The Installation, Testing, and Lessons Learned of the TF40B Gas Turbine Test Facility

The TF40B Gas Turbine Test Facility is the only dedicated Landing Craft, Air Cushion main propulsion engine test complex available to the U.S. Navy. This facility, located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) in Philadelphia, PA, began operation in August, 1992. Since then, the test engine has logged approximately 230 starts and 350 operating hours. This paper will present the installation, testing, and lessons learned of the TF40B test facility. The installation section will discuss the modifications made to the existing test facility to accept the TF40B engine. The test section will include the Foreign Object Damage (FOD) screen evaluation, both on-line and crank wash detergent fluid evaluations, cold weather fuel testing, engine vent line testing and Aerojet 5 oil evaluation. The lessons learned section will include problems related to the electric starter, waterbrake, inlet and exhaust systems, data acquisition system, instrumentation control panel, and the test cell equipment arrangement.