Effects of centrifugal forces on particle deposition for a representative seal pin between two blades

Many land-based gas turbine applications are conducive to the formation of rust in the supply piping and other components that are upstream of the gas turbine. Many of these applications do not incorporate an effective filtration system for removing rust particles from the secondary air systems thereby resulting in rust deposits. Deposits in the small passages significantly block the secondary flow that ultimately reduces component life. This study investigates the effects of rust deposition in a geometry representative of an axial seal pin between two blades. Initial studies were performed to determine the effects of engine-representative particle composition, temperature, and centrifugal acceleration on deposition characteristics. These initial results pointed to the importance of simulating centrifugal forces representative of that experienced in the engine. A new facility was developed to directly measure flow blockages under static conditions and under rotational conditions.