Jet Engine Test Stand.

Delta wanted to provide testing opportunities for its airplane engines and asked Gray to design a new testing stand.

The team provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design engineering for the impressive new test stand. The design and engineering required attention to detail for the structure that houses a 700-horsepower air compressor, a 350-horsepower booster compressor, a 120-horsepower booster compressor, a heated air dryer, and 1-megawatt heater.

In order to power the new systems, a new 480V, 1600A switchboard was designed to provide electrical power distribution to the air compressors, and a new 600A breaker was installed in an existing switchboard to power the heated air dryer.

These multiple, intricate systems work together to simulate real-life scenarios and create stresses on the engine, similar to those experienced during a real flight. The air compressors simulate flight pressures, while the heated air dryer simulates internal jet engine combustion conditions. Together, these simulated test conditions ensure the engines are structurally sound prior to powering passenger airliners.