Effect of Variable Inlet Guide Vanes (VIGV) on a Small Gas Turbine Engine

摘要

Variable inlet guide vanes are used throughout the gas turbine industry to improve compressor performance and increase the compressor off-design efficiency. In recent years, expendable unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), powered by small gas turbines, have become popular. Because the UAS are expendable, any improvement in their fuel efficiency, and thus their endurance, will provide a large increase in value to the end user. This paper outlines the design of a prototype variable inlet guide vane system for use on a small gas turbine engine. A flight ready system was then additively manufactured and tested on a JetCat P100-RX gas turbine engine. This paper analyzes the results from the test, discusses the effect of different vane angles on the engine, and performs a use case analysis to determine the viability of the proposed variable inlet guide vane system.