Preliminary Design of a Low-Cost Mobile Test Cell for Small Gas Turbine Engines

Abstract

This paper describes the design considerations and calculations of a mobile low-cost test cell for small gas turbine engines (GTE). The test bed was designed for the TS-20 jet engine, originated in a gas turbine starter and should be used mostly for educational purposes and for experimental validation of analytical computations. Limitations of the project were the engine air mass flow rate, low noise emissions for possibility of performance close to urban area, low cost and good mobility of the test cell. The design of the test cell structure, inlet and exhaust silencers from the aero-thermodynamic and sound suppression point of view is presented. The calculation results and respective design solutions are offered.