Particle Size Calibration Testing in the NASA Propulsion System Laboratory

Abstract

The particle size characterization portion of the 2017 Propulsion Systems Laboratory Cloud Calibration is described. The work focuses on characterizing the particle size distribution of the icing cloud as a function of simulated atmospheric conditions. These results will aid in upcoming ice crystal and supercooled liquid icing tests in PSL. Measurements acquired with the Phase Doppler Interferometer and High Speed Imaging instruments are presented. Experimental results indicate that the particle size distribution is primarily a function nozzle air and water pressures, and that air speed is not a significant effect for ice crystal clouds in PSL and both thermodynamic conditions and air speed are not significant effects for supercooled liquid water clouds in PSL.