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Validation Ice Crystal Icing Engine Test in the Propulsion Systems Laboratory at NASA Glenn Research CenterThe Propulsion Systems Laboratory (PSL) is an existing altitude simulation jet engine test facility located at NASA Glenn Research Center in Clevleand, OH. It was modified in 2012 with the integration of an ice crystal cloud generation system. This paper documents the inaugural ice crystal cloud test in PSLthe first ever full scale, high altitude ice crystal cloud turbofan engine test to be conducted in a ground based facility. The test article was a Lycoming ALF502-R5 high bypass turbofan engine, serial number LF01. The objectives of the test were to validate the PSL ice crystal cloud calibration and engine testing methodologies by demonstrating the capability to calibrate and duplicate known flight test events that occurred on the same LF01 engine and to generate engine data to support fundamental and computational research to investigate and better understand the physics of ice crystal icing in a turbofan engine environment while duplicating known revenue service events and conducting test points while varying facility and engine parameters. During PSL calibration testing it was discovered than heated probes installed through tunnel sidewalls experienced ice buildup aft of their location due to ice crystals impinging upon them, melting and running back. Filtered city water was used in the cloud generation nozzle system to provide ice crystal nucleation sites. This resulted in mineralization forming on flow path hardware that led to a chronic degradation of performance during the month long test. Lacking internal flow path cameras, the response of thermocouples along the flow path was interpreted as ice building up. Using this interpretation, a strong correlation between total water content (TWC) and a weaker correlation between median volumetric diameter (MVD) of the ice crystal cloud and the rate of ice buildup along the instrumented flow path was identified. For this test article the engine anti-ice system was required to be turned on before ice crystal icing would occur. The ice crystal icing event, an uncommanded reduction in thrust, was able to be turned on and off by manipulating cloud TWC. A flight test point where no ice crystal icing event occurred was also duplicated in PSL. Physics based computational tools were successfully used to predict tunnel settings to induce ice buildup along the low pressure compression system flow path for several test points at incrementally lower altitudes, demonstrating that development of ice crystal icing scaling laws is potentially feasible. Analysis of PSL test data showed that uncommanded reduction in thrust occurs during ice crystal cloud on operation prior to fan speed reduction. This supports previous findings that the reduction of thrust for this test article is due to ice buildup leading to a restricted airflow from either physical or aerodynamic blockage in the engine core flow path.
Document ID
20150002094
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Oliver, Michael J. (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
February 25, 2015
Publication Date
June 16, 2014
Subject Category
Aeronautics (General)
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN15560
Meeting Information
Meeting: AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference
Location: Atlanta, GA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 16, 2014
End Date: June 20, 2014
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 648987.02.02.03.30
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Ice Crystal Icing
Turbofan Engine
Icing

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