W-8 Facility Description
The Single-Stage Axial Compressor Facility is used to investigate the aerodynamic performance of small scale fans and compressors with a nominal pressure ratio of 2.5. The drive system consists of a 7,000 hp, 3,600 rpm electric drive motor and a 7,000 hp speed-increasing gearbox with a gear ratio of 5.9, powered by the Engine Research Building (ERB) Variable Frequency system. The compressor speed can be controlled between 1,860 and 21,240 rpm. An in-line torquemeter rated for 22,000 in-lbs measures power absorbed by the research compressor. The test rig shafting is bored to provide the capability for rotating measurements using a 100 channel slip ring. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system is used to monitor and control facility operation.

The facility air system is sized for a maximum flow of 100 pps. Atmospheric air is drawn into the facility through an inlet located on the roof of ERB. The air passes through a filter, through a flow measuring orifice plate, through inlet control valves, and into the plenum chamber. Mobile flow conditioning hardware installed in the plenum tank is designed to reduce turbulence and provide smooth flow to the research compressor. The air gets pressurized as it passes through the research compressor, and then passes through a sleeve throttle valve into an exhaust collector in the test cell. Air discharged from the exhaust collector is cooled by water spray injection in a spray cooler tank located in the basement of ERB. Finally, air is directed to the ERB Atmosphere Exhaust system or the Central Process System (CPS) Altitude Exhaust system. The inlet air line is equipped with a polystyrene latex sphere seeding system required for laser anemometry, which is used to map the flow field and validate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) computer codes. A 40 psig combustion air line also supplies air to the facility. This air supply was designed to provide dry air to the facility, which is required during laser anemometry testing. Combustion air passes through control valves to reduce its pressure, through a flow-measuring orifice, and then enters the plenum chamber.


W-8 Facility Graphic (click for enlargement)

W-8 Special Features
The ESCORT D data acquisition system handles 404 channels of analog data inputs. An Electronic Scan Pressure (ESP) system with eighteen 32 port sensor modules provides up to 540 pressure measurements. A 16 axis probe actuator control system is used to automatically traverse pressure/temperature probes to obtain flow data. Detailed velocity measurements of the complex compressor flow fields are obtained using a Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system. The facility is also equipped to measure up to 240 temperature data points.