Lubricant Evaluations Obtained Using the AFAPL (Air Force Aero Propulsion Laboratory) Automated Engine Simulator.

摘要

A description of an automated gas turbine engine simulator, designated the AFAPL engine simulator, and a discussion of the test results obtained from 31 tests using the simulator are presented. The No. 4-5 bearing compartment areas of a J57 turbine engine are used as the basic hardware for the simulator. The simulator is driven by a variable-speed drive system, throught the accessory drive gearbox, providing simulator mainshaft speeds up to 9,120 rmp. Electrical resistance heaters are used to heat the air surrounding the oil-wetted areas within the No. 4-5 bearing compartment areas. The temperatures, pressures, and rpm are controlled at prederermined levels and monitored throughout the 9120-6000 rpm speed cycling sequences and the soakback periods by a Hewlett-Packard mini-computer system, which is also programmed to draw 5-hr interval test-oil samples, control test-oil sump level, provide safety shut-off protection, as well as print out and plot test information generated during each individual test. Simulator results obtained on eight turbine engine lubricants, for which full-scale engine data are available, show a very good correlation of the deposit ratings obtained using the AFAPL engine simulator and the deposit ratings from full-scale engine tests.