DUST PARTICLE DISPENSER SYSTEM

A NEED EXISTS TO DEVELOP A RELIABLE AND ACCURATE DEVICE TO METER PARTICLES INTO THE HIGH PRESSURE SECTION OF ARC HEATERS TO SUPPORT THE HIGH TEMPERATURE EROSION TEST CAPABILITIES AT AEDC. SUCH DEVICES ARE NEEDED FOR BOTH THE HEAT - H1 AND DUST EROSION TUNNEL (DET) FACILITIES. THE PRELIMINARY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE METERING DEVICE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED. THE PROPOSED PHASE I INVESTIGATION CONCENTRATES ON THE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE TYPES OF LABORATORY SCALE PARTICLE METERING DEVICES, SPECIFICALLY: (1) FLUIDIZED BED FEEDERS, (2) MOTOR DRIVEN SCREW FEEDERS, AND (3) ORIFICE METERED PRESSURIZED HOPPERS. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE FINAL DESIGN WILL INCORPORATE COMBINED FEATURES OF THE ABOVE AND POSSIBLY OTHER FEEDER DESIGNS. IT IS PLANNED TO FABRICATE AND EVALUATE IN DETAIL THE PERFORMANCE OF A FULL SCALE PROTOTYPE PARTICLE METERING DEVICE.