Ice crystal accretion test rig development for a compressor transition duct

Ingestion of ice crystals into aircraft gas turbine engines have been shown to trigger partial or complete power loss. Although the ice crystal phenomenon has been recognized since the early 1950's, it was not until the mid-1990's that significant attention had been given to it with a key event being a flight campaign conducted with a small commuter aircraft which demonstrated ice crystals to be responsible for engine power loss. Although flight and engine testing have revealed ice crystals to be detrimental to gas turbine engine operation, these are not ideal test platforms to observe the ice crystal phenomenon due to limited access for instrumentation and visual observations. This paper discusses the development of an ice crystal test system used to simulate the ice crystal environment seen in a gas turbine compressor while maintaining visual accessibility and ease of instrumentation. This test system consists of a method to produce a range of ice crystal environments, the ability to vary airflow conditions in the rig and a static test section which simulates a gas turbine compressor transition duct. This system has been successful in producing a wide range of ice crystal test conditions and has shown significant ice accretion can occur on surfaces above 0\ub0C while allowing for visual observations and recording of temperature data during the accretion phenomenon. \ua9 2010 by Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye