Session: 01-02 Inlet Distortion and Engine Operability I

Paper Number: 151628

The INFRa Rig: Validating High-Fidelity Fan-Intake Simulations in a Crosswind Facility 

This study addresses the numerical and experimental investigation of a low pressure ratio fan at take-off representative operating conditions. It explores this by qualifying high-fidelity numerical setups of a crosswind facility and by validating the numerical results with test data. In this work, we introduce the INFRa fan, which represents a downscaled state-of-the-art propulsor with a cruise fan pressure ratio of 1.37, targeting a bypass ratio of 10-12. In the numerical study, we investigate the fan-intake interaction with two axisymmetric flight intakes under clean inflow conditions. The main difference is the different area ratio between the intake throat and the fan inlet. However, the average intake-induced variations at the fan inlet have only a small effect on the fan performance. Furthermore, the numerical data of one intake are verified by experimental data. In a subsequent step, the propulsion unit is subjected to a 30 knot crosswind. The crosswind leads to a strong acceleration of the flow around the intake highlight area. This leads to unsteady flow separation, which re-attaches before the flow enters the fan blade. It is found that the frequency of the separation bubble is approximately 25% lower than the first engine order. The flow separation results in a highly distorted inflow to the fan. Therefore, the fan performance varies along the circumference. The distinct frequency of the separation bubble as well as the fan performance data are validated with experimental data.

Presenting Author: Maximilian Mennicken German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Propulsion Technology

Presenting Author Biography: Maximilian Mennicken holds a bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical and energy engineering, respectively, from Aachen University. He has been working at DLR since 2017, focusing on fan design and fan integration. During this time, he is also working on his PhD, which is being supervised by the University of the Bundeswehr Munich.

Authors:

Maximilian Mennicken German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Propulsion Technology
Jonas Grubert TU Braunschweig
Patrick Brunow TU Braunschweig
Jens Friedrichs TU Braunschweig
Jan Goessling Leibniz University Hannover
John Paul Panuthara German Aerospace Center, Institute of Propulsion Technology
Pierre Sivel German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Propulsion Technology
Rainer Schnell German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Propulsion Technology