Small engine inlet distortion testing device

A project dealing with small gas turbine engine inlet total pressure distortion testing was solved at the University of Defence. Within this project a new device for creation and measurement of the total pressure inlet distortion was designed. In the early stage of the project there was a need of significant amount of testing for evaluation of newly designed device, foundation of measurement methodology, testing of basic distortion screen designs and their affects. In order to save expanses for the jet engine operation for these initial tests it was replaced by a model device drawing air through the engine inlet. This paper describes design of the measurement device, its initial tests and lessons learned from this development. Difficulties encountered with substitution of the jet engine by standalone compressor are also presented.