초록 ▼

A test facility provides high temperature, high pressure and high mass flow fluid to a test object to form a relatively large thermal gradient on the object. Energy in the fluid is recuperated to drive system components, such as a heat exchanger and a turbocharger compressor. A test chamber housing

A test facility provides high temperature, high pressure and high mass flow fluid to a test object to form a relatively large thermal gradient on the object. Energy in the fluid is recuperated to drive system components, such as a heat exchanger and a turbocharger compressor. A test chamber housing the test object can be arranged to conform to a contour of the test object. A control system permits independent variation of pressure, temperature, cooling fluid and fluid velocity, as well as mechanical loading on the test object. Noncontact, optical inspection measurement techniques can be employed to measure test chamber and/or test object parameters. The test object can be configured to direct cooling airflow to permit various temperature or pressure gradients to be implemented. The test facility is relatively inexpensive to operate and provides a significant cost advantage over testing conducted in a full gas turbine engine.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for imposing a relatively large thermal gradient on a test object, comprising:a turbocharger having a drive turbine coupled to a compressor for driving the compressor to provide a compressed fluid;a combustor having an input coupled to an output of the compressor and

What is claimed is: 1. A system for imposing a relatively large thermal gradient on a test object, comprising:a turbocharger having a drive turbine coupled to a compressor for driving the compressor to provide a compressed fluid;a combustor having an input coupled to an output of the compressor and operable to combust fuel with the compressed fluid from the compressor to produce a high temperature compressed fluid;a test structure for housing the test object and coupled to an output of the combustor such that the high temperature compressed fluid is directed toward the test object; anda duct section coupled between an output of the test structure and the drive turbine of the turbocharger such that exhaust fluid from the test structure can drive the drive turbine of the turbocharger.