Particle Dynamics Simulations in Inlet Separator with an Experimentally Based Bounce Model

This article presents a probabilistic simulation methodology for the particle dynamics through a helicopter engine's inlet separator with an experimentally based particle bounce model. The flowfield is determined from the numerical solution of the compressible Navier-Stokes equations with a two-equation turbulence model. The probabilistic simulations of the particle dynamics take into consideration the experimentally measured variance in the particle bounce conditions after surface interactions. Results are presented for the particle trajectories through the inlet and for the separator effectiveness over a range of sand particle sizes, and also for C-spec. sand.