Computational Predictions and Experimental Measurements of the Performance of a Louver Particle Separator for Use in Gas Turbine Engines
Open Access
- Author:
- Musgrove, Grant Omer
- Graduate Program:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- July 16, 2009
- Committee Members:
- Karen Ann Thole, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Karen Ann Thole, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- louver
particle
sand
separator
turbine - Abstract:
- Gas turbine engines that power aircraft operate in harsh environments where solid particles, such as sand, are ingested into the engine. Solid particles damage aircraft engines by eroding and depositing on turbine components, resulting in decreased engine efficiency. Particles in the engine are also present in flow that passes through coolant channels. In these channels, particles deposit to create blockages. Blocked cooling channels in the turbine reduce the flow resulting in increased component temperatures. High temperatures reduce component life and lead to erosion on airfoils. This study presents computational predictions and experimental measurements of the performance of an inertial separator that removes solid particles from gas turbines. The separator is intended to be placed in the secondary coolant flow path of a gas turbine engine, located immediately downstream of the combustor. The separator studied here is made up of an array of louvers followed by a static collector. The separator performance is determined from the predicted and measured values of pressure loss and particle collection efficiency. The effectiveness of different louver and collector configurations are studied using a two-dimensional computational model matched to engine conditions at constant Reynolds number for a range of sand sizes. An experimental method is developed to quantify the performance of two separator configurations that differ only in louver geometry. Two- and three-dimensional computational models matched to lab experiment conditions predict the separator performance over a range of Reynolds numbers and sand sizes. Two-dimensional predictions matched to engine conditions indicated that the orientation of the flow circulation in the collector was critical to successfully capturing the particles. Two- and three-dimensional computational predictions matched to lab experiment conditions were within 10% of measured collection efficiencies. The separator performance was measured to be consistent with predicted low pressure losses. Predicted and measured collection efficiencies were highest at low Reynolds number with a maximum measured value of 35%.