Particle Separator

Project Funded by: Pratt & Whitney

Researcher: Grant Musgrove

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Sand ingestion has always been a problem with jet engines because sand will erode parts and thermal coatings, and clog cooling holes in the blades and vanes of the turbine section. With the increased activity in desert regions of the world, a need to remove the sand from the engine has more importance. Pratt & Whitney has designed a part that will do just this.

 

This project is a contract with Pratt & Whitney to optimize the geometry of a Pratt & Whitney designed part to separate sand particles from the bypass air used to cool turbine components. The project requires both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and laboratory testing. The CFD analysis optimizes the design of the part such that there is minimal pressure loss and maximum sand removal. The three best part designs are tested in the lab and the measurements are compared to CFD simulations.

Figure 1. Sand ingestion is a major concern in modern engine design.

Figure 2. Sand ingestion can block cooling holes, leaving blades vulnerable to high temperatures.