Study of multiphase flow in a bearing cavity of an aeroengine

Aeroengines operate at very high speed and high temperatures. Therefore, the transmission system of an aeroengine becomes a critical design process because of its proximity to the combustion chamber. As a result, engineers must understand very well the fluid mechanics phenomena involved in the lubrication and cooling of the transmission components such as the bearing cavities. Such cavities isolate the oil and air mixture used to lubricate and cool a bearing from the rest of the air system. Their design and performance are currently limited by the analytical tools that can be used for production applications. The goal of this project is to validate the effectiveness of a new analytical tool based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to study bearing cavities. At the University of Nottingham, the student will assist experimental engineers and professors on a bearing cavity rig financed by Pratt & Whitney Canada. The student has already prepared experimental test conditions and a methodology that will allow validation of the analytical tool with minimal risk and minimal costs. “TO BE CONT’D”

Faculty Supervisor:

Dominique Pelletier

Student:

Partner:

University of Nottingham

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

École Polytechnique de Montréal

Program: