Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High-Pressure Turbine Stage: Part I—Aerodynamic Measurements in the Stationary Frame

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 687-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer

The relative aerodynamic and performance effects associated with rotor–NGV gap coolant injections were investigated in the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) of the Pennsylvania State University. This study quantifies the effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic performance of the turbine for radial cooling, impingement cooling in the wheelspace cavity and root injection. Overall, it was found that even a small quantity (1 percent) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance character and exit conditions of the high pressure stage. Parameters such as the total-to-total efficiency, total pressure loss coefficient, and three-dimensional velocity field show local changes in excess of 5, 2, and 15 percent, respectively. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development, thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions.

Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer

The relative aerodynamic and performance effects associated with rotor – NGV gap coolant injections were investigated in the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) of The Pennsylvania State University. This study quantifies the effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic performance of the turbine for radial cooling, impingement cooling in the wheelspace cavity and root injection. Overall, it was found that even a small quantity (1%) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance character and exit conditions of the high pressure stage. Parameters such as the total-to-total efficiency, total pressure loss coefficient, and three-dimensional velocity field show local changes in excess of 5%, 2%, and 15% respectively. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions.


Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer

The current paper deals with the aerodynamic measurements in the rotational frame of reference of the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) at the Pennsylvania State University. Stationary frame measurements of “Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High Pressure Turbine Stage” were presented in part-I of this paper. The relative aerodynamic effects associated with rotor – nozzle guide vane (NGV) gap coolant injections were investigated in the rotating frame. Three-dimensional velocity vectors including exit flow angles were measured at the rotor exit. This study quantifies the secondary effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic and performance character of the stage main stream flow for root injection, radial cooling and impingement cooling. Current measurements show that even a small quantity (1%) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance and exit conditions of the high pressure turbine stage. Parameters such as the total pressure coefficient, wake width, and three-dimensional velocity field show significant local changes. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions. Effects are the strongest from the hub to midspan. Negligible effect of the cooling flow can be seen in the tip region.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer

The current paper deals with the aerodynamic measurements in the rotational frame of reference of the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) at the Pennsylvania State University. Stationary frame measurements of “Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High Pressure Turbine Stage” were presented in Part I of this paper. The relative aerodynamic effects associated with rotor–nozzle guide vane (NGV) gap coolant injections were investigated in the rotating frame. Three-dimensional velocity vectors including exit flow angles were measured at the rotor exit. This study quantifies the secondary effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic and performance character of the stage main stream flow for root injection, radial cooling, and impingement cooling. Current measurements show that even a small quantity (1 percent) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance and exit conditions of the high-pressure turbine stage. Parameters such as the total pressure coefficient, wake width, and three-dimensional velocity field show significant local changes. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions. Effects are the strongest from the hub to midspan. Negligible effect of the cooling flow can be seen in the tip region.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-345
Author(s):  
B. Lakshminarayana ◽  
N. Sitaram

The annulus wall boundary layer inside the blade passage of the inlet guide vane (IGV) passage of a low-speed axial compressor stage was measured with a miniature five-hole probe. The three-dimensional velocity and pressure fields were measured at various axial and tangential locations. Limiting streamline angles and static pressures were also measured on the casing of the IGV passage. Strong secondary vorticity was developed. The data were analyzed and correlated with the existing velocity profile correlations. The end wall losses were also derived from these data.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Ong ◽  
Robert J. Miller ◽  
Sumiu Uchida

This paper presents a study of the effects of two types of hub coolant injection on the rotor of a high pressure gas turbine stage. The first involves the leakage flow from the hub cavity into the mainstream. The second involves a deliberate injection of coolant from a row of angled holes from the edge of the stator hub. The aim of this study is to improve the distribution of the injected coolant on the rotor hub wall. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand how the coolant and leakage flows interact with the rotor secondary flows. The first part of the paper shows that the hub leakage flow is entrained into the rotor hub secondary flow and the negative incidence of the leakage strengthens the secondary flow and increases its penetration depth. Three-dimensional unsteady calculations were found to agree with fast response pressure probe measurements at the rotor exit of a low speed test turbine. The second part of the paper shows that increasing the injected coolant swirl angle reduced the secondary flow penetration depth, improves the coolant distribution on the rotor hub, and improves stage efficiency. Most of the coolant however, was still found to be entrained into the rotor secondary flow.


Author(s):  
V. S. P. Chaluvadi ◽  
A. I. Kalfas ◽  
H. P. Hodson

This paper presents a study of the three-dimensional flow field within the blade rows of a high-pressure axial flow steam turbine stage. Half-delta wings were fixed to a rotating hub to simulate an upstream rotor passage vortex. The flow field is investigated in a Low-Speed Research Turbine using pneumatic and hot-wire probes downstream of the blade row. The paper examines the impact of the delta wing vortex transport on the performance of the downstream blade row. Steady and unsteady numerical simulations were performed using structured 3D Navier-Stokes solver to further understand the flow field. The loss measurements at the exit of the stator blade showed an increase in stagnation pressure loss due to the delta wing vortex transport. The increase in loss was 21% of the datum stator loss, demonstrating the importance of this vortex interaction. The transport of the stator viscous flow through the rotor blade row is also described. The rotor exit flow was affected by the interaction between the enhanced stator passage vortex and the rotor blade row. Flow underturning near the hub and overturning towards the mid-span was observed, contrary to the classical model of overturning near the hub and underturning towards the mid-span. The unsteady numerical simulation results were further analysed to identify the entropy producing regions in the unsteady flow field.


Author(s):  
Jonathan H. P. Ong ◽  
Robert J. Miller ◽  
Sumiu Uchida

This paper presents a study of the effects of two types of hub coolant injection on the rotor of a high pressure gas turbine stage. The first involves the leakage flow from the hub cavity into the mainstream. The second involves a deliberate injection of coolant from a row of angled holes from the edge of the stator hub. The aim of this study is to improve the distribution of the injected coolant on the rotor hub wall. To achieve this, it is necessary to understand how the coolant and leakage flows interact with the rotor secondary flows. The first part of the paper shows that the hub leakage flow is entrained into the rotor hub secondary flow and the negative incidence of the leakage strengthens the secondary flow and increases its penetration depth. Three dimensional unsteady calculations were found to agree with fast response pressure probe measurements at the rotor exit of a low speed test turbine. The second part of the paper shows that increasing the injected coolant swirl angle reduced the secondary flow penetration depth, improves the coolant distribution on the rotor hub and improves stage efficiency. Most of the coolant however, was still found to be entrained into the rotor secondary flow.


2012 ◽  
Vol 532-533 ◽  
pp. 474-478
Author(s):  
Wei Hua Cheng ◽  
Mian Chang Li ◽  
Chuan Peng Li

This paper conducts numerical simulation to a 15-stage civil axial flow compressor and obtains its main parameters distribution and performance curve by a full three-dimensional viscid flow computation software. The computation result indicates that, the developed axial flow compressor meets the anticipated design requirements, and satisfies the customers’ indicators. Under the designed compression ratio, the difference between the maximum air supply quantity in summer and the minimum air supply quantity in winter is 22%. By comparing the operating conditions and data analysis, obtained the change trend of axial velocity, static pressure and temperature, and Ma, and discovered that, under opening of 48° and outlet back pressure of 550KPa, flow separation occurred on the section of machine set close to hud, which indicated that operating condition was close to surging condition.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. P. Chaluvadi ◽  
A. I. Kalfas ◽  
H. P. Hodson ◽  
H. Ohyama ◽  
E. Watanabe

This paper presents a study of the three-dimensional flow field within the blade rows of a high-pressure axial flow steam turbine stage. Compound lean angles have been employed to achieve relatively low blade loading for hub and tip sections and so reduce the secondary losses. The flow field is investigated in a low-speed research turbine using pneumatic and hot-wire probes downstream of the blade row. Steady and unsteady numerical simulations were performed using structured 3-D Navier-Stokes solver to further understand the flow field. Agreement between the simulations and the measurements has been found. The unsteady measurements indicate that there is a significant effect of the stator flow interaction in the downstream rotor blade. The transport of the stator viscous flow through the rotor blade row is described. Unsteady numerical simulations were found to be successful in predicting accurately the flow near the secondary flow interaction regions compared to steady simulations. A method to calculate the unsteady loss generated inside the blade row was developed from the unsteady numerical simulations. The contribution of various regions in the blade to the unsteady loss generation was evaluated. This method can assist the designer in identifying and optimizing the features of the flow that are responsible for the majority of the unsteady loss production. An analytical model was developed to quantify this effect for the vortex transport inside the downstream blade.


1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 364-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pouagare ◽  
J. M. Galmes ◽  
B. Lakshminarayana

The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer developing on a rotor blade of an axial flow compressor was measured using a minature “x” configuration hot-wire probe. The measurements were carried out at nine radial locations on both surfaces of the blade at various chordwise locations. The data derived includes streamwise and radial mean velocities and turbulence intensities. The validity of conventional velocity profiles such as the “power law profile” for the streamwise profile, and Mager and Eichelbrenner’s for the radial profile, is examined. A modification to Mager’s crossflow profile is proposed. Away from the blade tip, the streamwise component of the blade boundary layer seems to be mainly influenced by the streamwise pressure gradient. Near the tip of the blade, the behavior of the blade boundary layer is affected by the tip leakage flow and the annulus wall boundary layer. The “tangential blockage” due to the blade boundary layer is derived from the data. The profile losses are found to be less than that of an equivalent cascade, except in the tip region of the blade.


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