An Experimental Evaluation of Unsteady Flow Effects on an Axial Compressor. P3 Generator Program

Abstract : A test program has been successfully completed to obtain fundamental information concerning the behavior of a fan compressor unit when subjected to planar pressure and flow pulses. Testing was conducted at two corrected fan speeds over a range of input pressure amplitudes and frequencies. A total of 24 fan surges and approximately fifty-seven 'steady-state' data points were obtained. The General Electric developed Planar Pressure Pulse Generator (P3G) was used to produce a sinusoidal type pressure disturbance to a current technology two-stage fan inlet. A thorough complement of dynamic instrumentation, consisting of approximately 45 transducers, was utilized throughout the testing. Data reduction is complete and several fundamental results have been obtained.