Patent ID: 7774171

Claim:
A method for optimizing at least one operating parameter of an engine component using an experimentally measured 3D flow field comprising: providing a magnetic resonance imaging machine; providing a model of an engine component; placing the model into the magnetic resonance imaging machine with a fluid flow source for applying an external fluid flow; applying the external fluid flow to the model, the fluid flow through the component having a Reynolds number of from about 1,000 to about 10,000,000; applying an internal fluid flow to the model of the component, the internal fluid flow having a temperature of from about 5° C. to about 250° C.; subjecting the model to at least one simulated condition selected from the group consisting of wind, rain, ice and sand storms; collecting data related to the external fluid flow, the internal fluid flow, and the affect of the simulated condition; and optimizing at least one operating parameter of the component using the data.