by dave3cu » Thu Feb 26, 2004 7:25 am
As I was clueless on this I had to look it up.
Here is an exerpt ffrom the discussion of a different a/c (twin engine) that explains its function.....
The engine type has a reverse flow layout, air entering via a cylindrical mesh screen situated within the plenum chamber. The air intake lip-skin de-icing systems utilise electrical heating and inertial separators are fitted at the rear of the trunking. The latter systems consist of two mechanically linked vanes in each intake. When selected ON, a forward hinged flap on the upper surface within the intake trunking moves downward reducing the cross-section of the intake flow path and deflecting the airflow through a more acute angle as it enters the plenum chamber. Solids or liquids in the intake flow thus centrifuge to the outer circumference of the flow path and exit to the atmosphere via the bypass door (ie, the second vane) thus preventing clogging of the compressor inlet screen. The inertial seperator systems are controlled by two adjacent switches on the flight deck, one for each engine.
Cheers,
Dave
At that time [1909] the chief engineer was almost always the chief test pilot as well. That had the fortunate result of eliminating poor engineering early in aviation.