The INTRANS research project was a 36-month programme aimed at the development of design rules, new components and analytical methods which address the challenging requirements of aero engine and helicopter main transmissions system two-phase air/oil systems and sealing management.
Specifically the project investigated, through experimental and theoretical means, aspects of two-phase air/oil system interactions. These interactions covered the fields of chamber sealing, air/oil separation, oil firing, parasitic churning losses, oil film dynamics and vent line losses associated with aero engine bearing chambers as well as gearbox lubrication and thermal management.
A numerical code which couples lift-augmentation seals pressure and flow analysis to finite element mechanical distortion analysis was developed during the project and proved to be a powerful design tool in the development of prototype seal designs.
CFD models of a number of air/oil separation devices were generated during the project and have provided a unique insight into oil droplet behaviour within a breather separation system and oil droplet migration to overboard venting.
Instrumentation techniques were developed to complement the experimental programmes and in particular, a portable Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) laser anemometry system was developed for use on full-scale test rigs and an aero engine test vehicle.