Development of the Pressure-Sensitive Paint (PSP) Technique for Advanced Turbomachinery Applications

Abstract

A new pressure measurement technique that employs the tools of molecular spectroscopy has recently received considerable attention in the community. Measurements are made via oxygen-sensitive molecules attached to the surface of interest as a coating, or paint. The pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique is now commonly used in stationary wind tunnel tests; this thesis presents extension of the technique to advanced turbomachinery applications. New pressure- and temperature-sensitive paints (TSPs) have been developed for application to a state-of-the-art compressor where pressures up to 2 atm and surface temperatures to 140 deg C are expected for the first stage rotor. PSP and TSP data images have been acquired from the suction surface of the first-stage rotor at 85 percent of the correct design speed for the compressor peak efficiency condition. The shock structure is clearly visible in the pressure image, and visual comparison to the corresponding computer prediction shows quantitative pressures similar to the PSP data. The measurement error is estimated to range from 0.36 kPa in low pressure regions to 4 kPa in high pressure regions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA401396

Entities

People

  • Kelly R. Navarra

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Compressors
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computers
  • Data Acquisition
  • Detectors
  • Measurement
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Pressure Measurement
  • Research Facilities
  • Surface Temperature
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities
  • Turbines
  • Turbomachinery
  • Wind Tunnels

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerodynamics.
  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Surface Coatings Technology.