On entrepreneurship: mixing engineering with business ‐ a personal experience of building & selling an engineering company. & Analysis of C‐spec sand breakage in a turbine engine particle ingestion test cell

Event Date: February 15, 2023
Priority: No
College Calendar: Show
Wing Ng Alumni Distinguished Professor, Chris C Kraft Endowed Professor Virginia Tech
Wing Ng
Alumni Dis􀆟nguished Professor,
Chris C Kra􀅌 Endowed Professor
Virginia Tech
Seminar: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 ‐ 3 PM,
Chaffee Auditorium, Zucrow Labs
Q&A Immediately Following—4:00 PM
 
Part 1 (25 min)
On entrepreneurship: mixing engineering with business ‐ a personal experience of building &
selling an engineering company.
 
Abstract:
Dr. Ng will share his experience on being an entrepreneur for over twenty years, while remains a full‐􀆟me faculty
at VaTech. This presenta􀆟on is targeted towards students (undergrad & grad) who are interested in being an engineering
entrepreneur: the dos & don’ts for being successful in leading a company
 
Part 2 (20 min)
Analysis of C‐spec sand breakage in a turbine engine par􀆟cle inges􀆟on test cell
 
Abstract:
A turbosha􀅌 engine test rig has been developed at Virginia Tech’s Advanced Propulsion and Power Laboratory in
coopera􀆟on with the US Navy, Pra􀆩&Whitney, and Rolls‐Royce. The engine has been instrumented to allow
measurement of the effects that dust par􀆟cles have on the engine (power degrada􀆟on) as well as the effects
that the engine has on the par􀆟cles (e.g. breakage). The first set of data collected from the engine tests will be
presented, with focuses on changes in the shape and size of C‐Spec (quartz) dust a􀅌er passage through the first
five stages of the axial compressor and through the en􀆟re engine. Dust samples have been analyzed to determine
par􀆟cle size and shape distribu􀆟ons at the loca􀆟ons of interest and these have been compared with undigested
material. These analyses suggest that average par􀆟cle volume decreased to ∼5% of the original size during
transit through five stages of the axial compressor. The data obtained will assist communi􀆟es interested in
turbine engine environmental damage in understanding the deteriora􀆟on processes and their preven􀆟on. Ul􀆟‐
mately, the research will allow for pinpoin􀆟ng such degrada􀆟on effects to a single compressor stage, resul􀆟ng in
a greater ability to predict engine damage.
 
Biography:
Wing Ng is an Alumni Dis􀆟nguished Professor at VaTech, a pre‐eminent appointment recognizing remarkable
scholarship and service, as well as extraordinary teaching that has influenced the lives of genera􀆟ons of students.
The honor is given to less than one percent of university faculty. He is a fellow of AIAA & ASME and has
received numerous awards for his research & teaching. While a full‐􀆟me faculty, he founded Techsburg in 1998
and managed it un􀆟l it was sold in 2020.