Micro-Jet Test Facility for Aerospace Propulsion Engineering Education

Abstract

This paper describes the methodology that has been developed and implemented at the School ofAeronautics (ETSIA) of the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) to familiarize aerospaceengineering students with the operation of real complex jet engine systems. This methodology has atwo-pronged approach: students carry out preparatory work by using, first, a gas turbineperformance prediction numerical code; then they validate their assumptions and results on anexperimental test rig. When looking at the educational aspects, we have taken care that, apart frombeing sufficiently robust and flexible, the experimental set-up is similar to real jet engine rigs, so thestudents are not constrained to exploring a much too limited parametric space. Also, because afacility like this is usually subject to extensive and somewhat rugged use, we have focused on a lowcost design.