Real-Time Test Techniques for Sea-Salt Aerosol-Separator Evaluation

Gas turbine power plants are increasingly finding use as prime movers in Naval and commercial vessels, at-sea drilling platforms, and land-based power generating stations. With this rise in usage, the life of the machine becomes a consideration when operation in a marine environment is necessary. Limited data are available on the subject of marine aerosols and even less information can be found on the necessary requirements for effective separators for the ship-encountered marine environment. In order to specify the inlet system performance required by the new classes of gas turbine powered U.S. Navy ships, the Naval Ship Engineering Center (NAVSEC) has funded a gas turbine engine inlet separator test program to be performed at the Naval Air Propulsion Test Center (NAPTC) as one phase of a total inlet development program. This paper discusses the NAPTC sea-salt aerosol test facility and the real-time test techniques and instrumentation utilized.