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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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228 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

Fig. 6.21 In <strong>the</strong> hover, exhaust gases can recirculate back to <strong>the</strong> air intake and reduce power.<br />

Turbine compressors may be affected by a phenomenon known as surge. This is<br />

an unstable or oscillating condition that replaces <strong>the</strong> usual steady-state conditions in<br />

<strong>the</strong> compressor. Surge may be triggered if <strong>the</strong> airflow into <strong>the</strong> compressor becomes<br />

disturbed. In helicopters <strong>the</strong> main rotor is very effective at disturbing <strong>the</strong> air and it is<br />

necessary to take some care over <strong>the</strong> siting and design <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> engine intakes. In ground<br />

effect, airflow under <strong>the</strong> main rotor has some toroidal characteristics, including <strong>the</strong><br />

fountain effect, in which pressure below <strong>the</strong> rotor leaks through <strong>the</strong> hub and blade<br />

shanks. Figure 6.21 shows that this can draw exhaust gases back into <strong>the</strong> engine air<br />

intakes. Surge may also be initiated during starting if, for some reason, ignition is<br />

delayed and a substantial quantity <strong>of</strong> fuel suddenly ignites.<br />

Surge is characterized by periodic stalling <strong>of</strong> compressor blades. A stalled blade will<br />

reduce <strong>the</strong> compressor output pressure and combustion pressure may cause reverse<br />

flow into <strong>the</strong> compressor output. This reduction in mass flow through <strong>the</strong> compressor<br />

<strong>the</strong>n causes <strong>the</strong> compressor pressure to increase, stemming <strong>the</strong> reverse flow until<br />

flow breaks down again. <strong>The</strong> oscillations due to surge are felt as vibration along with<br />

power loss and an increase in TOT as <strong>the</strong> governor adds fuel in an attempt to maintain<br />

power. Surge may be arrested by opening bleed valves in <strong>the</strong> wall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> compressor<br />

stator. <strong>The</strong>se vent pressure to atmosphere and allow <strong>the</strong> mass flow to increase <strong>the</strong>reby<br />

unstalling <strong>the</strong> blades.<br />

Compressors work at <strong>the</strong>ir highest efficiency when <strong>the</strong> blades are clean. Over time,<br />

<strong>the</strong> blades get dirty owing to various contaminants, including smog, salt and insects,<br />

and efficiency falls. <strong>The</strong> solution is periodically to wash <strong>the</strong> compressor. <strong>The</strong> turbine is<br />

motored with <strong>the</strong> starter motor and water is sprayed into <strong>the</strong> air intake. <strong>The</strong> compressor<br />

pressure-sensing pipe to <strong>the</strong> governor must be detached or sealed <strong>of</strong>f during washing<br />

to prevent water entering <strong>the</strong> governor mechanism. <strong>The</strong> washing procedure may also<br />

require <strong>the</strong> bleed valves to be wedged open.<br />

6.20 Combustion<br />

<strong>The</strong> turbine is a continuous flow engine and relies on a delicate equilibrium being<br />

maintained. <strong>The</strong>re are two related problems to be overcome. <strong>The</strong> first is that <strong>the</strong> velocity<br />

<strong>of</strong> flame propagation in kerosene is very slow compared to <strong>the</strong> air velocity from <strong>the</strong><br />

compressor, which can be at several hundred feet per second. If directly exposed to<br />

compressor flow, <strong>the</strong> flame would literally be blown out. <strong>The</strong> second problem is that

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