2nd AIAA Flow Control Conference AIAA 2004-2516

28 June - 1 July 2004, Portland, Oregon

Smart Vanes for UCAV Engine Applications

Mukund Acharya,* Steve Emo†, and Dan Bugajski‡

Honeywell Engines, Systems & Services, Phoenix, AZ, 85072, USA

and

David Williams§
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL USA

Results from an ongoing program** to develop and demonstrate the application of flow-
control technology to the compressor of a gas-turbine engine designed for UCAV
applications are described. The program objective is to develop closed-loop flow-control
systems for the engine compressor vanes. “Smart” stator vanes and inlet guide vanes (IGVs)
were developed and demonstrated in research compressor rigs. Flow-control modules were
incorporated on the suction surface of stator vanes to delay or eliminate flow separation in
the vane passage, thereby enabling higher vane loadings, and in the trailing-edge region of
IGV airfoils to vector the flow leaving the vane row to desired flow angles. These modules
were based on pulsed-blowing and trailing-edge-blowing approaches respectively. The
actuation technologies, actuators, flow-state sensing, signal processing, and control
algorithms required for closed-loop actuation of the vane flow-control systems were
developed and tested.

Nomenclature
b = Coanda slot height
CL = lift coefficient
Cp = pressure coefficient
c = chord
cz = compressor axial flow speed
cµ = blowing momentum coefficient
r = trailing edge radius of curvature
F+ = dimensionless frequency
M = Mach number
P = total or stagnation pressure
P = static pressure
Re = Reynolds number
s = vane spacing
U = freestream flow speed
X = axial or streamwise coordinate
Y = transverse coordinate, normal to vane surface

*
Senior Principal Engineer & Advanced Technology Development Program Manager, Engines, Systems &
Services, Phoenix AZ, M/S 503-327, Associate Fellow AIAA.
†
Senior Principal Engineer, Engines, Systems & Services, South Bend, IN
‡
Principal Engineer, Honeywell Laboratories, Minneapolis, MN.
§
Professor and Director, Fluid Dynamics Research Center, Chicago, IL, Associate Fellow, AIAA.
**
Funding by the DARPA MAFC Program, contract DAAD19-00-C-0125 is gratefully acknowledged. Approved
for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited

1
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Copyright © 2004 by Mukund Acharya. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., with permission.