Design of an Inlet Air Cleaner for the Black Hawk Helicopter Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)

Although the T700-GE-700 turboshaft engine on the Black Hawk UH-60 utility helicopter is equipped with an inertial particle separator inlet air protection system to protect the engine from sand/dust erosion, no such protection has been provided for the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU). Due to the location of the APU on Black Hawk, the unprotected APU is predisposed to the effects of erosion from the ingestion of sand and dust accumulated in the APU compartment. Although quick fix measures were tried to meet the immediate need for an inlet air protection system, the results were far from satisfactory because of the need for frequent maintenance.

Frequent unscheduled removal of the unprotected APU from the Black Hawk helicopter for overhaul due to sand and dust erosion established the urgent need for the design and development of the self-cleaning high efficiency inlet air cleaner for the Titan T-62T-40-1 APU described in this paper.