The power plants showed reliable operation in difficult climatic conditions during bench tests and test flights of the Superjet aircraft in Arkhangelsk.
The United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation has conducted the main set of tests of the latest PD-8 engine for short-range aircraft and is preparing to complete certification. The power plants demonstrated reliable operation in difficult climatic conditions during bench tests and test flights of the Superjet aircraft in Arkhangelsk.
The PD-8 engine has passed certification tests for operation in icing conditions at the CIAM stand. They were conducted for three months with simulation of real flight conditions, including the parameters of the incoming flow of humidified air. First, we simulated the situation of ice build-up on coca, on the fan blades, and then, using the calculated data obtained, the specialists tested PD-8.
During the checks, a calibrated spray gun was used to bypass the air flow entering the engine. At low temperatures, ice formed on the coke, the fan blades, and the low-pressure compressor. The tests were carried out to assess the stability and controllability of the engine in icing conditions, as well as the strength of structural elements when dumping accumulated ice.
PD-8 engines also demonstrated trouble-free operation in the Arkhangelsk Region during certification flights of the Superjet aircraft under natural icing conditions. The tests were accompanied by specialists from the ODK-Saturn enterprise, where PD-8 was developed and manufactured. They provided control of the technical condition of the engines and the performance of routine maintenance.
During the tests, the aircraft climbed into areas of severe icing, where an ice crust up to 8-10 mm thick forms in a short time. In such conditions, several important parameters are checked at once, including engine operation, their gas-dynamic stability when ice enters the air intakes, the effectiveness of the engine de-icing system in a real environment, and the safety of aircraft operation in conditions of natural icing. The completed flights confirmed the design characteristics and the results of the bench tests that were conducted earlier.
"Testing the engine for classic icing is one of the most difficult. As a result, it was confirmed that the PD-8 can operate in icing conditions over the entire altitude range. Despite the harsh operating conditions in the form of frozen ice, the engine continued to operate normally and did not lose traction. Tests at low temperatures once again show the correctness of all design decisions and are among the final certification measures for the latest PD-8 engine," said Fyodor Mironov, UEC Deputy Sales Director.
Earlier, the PD-8 engine successfully passed 150-hour tests simulating long-term operation. Certification tests for bird casting, fan blade breakage, and water injection were successfully conducted at the ODK-Saturn outdoor test stand, which demonstrated reliable engine operation and safety in critical conditions. The engine also confirmed its performance during acoustic tests, the operation of the power plant in crosswinds and during tests of the reversing device. All key checks were carried out at a thrust of more than 8000 kgf.
The PD-8 twin-circuit turbofan engine was created using advanced technologies and the latest domestic materials at the Rybinsk ODK-Saturn enterprise. The domestic 8-ton propulsion system is designed for short-range Superjet-100 and Be-200 amphibious aircraft manufactured by the United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec State Corporation.
