Laser anemometer measurements at the exit of a T63 combustor

Abstract : An experimental study of the flow downstream of a T63-C20 gas turbine engine combustor was performed. Laser anemometer measurements of the mean and fluctuating velocities were made in a Combustion Rig across an annulus simulating the inlet to a turbine. A window design suitable for similar measurements in a gas turbine engine was made based on the results of this experiment. Insufficient numbers of naturally-occurring scattering particles were present in the flow. Hollow phenolic particles added to the flow provided adequate signal strength for measurement. For each of the simulated engine operating conditions of Flight, Idle, 30% Power and 90% Power, both with and without the addition of fuel, the mean velocities and turbulent intensities were uniform across the annulus. The turbulent intensity was substantially unaffected by the addition of fuel but was apparently only dependent on the inlet flow condition at a given power point. Little or no swirl was present in the flow at the annulus.