Engine test cells research facility

The NRC Aerospace Research Centre offers a number of gas turbine engine test cells to support performance, operability and certification testing, including icing, bird-ingestion, blade-off, alternative fuel certification, and endurance trials.

Types of testing possible:

  • Endurance or cyclic testing
  • FADEC and control logic testing
  • Thermal mechanical testing
  • Sand or volcanic ash ingestion testing
  • Attitude testing
  • Operability testing
  • Bird ingestion testing
Test Cell Specifications
  TC 1 TC 2 TC 4 TC 5
Engine type Turboshaft/jet Turboshaft/jet Turbofan/jet Turbofan/jet
Dimensions 4.6 m (15 ft)
x 4.6 m (15 ft)
x 10.7 m (35 ft)
4.6 m (15 ft)
x 4.6 m (15 ft)
x 10.7 m (35 ft)
7.6 m (25 ft)
x 7.6 m (25 ft)
x 22.9 m (75 ft)
4.6 m (15 ft)
x 4.6 m (15 ft)
x 22.9 m (75 ft)
Thrust/Power 4,000 SHP
at 4,500 rpm
9,000 SHP
at 3,600 rpm
222 kN
(50,000 lbs)
222 kN
(50,000 lbs)
Air flow 50 kg/s (110 lb/s) 50 kg/s (110 lb/s) 454 kg/s (1000 lb/s) 227 kg/s (500 lb/s)
Inlet Heated 90 °F at 9.1 kg/s (20 lb/s) Ambient Ambient with icing tunnel Ambient with icing tunnel
Design & Correlation SAE AIR 4989, SAE ARP 4755 SAE AIR 4869, SAE ARP 741
 
  • Emissions (Gaseous & Particulate Matter) measurement capability available in any test cell
  • 1000+ channel DAS & 36 channels high speed DAS in all test cells
  • Conventional and alternative fuels (including biofuels) at flow rates up to 32,500 kg/h (71,500 lb/h)
  • 3 working & 4 storage fuel tanks at 40,000 litre (10,567 US gal) capacity
  • Additional capabilities: Infrared thermography, particle detection probes for sand or volcanic ash detection, hailstorm simulation rig, air cannons for bird and hailstone ingestion testing, compressor/exhauster capability, and engine flow simulator.
 
 

Alternative fuel capabilities

  • Variety of fuel storage tanks to allow multiple fuel testing and blending of alternative fuels
  • Emissions test equipment
  • Infrared thermography
  • Online spectroscopy system