High-Speed Test Rig For The Investigation Of Particle Deposition In Propulsor Annulus Surfaces

With a high degree of integration of aircraft and propulsion system, it becomes viable to transfer the increased amount of heat generated by aircraft systems to the propulsor exhaust flow by forced convection at minimal pressure loss, which is aimed to improve the system efficiency. However, the deposition of solid, airborne particles during in-service operation can deteriorate heat transfer efficiency. This study uses numerical simulations to design an experimental test rig to investigate these particle deposition phenomena. Key non-dimensional groups were identified to describe the interaction between turbulent flows, particle dynamics, and surface interactions. Particle sizes range of (1 - 120) µm were analysed to reflect typical atmospheric particulate matter. The numerical simulations were conducted using the k - w shear stress turbulence model and Lagrangian particle tracking in OpenFOAM, informing the design of the testbed, and optimising the placement of test specimens and boundary conditions. This work lays the groundwork for future experimental investigations into particle transport and deposition within ultra-high bypass ratio turbofan engines.