› PROTOTYPING
TURBOCAM's strength in software has helped to make prototyping a major emphasis of the
company, which now produces over 400 unique bladed parts a year.
By being able to continuously innovate in the design and use of software, and by preserving
the lessons learned into a continuously evolving and active software R&D effort, a high degree of flexibility has flowed
into prototyping ability and experience.
Some of the most challenging assignments are in the area of aeroengine blisks for test rigs
and development hardware. Excellent results can be obtained when the designers and manufacturers are able to openly work
together with a clear understanding of what is needed and what is easily obtainable.
A good example of this is in the work with MIT Gas Turbine Laboratory. At the ASME Turbo Expo
in Atlanta (June 2003), NASA exhibited the Aspirated Compressor Rotor and Stator. This stage produced a pressure ratio of
3.2 in tests at Glenn Research Center. It was the brainchild of Prof. Jack Kerrebrock of MIT, and one of several stages that
have been developed with TURBOCAM.
Production of these parts, with their many cavities and aspiration passages, took the rare
kind of understanding of fluid dynamics and manufacturing that only TURBOCAM can muster. Details can be seen in the
accompanying slides.
Papers on Aspirated Compressor technology have been published in the Proceedings of ASME Turbo
Expo.
Ali Merchant. Aerodynamic Design and performance of Aspirated Airfoils. ASME paper GT 2002-30369, 2002.
A.A. Merchant, M. Drela, J.L. Kerrebrock, J.J. Adamczyk, and M. Celestina. Aerodynamic design and analysis of a high
pressure ratio aspirated compressor stage. ASME Paper 2000-GT-619, 2000.
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