow direction to the support member;

directing a flow of the gas from the source through the chamber and into the component;

making a first measurement of a property of the gas with the component mounted in the first flow direction;

mounting the component in a second flow direction to the support member, the second flow direction being opposite of the first direction;

directing a flow of the gas from the source through the chamber and into the component; and

making a second measurement of a property of the gas with the component mounted in the second flow direction.

17. The method of claim 16 which further comprises calculating a first characteristic of the component from said making a first measurement and calculating a second characteristic of the component from said making a second measurement.

18. The method of claim 17 which further comprises comparing the first characteristic to the second characteristic and determining whether or not the component is acceptable.