Evaluation of turbine microjet engine operating parameters in conditions conducive to inlet freezing

¹ Poznan University of Technology, Faculty of Machines and Transport, ul. Piotrowo 3, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
² Polish Naval University, Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, ul. Smidowicza 69, 81-127 Gdynia, Poland

^* Corresponding author: jaroslaw.markowski@put.poznan.pl

Abstract

The problem of turbine microjet engine operation is related to flight conditions of unmanned aircraft. These flights are often performed at low altitudes, where, in autumn and winter conditions, the air can be characterized by high humidity and low temperature. Such operating conditions may cause freezing the turbine engine inlet. In particular, this problem may be related to microengines, which most often are not equipped with a de-icing installation. Frosting of the inlet violates the air flow conditions at the engine inlet and may cause unstable operation and even outages, which eventually may lead to a loss of aircraft’s stability and breakdown. Therefore, an attempt was made to evaluate the changes in operational parameters of the turbine microjet engine under conditions leading to the freezing of the inlet. The engine test was performed in stationary conditions and the analysis of the obtained results are presented in this article.