From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Test conducted on a Kestrel VIM blower with its inlet guide vanes removed to assess performance impact.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 178\4\ img041 | |
| Date | 28th February 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL. R.{Sir Henry Royce} From HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Alm. c.c. to SJS. c.c. to OY. c.c. to W. c.c. to F.{Mr Friese} c.c. to SV. c.c. to LF. (KESTREL VIM BLOWER WITH INLET GUIDE VANES REMOVED) We have carried out a test on a .I blower with the inlet guide vanes removed from the shaft (otherwise standard), as it was suspected that these rather expensive and heavy items might not make sufficient difference to justify their use. The results, shown on the attached curves however, indicate that they have a very considerable effect. The maximum boost available before surging commences is not appreciably impaired; the delivery at which it occurs however, is reduced by some 40 or 50 lbs of air per minute. The pressure also begins to fall off much more at deliveries above the surging point than in the standard case, before reaching the maximum limit of delivery. The boost at maximum efficiency is about the same as the standard, namely 24" Hg. but the delivery is 170 lbs. per minute as compared with 210 lbs and the efficiency is 59.5% as compared with 64.5% for the standard. It thus appears that the inlet guide vanes could not be dispensed with in the case of the R engine blower and it also seems probable that their use would result in a nett saving in weight in a new design for a given performance. HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/P.J.Alan. | ||