Design of Chalmers new low-pressure compressor test facility for low-speed testing of cryo-engine applications

As a part of the ongoing Horizon 2020, ENABLEH2 project which aims to evaluate novel cryogenic fuel solution for commercial aviation, new low-speed compressor test facility is being constructed. The work in Chalmers Laboratory Fluids and Thermal Sciences focuses around design construction this will be utilized study verify potential benefits incorporating heat management system intermediate duct (ICD). designed operate continuously at rotor midspan chord Reynold number up 600,000 allow detailed aerothermal studies technical readiness level four. two-stage axial with outlet guide vanes (OGV) ICD representative low-pressure mid-size jet engine. A 147kW electric motor 1920 RPM provides power input rotors drives circulation closed cycle facility. mass-flow pressure ratio are controlled by restricting valves upstream stages. compact volute settling chamber an integrated thermal control used cool remove non-uniformities flow exiting restrictor before entering Just rotor, mesh mounted increase turbulence levels 3-4% leading edge variable inlet vane (IGV). vertically ease access downstream mitigate non-axisymmetric mechanical loads. unit allows optical traverse two 18-degree sectors all rotor-stator interfaces. Upstream OGV, there four independent 360-degree systems. For measurement OGV ICD, single ABB robot U-shaped probe mount provide full volume probing access. At first iteration instrumented multi-hole probes, hotwire anemometry transfer using IR-thermography. paper describes process achieving high case similarity (engine representative) while maximising quality experimental data over large domain, targets that often produce conflicting demands.