Flow stabilizer for flow bench
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
- a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture;
a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component;
an instrument which measures a property of the gas; and
wherein said housing is adapted and configured such that the internal gaspath of the component receives essentially all the gas flowing through the aperture, and said flow directing member and component define a gap therebetween such that gas exiting from the component entrains ambient air through the gap prior to entering the flow directing member.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 flow-stabilizing member downstream of the component being tested. Since the flow through or over the component is subsonic, a flow-stabilizing member placed down stream of the component can have an effect on the flow conditions in or around the component being tested. In one embodiment, the flow-stabilizing member provides more consistent results during the testing of the component.
91 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; an instrument which measures a property of the gas; and wherein said housing is adapted and configured such that the internal gaspath of the component receives essentially all the gas flowing through the aperture, and said flow directing member and component define a gap therebetween such that gas exiting from the component entrains ambient air through the gap prior to entering the flow directing member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing adapted and configured for mounting of the component; means for directing source gas toward the internal gaspath of the component, said source directing means including at least one internal vane for providing a predetermined velocity profile in the gas flowing into the internal gaspath of the component; means for directing gas exiting internal gaspath of the component, said exit gas directing means including at least one internal passageway for modifying the gas flowing from the internal gaspath of the component, said exit gas directing means being adapted and configured such that gas exiting from the internal gaspath of the component entrains ambient air into gas directing means; and an instrument for measuring a property of the flowing gas;
wherein said housing is adapted and configured such that the internal gaspath of the component receives essentially all the gas flowing from said source gas directing means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method for evaluating a gasflow characteristic of an internal gaspath of a gaspath component for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
-
providing a source of gas, a plenum chamber including a support member for supporting the component, and a gasflow directing member including a radially convoluted exit for exhausting of gas from said directing member; mounting the component with the support member; directing a steady flow of the gas from the source into the plenum chamber; flowing the gas from the chamber through the internal gaspath of the component; flowing the gas exiting the internal gaspath of the component into the gasflow directing member; and modifying the flow of gas through the internal gaspath of the component by the flow of gas through the gasflow directing member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for evaluating a gasflow characteristic of an internal gaspath of a gaspath component for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
-
providing a source of gas, a plenum chamber including a support member for supporting the component, and a gasflow directing member; mounting the component with the support member; placing the gas flow member aft of the support member such that there is a gap therebetween; directing a steady flow of the gas from the source into the plenum chamber; flowing gas from the chamber through the internal gaspath of the component; flowing the gas exiting the internal gaspath of the component into the gasflow directing member; entraining ambient air from the gap into the gasflow directing member by said flowing the exiting gas; and modifying the flow of gas through the internal gaspath of the component by said entraining. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
-
31. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; an instrument which measures a property of the gas; and wherein said housing is adapted and configured such that the internal gaspath of the component receives essentially all the gas flowing through the aperture; wherein the flow directing member includes a converging nozzle located on the aft end of said flow directing member.
-
-
32. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; an instrument which measures a property of the gas; and wherein said housing is adapted and configured such that the internal gaspath of the component receives essentially all the gas flowing through the aperture; and wherein the flow directing member includes a radially convoluted exit for exhausting of gas from said flow-directing member.
-
-
33. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; and an instrument which measures a property of the gas; wherein said flow directing member and component define a gap therebetween such that gas exiting from the component entrains ambient air through the gap prior to entering the flow directing member.
-
-
34. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; and an instrument which measures a property of the gas; wherein the flow directing member includes a converging nozzle located on the aft end of said flow directing member.
-
-
35. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing defining a plenum chamber and an aperture for flowing of the gas into the internal gaspath of the component, said housing being adapted and configured to mount the component proximate to the aperture; a flow directing member located downstream of and proximate to the aperture, said flow directing member receiving gas from the internal gaspath of the component and exhausting the gas to about ambient conditions, said flow directing member including a plurality of open cells, each said cell having a plurality of walls for passage therebetween of a portion of the gas from the component; and an instrument which measures a property of the gas; wherein the flow directing member includes a radially convoluted exit for exhausting of gas from said flow-directing member.
-
-
36. An apparatus for flow testing of gas through a component having an internal gaspath, comprising:
-
a test bench including a source of flowing gas and a housing adapted and configured for mounting of the component; means for directing source gas toward the internal gaspath of the component, said source directing means including at least one internal vane for providing a predetermined velocity profile in the gas flowing into the internal gaspath of the component; means for directing gas exiting internal gaspath of the component, said exit gas directing means including at least one internal passageway for modifying the gas flowing from the internal gaspath of the component; and an instrument for measuring a property of the flowing gas; wherein the flow directing member includes a radially convoluted exit for exhausting of gas from said flow-directing member.
-
Specification