Experimental Determination of the Influence of Foreign Particle Ingestion on the Behavior of Hot-Section Components Including Lamilloy®

The effect of foreign particle ingestion on hot-section components has been investigated with a series of experiments performed using a one-quarter sector F100-PW-100 annular combustor. The combustor was operated so that the engine corrected conditions were duplicated. The experiments were designed to determine the influence of cooling hole size, hole roughness (laser-drilled vs. EDM), combustor exit temperature and dust concentration on the cooling capability of the component in the presence of dust particles. Cylindrical Lamilloy^® specimens, film cooled Inconel cylinders, and F100-PW-220 first stage turbine vanes were investigated. The size distribution of the foreign particles injected into the air stream just upstream of the combustor was consistent with distributions measured at the exit of high compressors for large turbofan engines. The foreign material was a soil composition representative of materials found around the world. Pre- and post-test bench flow measurements suggested that none of the test specimen’s cooling passages or holes were clogged by the foreign particles. Foreign particle deposition on the specimens was experienced with approximate values for the minimum combustor exit temperature and minimum specimen wall temperature for deposition measured.