Gas Turbine and Compressors Machines Lab

Turbojet Engine Test Stand

The engine used incorporates a single stage centrifugal compressor, feeding air into a combustion chamber fed by multiple fuel injectors, and through to a single stage centrifugal turbine. The turbo jet test stand is mounted on a wheeled trolley allowing it to be moved to an operational area or stored in a convenient location. We have developed a turbo jet engine test stand to provide a cost effective method of testing the performance of an operational aero jet engine. The test stand provides a fully functioning and instrumented engine.

Experimental Capability:
Performance analysis of a Turbojet at varying power
Demonstration of the Turbo jet principle

Energy Balance Apparatus

Features:
Compressor driven by an electric motor
Air pressure out of compressor
Single Stage Compressor
Adjustment of air pressures via valves
Airflow rate read by airflow flowmeter.
Motor spring balance
Wattmeter on the front panel for power measurement.

Turbojet Trainer With Reheat

This product helps students to understand the use of this engine withadditional exhaust nozzle control, on practical applications such as jetaircraft. A steel frame holds a gas generator, combustion chamber, oil and fueltanks, pumps, ancillaries and guards. Above these is an instrumentation andcontrol panel with schematic diagram. A self-contained, fully instrumented, educational singleshaft gas turbine with reheat. Powered by kerosene, the experimental abilitiesof this high-quality apparatus enable comprehensive practical investigationsinto the principles, and performance of single-shaft gas turbines with reheat. The clearly labelled control panel withmimic diagram includes the instrument displays, controls and warning lights. It then passes through a variable area propelling nozzle. The exhaust gases thendischarge to a suitable exhaust system. The combustion chamber gives excellentcombustion, low pressure loss and good flame stability over a wide range ofconditions. Air passes into an air box, through a calibrated nozzle into a compressor, theninto the combustion chamber. A pump transfers fuel from the fuel tank to spraythrough a special nozzle into the combustion chamber. A high-energy sparkignites the air and fuel mixture that flows to a radial flow turbine, then tothe reheat section. This increases the temperature and velocity of the gas. A secondhigh-energy spark in the reheat section ignites the reheat fuel. This creates asecondary burn using some of the remaining oxygen in the hot exhaust gasesleaving the turbine. A fuel flow control valve on the instrumentation and control panelregulates the turbine speed. This design reduces the possibility of over speed. A separate control adjusts the fuel flow to the reheat section.

Turbojet Trainer

A pump transfers fuel from the fuel tank to spray through a special nozzle into thecombustion chamber. A high-energy spark ignites the air and fuel mixture thatflows to radial flow turbine, then a variable area propelling nozzle. A self-contained, fully instrumented, educational singleshaft gas turbine. Powered by kerosene, the experimental abilities of thishigh-quality apparatus enable comprehensive practical investigations into theprinciples, and performance of single-shaft gas turbines. Air passes intoan air box, into a compressor, then into the combustion chamber. The exhaust gases then discharge to a suitable exhaust system. The combustion chambergives excellent combustion, low pressure loss and good flame stability over awide range of conditions. It is a steel framethat holds a gas generator, combustion chamber, oil and fuel tanks, pumps,ancillaries and guards. Above these is an instrumentation and control panelwith schematic diagram. The clearly labelled front panel with mimic diagramincludes the instrument displays, controls and warning lights. For protection of the equipment and user, it shutsdown the turbine if the user makes an error. Digital indicators show shaftspeed, pressures, temperatures and fuel flow. Analogue indicators show fuellevel, fuel pressure, oil temperature, oil pressure and hours run. A fuel flow control valve on the instrumentation andcontrol panel regulates the speed. This design reduces the possibility of overspeed. The equipment has an oiling system including filters and water-cooledoil. Starting is semi-automatic and fully interlocked, controlled by a startupand shut down logic system.

Spectro Analyser

The analyser is based on a specially designed Pyrex quartz ionisation cell in which the sample gas flow is ionised in a high voltage alternating electrical field with consequential emission of light. The instrument has ranges of both 0-10 & 0-100 vpm with a sensitivity of less than 1 vpm. A narrow spectral band corresponding to one of the specific light emission wavelengths of nitrogen is filtered by a narrow band-pass composite interference filter and then detected by a photomultiplier tube.

Three Component Rudder Balance And Steering Actuator

The motor and gearbox has virtually zero backlash and an absolute encoder to give very accurate positional accuracy. The balance is a 3 Load-cell arrangement for the Measurement of Fx, Fy and Mz. It is also supplied with a yawing actuator to enable the adjustment of rudder angle.

Six Component Balance

The balance can be manually adjusted to variable angles of incidence making it particularly suitable for testing rudders or stabiliser fins. The balance is mounted on a plate in place of a measuring section window, normally at the top of the tunnel.
The 6 Component Balance  is supplied with a Stainless Steel plate/bracket to mount the balance in place of the measuring section windows, Calibration equipment and support Frame.

Impulse Swirl Meter with Port Flow Rig and Display

A low range strain gauge transducer measures the positive or negative force caused by the torque reaction produced when swirling air is straightened by the honeycomb. This torque is normally calibrated over a small range for higher accuracy.
The display unit contains the signal conditioning electronics in a rack mounting module.
The front panel carries the 4 digit LED display, a main on/off switch and zero and span potentiometers. The rear panel connections include a 10V analog signal for connection to the data acquisition system.
The matrix is connected via a torque to a strain gauge transducer which is calibrated by suspending weights over pulleys either side of the torque arm.
The length of torque arm is such as to enable torque values up to 0.1Nm to be The unit shall be arranged for flow in an upward and downward direction and is supplied complete with adaptor plate having a pilot bore of diameter 50mm.
Swirl meter comprises a Honeycomb matrix mounted within cylindrical housing.
The dimensions of individual cell of the matrix being suitable for arresting the swirl of the incoming air
Consists of a fabricated steel frame bench mounted on casters, which house the major components Control, instrumentation and data acquisition is mounted on the frame in one 3U high, 19 wide electronic rack enclosure.
Intended for use with port models with a nominal free air capacity of 50 litres/second.
It is used for blowing or drawing air through the cylinder head port model. The mode of control may either be direct fan speed set point or by the test piece pressure drop set point. A variable speed centrifugal fan/blower unit, capable of 100mBar static pressure and a flow rate of 300m/hr, is attached to a base plate on the bottom level of the frame.

Oxygen Analyser

The Oxygen Analyser measures oxygen concentrations from percentage levels to a fraction of parts per million (ppm) in clean gases. The unique cell and heater design gives very fast warm-up times, rapid response, and long sensor life. Packaged on a 19 rack mounting enclosure, it uses a oxygen sensor to provide accurate measurement with minimal interference from other gases.

Rare Gas Purifier

The Rare Gas Purifier is of a standard size (19) suitable for rack or bench mounting, and specifically made for laboratory or process work. The Rare Gas Purifier, has been developed from a family of rare gas purifiers originally designed by BOC. Depending on flow rate the RGP-4 in normal use is on average capable of continuous operation for in excess of two years before it becomes necessary to replace the reagent tubes. For normal flow rates of 10 litres/minute that will reduce the impurities (typically 30 vpm) of commercial rare gases (argon, helium, krypton, neon, and xenon) down to a level of less than 1 vpm in total.

Features:
Simple to operate, low cost, fully automatic, factory pre-set system
Rapid warm-up time
Excellent purification of commercial grade rare gases, impurities reduced to less than 1 vpm
Unaffected by ambient temperature variations
Lightweight, robust, compact, 19 rack mounting
Long life reagent tubes.

Impulse Swirl Meter

The impulse swirl meter uses a swinging honeycomb type matrix which is restrained from rotation by a strain-gauged load cell to totally arrest the angular swirl component thereby measuring the resultant angular impulse as a torque. Earlier methods of measuring swirl such as swirl vane meters, were dependent on the velocity profile of the air stream, whereas the impulse type of meter overcomes this limitation by responding to the total angular momentum flux in the swirling air flow. 

Multi Component Balance

The Three Component Balance is designed for use in Open Water tests with Podded Dynamometer.
The forces and moments measured will depend on the combination and number of Transducers fitted. This Allows the forces and moments acting on and produced by the Pod to be set at different pitch or yaw angles during open water testing. This equipment allows the user to arrange Podded Drive Propeller Dynamometer with the extended gearbox, Three Component Balance and Purpose built Carriage mounting frame with manual adjustment for Height, Pitch and Yaw.

Blowby Meters

Blowby Meter is an ideal solution to the problem of easily measuring the gas flow out of engine crankcases as it can be incorporated into engine ventilation systems in a low intrusive manner. Engine deterioration may be assessed in several ways, one of which is to measure cylinder gas loss; the accumulation of crankcase gas is a result of this loss, and it provides an indication of wear in the valve stems, valve guides, piston rings, and cylinder bores.

Features:
Continuous Flow Measurements
Vortex Shedding Technology
Very Low Pressure Drop (< 0.25 mbar)
Flow Range 4~5650 l/min
Small Physical Size
3 1/2 Digit LCD Display
Excellent at Low Flows
Linearising Electronics
High Flow Alarm
Analogue Output (0-2V or 0-10V, selectable)
Pulse Train Output
40 : 1 turndown ratio.

Hydra Research Test Systems

Demand has grown significantly in recent years for light duty single cylinder research engines incorporating the latest technologies and offering the user maximum flexibility of build specification and component selection.

Application:
Air motion studies
Visualization of combustion process
Component development
Optimization prior to multi cylinder prototype build
Combustion chamber development
Effect of varying operating parameters, including ignition, injection and valve timing, EGR and induction pressure.
Alternative material investigation
Lubricating oil and additive development
Fuel research.

Balancing Apparatus

This process is called balancing. The machine component is then balanced and runs without vibration. During imbalance, the principal axis of inertia or centre of gravity of the rotating machine component is outside its axis of rotation. Imbalances on rotating machines are often the cause of disruptive vibrations and noise. By adding or removing masses, the centre of gravity or the principal axis of inertia can be shifted so that both coincide with the axis of rotation. 

Learning Objectives And Experiments:
Comparison of static, dynamic or general imbalance
Demonstration of imbalance vibrations at different speeds
Perform a balancing operation
Determine an imbalance.

Features:
Static and dynamic imbalance.
Representation of the fundamental processes involved in balancing.

Field Balancing Apparatus

The imbalance of a rotating machine part may cause harmful vibrations in the entire machine. A familiar example is unbalanced tyres on a car. In rotating machines such as turbines or pumps, vibrations due to imbalance lead to comfort problems or even damage related to overloading. If this balancing is done not on a particular machine but directly on the machine in operation located on-site, it is known as field balancing. These cause annoying and unpleasant vibrations in the steering. This is why almost all rotating parts are balanced. 

Learning Objectives And Experiments:
Measure and assess machine vibrations
Static, dynamic or general imbalance
Occurrence of imbalance vibrations
Field balancing in one plane
Field balancing in two planes
Dependence of imbalance vibration on position and magnitude of the imbalance
Basic principles of balancing
Using a computerised vibration analyser
Assessment of balancing quality.

Features:
Single and two-plane balancing
Measurement of imbalance vibrations.