Engine Inlet Interaction with a Prop-Fan Propulsion System

Pratt & Whitney participated in a cooperative model test program with NASA Lewis, Lockheed-Georgia and Hamilton Standard to evaluate chin inlet/propeller interactions using an advanced technology Prop-Fan model. The tests were conducted at the United Technologies Research Center's main wind tunnel using its propeller test rig and NASA Lewis's 2-ft diameter SR3 Prop-Fan model. The tests were done at several forward flight speeds, up to Mach 0.8, simulating both cruise and reverse thrust operation. Interaction effects with and without boundary layer diverters are discussed in terms of inlet recovery and installed thrust minus drag. These interaction effects are presented as a function of parameters such as power coefficient, advance ratio, mass flow ratio and Mach number.