The Effect of Inlet Flow Distortion on Performance of a Micro-Jet Engine: Part 2 — Engine Tests

Abstract

This paper concerns investigating effect of inlet flow distortion on performance of a micro-jet engine. An experimental study has been carried out to determine how the steady state inlet total-pressure distortion affects the performance of a micro gas turbine engine. An inlet simulator is designed and developed to produce and measure distortion patterns at the engine inlet. An Air Jet Distortion Generator is used to produce non-uniform flow patterns and total pressure probes are implemented to measure steady state total pressure distribution at the engine face. A set of wind tunnel tests has been performed to confirm the fidelity of distortion generator and measuring devices. The engine got exposed to inlet flow with 60-degree, 120-degree, and 180-degree circumferential distortion patterns with different distortion intensities and the engine performance have been measured and compared with that of clean inlet flow. Results indicate that engine performance can be affected significantly facing with intense inlet distortions.