Unsteady Flow Dynamics Within an Inertial Particle Separator

Abstract

Inertial Particle Separators are utilized in the inlet of a gas turbine engine to remove a significant fraction of the damaging sand and dust particulate ingested by the engine. In gas turbine propulsion applications these devices have pressure loss, space claim, and maintainability characteristics that are more favorable than other types of particle separating devices. Maximizing the particle separation efficient of such devices is the subject of continuing importance. A more complete understanding of the underlying fluid and particulate flow mechanisms present has been undertaken. This study focuses on the how particulate is affected by the unsteady flow dynamics within the inertial particle separator (IPS). The work utilized a particle separator test rig with flow path scale and airflow velocities relevant to that used in current production designs. The techniques of surface flow visualization, net separation efficiency measurement, specific geometry changes, traditional Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Multi-Phase PIV (MP-PIV), and high speed video were each applied to examine the fundamental flow physics of the fluid flow field and the particle motion created by the IPS geometries.