LEC offers 3 undergraduate laboratories: ‘Anatomy of a Turbocharger,’ ‘Intrusive Probe Measuring Technique in Turbomachinery,’ and ‘Heat Transfer Analysis Using Thermochromic Liquid Crystal.’

Anatomy of a Turbocharger
This laboratory familiarizes the students with the operating principles of a turbocharger. This is accomplished in three phases. In the first phase, the students disassemble and then assemble a turbocharger. This on-hands experience is then followed by a detailed introduction to the theory of the aerodynamics and thermodynamics of a radial compressor. In the final phase, computational flow visualization is used to clarify the fluid dynamics of the radial compressor.

Intrusive Probe Measuring Technique in Turbomachinery
The goal of this laboratory is to provide students a basic understanding of intrusive probe measurement techniques in turbomachines. The measurements are made using a is an pneumatic 5-Hole Probe in the axial fan ‘Luftturbinengebläase’ (LTG). The axial fan is driven by a 7kW motor; the fan can be driven at speeds of up to 6 000 RPM with an accuracy of ±1 RPM. Using the probe, flow properties including total and static pressures, yaw and pitch angle and flow Mach number downstream of the stator are measured. The tasks of the students in the laboratory include: operation of LTG, data acquisition and reduction, and preparation of a final report.

Heat Transfer Analysis Using Thermochromic Liquid Crystal
The goal of this laboratory is to use thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC) to determine a quantitative value for the heat transfer coefficient between the cooling flow and the inner walls of a cooled high-pressure turbine. The experimental set-up is comprised of the 3-pass cooling structure through which water flows, and which is instrumented with TLC. The transient response of the TLC to a hot/cold water pulse is measured using a commercial CCD camera. The tasks of the students in the laboratory include: making measurements of TLC, determination of fluid flow temperatures & heat transfer coefficients, and preparation of a final report.