Supersonic vacuum cleaner ordered? PD-8 cosplayed as a tornado in Arkhangelsk

Explaining the strange effect of the air vortex in the power plant

The United Aircraft Corporation shared a video of air swirling in the new PD-8 engine. The footage shows an impressive funnel swirling right under the air intake.

Funnel in the PD-8 engine
Funnel in the PD-8 engine
Calling the explanatory team from UEC. Colleagues, tell us what this tornado is, why it occurs, and how safe it is.
UAC

"The First Technical" decided to explain everything on its own. In simple terms, this effect is called a ground vortex. When the engine spins up on the ground at high speeds, an area of extremely low pressure is created in front of it, and the air flow begins to spiral.

The video shows either condensation due to a temperature difference, or the engine is actually "vacuuming" ice crumbs and droplets from the runway.

Eduard Boshkanets, leading design engineer at UEC-Saturn, added that the air intake device and the PD-8 engine are designed and optimized taking into account the possible influence of the "vortex harness".

Their reliable operation has been confirmed during certification tests on an open stand in crosswind conditions and factory flight tests of SJ-100 aircraft, including icing tests.
Eduard Boshkanets, leading design engineer at UEC-Saturn

The PD-8 fan blades are made of such alloys that small debris is like seeds for them, and the gas dynamics are adjusted so that the vortex does not disrupt the rhythm of the engine's "breathing".

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Sources:
OAK ODK

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