Gas Turbine Engine Testing Education at Western Michigan University

Abstract

The development of a gas turbine engine test cell facility is described in this paper. The test cell houses a mini turbojet engine and a mini turboprop engine. The two turbine engines have the same type of gas generator. The engines have been assembled by students using components purchased from the engine manufacturer. The test cell setup provides the aeronautical engineering undergraduate students with a variety of engine data during engine runs in both numerical and graphical formats by using a developed LabVIEW-based interface. The data acquired from the sensors allow the students to determine the component operating conditions and the air properties at the different stages along the air path. Through the lab experiments, the students are able to understand and validate the fundamental principles of gas turbine engines. More importantly, the lab provides the students with hands-on experience to apply the knowledge learned in classroom lectures to the real-time operation of turbine engines. The test cell facility promotes students interests in aeropropulsion.

Enhancing the Undergraduate Educational Experience: Development of a Micro-Gas Turbine Laboratory

“…(3) explain the basic operation of heat exchangers, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, internal combustion engines, boilers, solar cells and other engineering systems; (4) apply the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer to the analysis and testing of practical engineering systems; (5) perform uncertainty analysis on data in order to estimate the error in measured results; (6) effectively communicate results and conclusions in graphical, written and oral form; (7) analyze and interpret results of experiments in order to observe trends, make comparisons, and determine cause and effect relations.…”

“…6 At Western Michigan University, students have compared the model of a gas turbine cycle to the performance of a turbine engine, and look at a turbo-propeller engine as well. 7 In contrast to the gas turbine experiments at West Point and Western Michigan, students at Valparaiso University analyze a gas turbine generator. Additionally, students consider questions related to the hidden costs of the natural gas provider, the enhancements used to improve the Brayton Cycle, and the potential benefits of using a gas turbine in a CHP application.…”

Redesigning a commercial combined cycle in an undergraduate thermodynamics course: Connecting theory to practical cycle design

“…Experiments are one way to introduce students to such devices through a hands-on experience. 5,6 Often, automobile engines are used in student experiments 7 as well as small gas-turbine engines for experiments 8 and laboratory work. 9 Occasionally, even small jet engines are involved.…”

Gas Turbine Engine Starting Applicated on TV2-117 Turboshaft

“…The starting and the testing of gas turbine engines will be performed each time the engine is overhauled [6], taken out of preservation, or each time the engine encounters a problem which affects its working parameters. There are some references about starting and testing procedures of turboshaft engines but only for the new generation of this type of engine [1,2]. The testing of gas turbine engines implies an automatic system in order to monitor the main parameters and to control the engine in time of running.…”

“…So in this case, on starting phase the engine starts with a mechanical load which is the resistive torque of the helicopter drive train assembly. In the idle mode [1], the engine develops maximum power around P ≈ 60 kW, at NTP = 45±10% free power turbine speed and gas generator speed around NGG = 65±1%. The rotor of the gas generator works at a maximum speed of NGG = 21200 rpm, delivers an air flow rate around of DA ≈ 7.5 kg/s, and makes an overall pressure ratio ≈ 6.5:1, at the maximum free power turbine speed of NTP = 12000 rpm.…”