An Experimental Investigation of Response of a Turbojet Engine to Inlet Distortion

A study of the response of a turbojet engine to the steady-state and the turbulence-type dynamic inlet distortion is presented in this paper. The steady-state distortion is generated by a 180° extent, 36 mesh screen, and the turbulence-type dynamic distortion by a 180° extent plate with 50% blockage ratio at the engine face. This plate can produce a very strong pressure fluctuation at the engine face. The statistical analysis shows that the APD of pressure fluctuation follows approximately the Normal Distribution except those cases near rotating stall or surge. Results from testing show: 1) inlet distortion generated by screen will produce a classical-surge or deep-surge (defined in ref. 1); 2) the degree of distortion by screen can change the mode of surge, e.g. from the classical-surge to the deep-surge and vice versa; 3) both the inlet distortion and the decrease in first-stage-turbine-nozzle area will change the compressor performance maps; 4) the turbulence-type dynamic distortion causes a “drift-surge” (defined in ref. 2).