All of these parameters are normally recorded on a data acquisition system that was specifically designed for the facility and, where applicable, all measurements are carried out to international standards. The CTF is also equipped with a high pressure fuel nozzle spray facility and is capable of holding up to eight different fuels in stainless steel holding tanks. SETH has the capability to test a range of small gas turbine engines, in particular those typically installed in military helicopters and trainer jets. Currently, SETH is set up to run a Lycoming T53 turboshaft engine from the Iroquois helicopter and a Larzac turbofan engine from the Alpha Jet. Typical test programs involve implanting a range of common faults into the engine and measuring the resultant changes to the gas path parameters.
Tests involve both the acquisition of steady-state and transient data.
EDAS is successfully operating at RAAF Base Amberley where it is used to test the Pratt and Whitney TF30 engines of the F-111 aircraft. The VPFF is unique in the world owing to its large size which ensures that wall effects are minimised. This is the only WAWT in Australia outside academic institutions. The measured LDV and image data are used to validate and refine computational fluid dynamics codes. The experimental work in the WAWT and VPFF supports an in-house team developing computational fluid dynamics programs for application in gas turbine combustion, jet engine exhaust and missile plumes.