Gas turbine engine test cell

• US 5,293,775 A
• Filed: 11/02/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Roberts, John H., Clark, Terry A., Muller, George L., Peszko, Mark W., Nikkanen, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): MYRACLE, JERRY
• Application Number:
  US07/970,214
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 73/116, 73/147
• US Class Current: 73/116.03
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/04 Air intakes for gas-turbine plants or jet-propulsion plants
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/133 for measuring thrust of propulsive devices, e.g. of propellers aeroplanes B64C; marine propulsion B63H; jet-engines F02K
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 9/04 Details

Abstract

Inlet vortex ingestion is deterred when testing an engine (12) in a test cell (10). Ramp structures (26) are installed on the walls blocking 30% to 50% of the flow area. The apex (42) of these ramps is located adjacent the engine inlet (24) with the upstream faces (46) at about a 45° angle.

Claims

1. A test cell for testing a gas turbine engine comprising:

a plurality of planar walls defining an air flow duct, having an axis, a flow area and an upstream end;

a support for supporting a gas turbine engine having an inlet, within said duct;

an exhaust collector passage for removing air from said duct;

a plurality of ramp structures installed on at least two opposing walls of said air flow duct;

said ramp structures blocking between 30% and 50% of said flow area at a location at or adjacent the inlet of said gas turbine engine, when the gas turbine engine is supported in said duct; and

each ramp structure having an upstream facing surface at an angle between 40° and

50°

from said axis.

2. A test cell as in claim 1 further comprising:

said plurality of walls comprising four walls.

3. A test cell as in claim 2 further comprising:

said plurality of ramp structures comprising 4 ramp structures.

4. A test cell as in claim 3 further comprising:

each ramp structure having an apex being the portion of said ramp structure most removed from the walls on which it is installed; and

the apex of all ramps being in a common plane which is perpendicular to said axis.

5. A test cell as in claim 4 further comprising;

said duct having a width W and a height H;

said apex being upstream of the inlet of an installed engine less than 0.1 H or 0.1 W which ever is less;

said ramps being axially moveable along said walls to various preselected locations;

one of said walls being a floor;

the ramp structure on said floor being a floor ramp structure; and

said ramp structure hinged adjacent one of said side walls, whereby said floor ramp structure may be swung toward a side wall clearing the central portion of the air flow duct for access; and

said ramp structures blocking between 36% and 40% of said flow area.

6. A test cell as in claim 3 further comprising

one of said walls being a floor;

the ramp structure on said floor being a floor ramp structure; and

said ramp structure hinged adjacent one of said side walls, whereby said floor ramp structure may be swing toward a side wall clearing the central portion of the air flow duct for access.

7. A test cell as in claim 2 further comprising;

said duct having a width W and a height H;

each ramp structure having an apex being the portion of said ramp structure most removed from the wall on which it is installed;

portion of said ramp structure most removed from the wall on which it is installed;

said apex being upstream of the inlet of an installed engine less than 0.1 H or 0.1 W which ever is less.

8. A test cell as in claim 7 further comprising:

the apex of all ramps being in a common plane which is perpendicular to said axis.

9. A test cell as in claim 2 further comprising:

said ramps being axially moveable along said walls to various preselected locations.

10. A test cell as in claim 9 further comprising:

one of said walls being a floor;

the ramp structure on said floor being a floor ramp structure; and

said ramp structure hinged adjacent one of said side walls, whereby said floor ramp structure may be swung toward a side wall clearing the central portion of the air flow duct for access.

11. A test cell as in claim 1 further comprising:

said ramp structures blocking between 36% and 40% of said flow area.