TURBOSHAFT/PROP ENGINE TEST CELLS

The Atec Companies are fully equipped to execute any and all requirements for Turboshaft engine test cell projects. We regularly design, construct and upgrade turnkey brick & mortar facilities for test cells, as well as manufacture modular relocatable cells.

Atec and our subsidiaries – Vital Link and Celtech – have been the Prime contractors on many large-scale turboshaft engine test facilities, both internationally and domestically. Together we offer the most innovative menu of solutions for our aerospace customers.

Configurable for Multi-Engine Applications, such as:

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6, APUs
Pratt & Whitney 100, 150, 200
Rolls Royce T56, 501, AE2100 (J)
Rolls Royce (Allison) A250, T63, RR300, RR500
General Electric T64, T58, T38
General Electric T700, CT7, GE38, T407/408
Honeywell T53, T55, TPE331, AGT 1500, HTS 400, LTS101, CTS800, APUs
Safran Turbomeca Arrius, Arriel, TM333, Arrano, Ardiden, Makila, RTM322
Safran Power Units APUs
UTAS/HS APUs

Overview:

Turnkey engine test facilities: fixed masonry or portable
Equipped to test multiple engines
ADAQ™ Data Acquisition and Control System
Choice of Engine Loading Systems
Regenerative Electric Dynamometers – Green Power Approach
Hydraulic Dynamometers with Complete Closed-Loop Cooling Water System
Air Dynamometers, Propellers

Some of our Turboshaft Customers:

USN/USMC Air Depot in Cherry Point, NC
Bristow in New Iberia, LA
RollsWood Group in Sugar Land, TX
Colombian Air Force/GE in Madrid, Colombia
Bell/McTurbine in Corpus Christi, TX
Indonesian Air Force in Halim, Indonesia
USAF, ANG, US Army and USN in worldwide locations
Romanian Air Force in Bucharest, Romania
USN/French Air Force DGA in Bordeaux, France
Lockheed Martin in Marietta, GA
HeliOne in Stavanger, Norway
Piaggio in Savona, Italy
AAMROC in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis, In

Samples of our Turboshaft Projects:

T64/T700 Turboshaft Engine Test Cell

Atec has handled many significant projects in terms of complexity and cost. As part of a project for the Navy, Atec demolished the existing internal system and a completely new test system was installed. Atec was instrumental in the design of a custom water-dynamometer, which allows the T64 and T700 engines to be tested inside the same test cell.

This included:
• Retrofit of T400 Engine Test Cell to accommodate T64 and T700 Series Turboshaft Engine Testing
• Design, manufacture, and install universal engine test stand
• Hydraulic dynamometers
• Closed-loop dynamometer cooling water system
• Improved airflow
• New ADAQ™, data acquisition and control system
• Upgraded operator control room, Fuel Delivery and measurement system, and new Air Start system for the T700 engine
• Install of new water cooling tower and piping, dual water dynamometer system (or the Versatile Engine Test System, VETS), electric start system for the T-64 engine
• Modification to the Air Intake system and new Exhaust system
• Upgraded Fire System
• Hazmat disposal of excavated soil and asbestos abatement in several areas

Turnkey A250 TurboShaft Test Cell

Atec designed, fabricated, and Installed an A250 test cell for Air Logistics, a Bristow Company. This was a turnkey test system that enables rapid engine throughput, simple operator interface, and a data acquisition system that captures all required engine parameters. Atec took an innovative approach to applying load to the engine during testing by incorporating a regenerative electric drive that utilizes two high-speed electric motors. The electrical power genterated by the AC motors will not only provide mechanical braking torque for loading the engine, but also turn the load into useable electric power that is synchronized for use on the local power grid.

Project:
• Turnkey A250 TurboShaft Test Cell
• Configured with ADAQ™ data acquisition and control system

Reciprocating Engine Test Cell to TurboShaft Engine Test Cell Conversion

Atec converted a marine test cell into a turbine engine test cell for a company in Sugar Land. The test cell is recognized for hot end and cold end drives, and is designed to test multiple engine types within the single cell.

Design for single cell testing of multiple engines (T56 derivatives)
Engine types: Rolls-Royce 501-KB, 501-KB5, 501-KB5S, 501-KC, 501-KC5, and 501-KF
Capable of testing turboshaft engines up to 15,000 HP with additional adapters
Floor-mounted skid with engine carts for quick engine change
Air dynamometer interface with various engine shaft arrangements, Common with FEDS (T-24/T-33)
Two exhaust stack systems to allow multiple engine test configurations with air dynamometer
Oversaw installation of natural gas line
Critical acoustic requirements
Class 1, Div 1 test cell (explosion proof)

T700, T53, PT6 Turboshaft Engines Test Cell Upgrade

Atec subsidiary Celtech completed a T700, T53, and PT6 test cell depot upgrade for helicopter and trainer/transport engines. Our personnel worked in-country for eighteen months under complex contracting, political, and administrative circumstances to achieve successful testing of all three of our customer’s turboshaft engines.

Engine Types: T700, T53 and PT6 test cells (Depot) upgrade for helicopter and trainer/transport engines
Retrofit test cell to test multiple turboshaft engine types
Brought software & instrumentation together into an existing facility
Upgraded Data Acquisition Software
Installed touch screen facility (PLC) controls
New pressure transducers
Dynamometer controls
Accessory mechanical items
Operational consulting & troubleshooting
High altitude (9200′) calibration & correlation assistance

Vital Link Europe Ltd. (an Atec subsidiary, based in the UK) completed the design, manufacture, installation, test and commissioning of a CE compliant Makila Turboshaft Engine Test Facility for Heli-One Norway AS, a Helicopter Maintenance Services company based in Stavanger, Norway.

• Facility includes acoustically-treated Test Cell, Services Area and Control Room, DAS, throttle, software, CCT, dyno/torquemeter, fuel, oil, cooling, Novec fire system, training and tech pubs.

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