Slurry-based dust injection system

A method for ingestion testing with a dust injection system, the method comprising:

• activating a pump to supply a slurry of carrier liquid and dust particulates from a tank to an injection nozzle;
• atomizing the carrier liquid;
• and
• injecting the dust particulates and carrier liquid into a fluid flow path defined between an inlet and an outlet of a carrier pipe with the injection nozzle,
• wherein the injection nozzle is disposed within the carrier pipe between the inlet and the outlet, and
• wherein the carrier liquid evaporates within the fluid flow path upstream of the outlet and exits the outlet in gas form along with the dust particulates.

A control system for a turbine engine dust testing system, the control system comprising:

• a dust injection system that delivers a flow rate of dust to a turbine engine being tested;
• a sensor that monitors a parameter indicative of the flow rate of the dust being delivered to the turbine engine;
• and
• a controller that receives a current value of the parameter from the sensor and real-time operating parameter values from the turbine engine, and directs the dust injection system to alter the flow rate of the dust based on the current value of the parameter from the sensor and real-time operating parameter values from the turbine engine;
• wherein the dust injection system includes a slurry-based dust feeder that delivers a slurry comprised of the dust and a carrier liquid to an injection nozzle to enable atomization and evaporation of the carrier liquid for delivery of the dust to the turbine engine absent the carrier liquid, and wherein the controller alters the flow rate of the dust by modifying a flow rate of the slurry to the injection nozzle.