Secondary Flow Control Using Vortex Generator Jets

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 650-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Sullerey ◽  
A. M. Pradeep

In this paper, results are presented of an experimental investigation into the effectiveness of vortex generator jets in controlling secondary flows in two-dimensional S-duct diffusers. The experiments were performed in uniform and distorted inflow conditions and the performance evaluation of the diffuser was carried out in terms of static pressure recovery and quality of the exit flow. In the case with inflow distortion, tapered fin vortex generators were employed in addition to vortex generator jets to control flow separation that was detected on the wall with inflow distortion. Detailed measurements including total pressure, velocity distribution, surface static pressure, skin friction, and boundary layer measurements were taken at a Reynolds number of 7.8×105. These results are presented in terms of static pressure rise, distortion coefficient, and total pressure loss coefficient at the duct exit. For uniform inflow, the use of vortex generator jets resulted in more than a 30 percent decrease in total pressure loss and flow distortion coefficients. In combination with passive device (tapered fin vortex generators), the vortex generator jets reduce total pressure losses by about 25 percent for distorted inflow conditions. A potential application of this method may include control of secondary flows in turbo machinery.

Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Diaa ◽  
Mohammed F. El-Dosoky ◽  
Mahmoud A. Ahmed ◽  
Omar E. Abdelhafez

Secondary flows are noxious to axial compressor performance. To overcome and control those secondary flows, vortex generators are used as a passive control device. Controlling secondary flows will lead to a further improvements in the compressor performance. A new design of vortex generator is considered in this investigation in order to control secondary flows in axial compressor cascade at design and off-design conditions. Numerical simulations of a three-dimensional compressible turbulent flow have been performed to explore the effect of the vortex generators on the reduction of secondary flows. Six different incidence angles are used for the off-design operation investigations. Based on the simulation results, the pressure, velocity, and streamline are used to follow up the development of the secondary flows. Thence, total pressure loss coefficient, static pressure rise coefficient, difference in flow deflection angle, and diffusion factor are estimated. Results indicate that vortex generators have a significant effect on the development of secondary flows at off design operation as they cause a reduction in total pressure loss, they also affect the loading behavior of the cascade as they cause a slight change in the cascade deflection, and a slight decrease in the diffusion factor which causes unloading of the blade. Static pressure rise is significantly reduced at negative incidence angles while a slight reduction occurs at positive incidence angles. In a word, the new design of the vortex generator enhances the cascade aerodynamic performance and enlarges the operating range of the cascade towards the positive incidence region.


2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Pradeep ◽  
R. K. Sullerey

Performance enhancement of three-dimensional S-duct diffusers by separation control using vortex generator jets is the objective of the current experimental investigation. Two different diffuser geometries namely, a circular diffuser and a rectangular–to–circular transitioning diffuser were studied in uniform inflow conditions at a Reynolds number of 7.8 × 105 and the performance evaluation of the diffusers was carried out in terms of static pressure improvement and quality (flow uniformity) of the exit flow. Detailed measurements that included total pressure, velocity distribution, surface static pressure, skin friction and boundary layer measurements were taken and these results are presented here in terms of static pressure rise, distortion coefficient and total pressure loss coefficient at the duct exit. The mass flow rate of the air injected through the VGJ was about 0.06 percent of the main flow for separation control. The distortion coefficient reduced by over 25 percent and the total pressure loss coefficient reduced by about 30 percent in both the diffusers. The physical mechanism of the flow control devices used has been explored using smoke visualization images.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akshoy Ranjan Paul ◽  
Shrey Joshi ◽  
Aman Jindal ◽  
Shivam P. Maurya ◽  
Anuj Jain

The flow control in twin air-intakes is necessary to improve the performance characteristics, since the flow traveling through curved and diffused paths becomes complex, especially after merging. The paper presents a comparison between two well-known techniques of flow control: active and passive. It presents an effective design of a vortex generator jet (VGJ) and a vane-type passive vortex generator (VG) and uses them in twin air-intake duct in different combinations to establish their effectiveness in improving the performance characteristics. The VGJ is designed to insert flow from side wall at pitch angle of 90 degrees and 45 degrees. Corotating (parallel) and counterrotating (V-shape) are the configuration of vane type VG. It is observed that VGJ has the potential to change the flow pattern drastically as compared to vane-type VG. While the VGJ is directed perpendicular to the side walls of the air-intake at a pitch angle of 90 degree, static pressure recovery is increased by 7.8% and total pressure loss is reduced by 40.7%, which is the best among all other cases tested for VGJ. For bigger-sized VG attached to the side walls of the air-intake, static pressure recovery is increased by 5.3%, but total pressure loss is reduced by only 4.5% as compared to all other cases of VG.


Author(s):  
R. K. Sullerey ◽  
A. M. Pradeep

An experimental investigation was undertaken to detect and control secondary flows and separation in two-dimensional Sduct diffusers. Active control by vortex generator jets was applied to control secondary flows. The experiments were carried out with and without inflow distortion. Detailed measurements including total pressure and velocity distribution, surface static pressure, skin friction and boundary layer measurements were taken at an inlet Reynolds number of 7.8 × 105. These measurements are presented here along with static pressure rise, distortion coefficient, total pressure loss coefficients and the transverse velocity vectors at the duct exit determined from the measured data. Substantial improvement in static pressure rise and flow quality was achieved by the use of vortex generator jets.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 410-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Yaras

The paper presents detailed measurements of the incompressible flow development in a large-scale 90 deg curved diffuser with strong curvature and significant streamwise variation in cross-sectional aspect ratio. The flow path approximates the so-called fishtail diffuser utilized on small gas turbine engines for the transition between the centrifugal impeller and the combustion chamber. Two variations of the inlet flow, differing in boundary layer thickness and turbulence intensity, are considered. Measurements consist of three components of velocity, static pressure and total pressure distributions at several cross-sectional planes throughout the diffusing bend. The development and mutual interaction of multiple pairs of streamwise vortices, redistribution of the streamwise flow under the influence of these vortices, the resultant streamwise variations in mass-averaged total-pressure and static pressure, and the effect of inlet conditions on these aspects of the flow are examined. The strengths of the vortical structures are found to be sensitive to the inlet flow conditions, with the inlet flow comprising a thinner boundary layer and lower turbulence intensity yielding stronger secondary flows. For both inlet conditions a pair of streamwise vortices develop rapidly within the bend, reaching their peak strength at about 30 deg into the bend. The development of a second pair of vortices commences downstream of this location and continues for the remainder of the bend. Little evidence of the first vortex pair remains at the exit of the diffusing bend. The mass-averaged total pressure loss is found to be insensitive to the range of inlet-flow variations considered herein. However, the rate of generation of this loss along the length of the diffusing bend differs between the two test cases. For the case with the thinner inlet boundary layer, stronger secondary flows result in larger distortion of the streamwise velocity field. Consequently, the static pressure recovery is somewhat lower for this test case. The difference between the streamwise distributions of measured and ideal static pressure is found to be primarily due to total pressure loss in the case of the thick inlet boundary layer. For the thin inlet boundary layer case, however, total pressure loss and flow distortion are observed to influence the pressure recovery by comparable amounts.


Author(s):  
Cong Chen ◽  
Huaping Liu ◽  
Fu Chen

This paper presents a numerical and experimental result of the end-wall vortex generator jets for controlling corner separation and enhancing the aerodynamic performance in a high subsonic (Ma = 0.7) compressor cascade. The experiments were carried out on a compressor cascade at design point ( i = 0°) and off-design points ( i = −2°, 2°, and 4°). At design point, the total pressure loss coefficient could be reduced up to 12.1%.With the increase in the incidence, the control effect is enhanced first and then reduced. The maximum total pressure loss reduction is up to 14.6% when the incidence is 2°. The numerical study is further conducted to analyze the flow pattern and the vortex structure. The jet vortex is formed downstream of the jet hole using the vortex generator jets, the cross flow on the end wall is also suppressed.


Author(s):  
Ronald S. LaFleur

The iceformation design method generates an endwall contour, altering the secondary flows that produce elevated endwall heat transfer load and total pressure losses. Iceformation is an analog to regions of metal melting where a hot fluid alters the isothermal surface shape of a part as it is maintained by a cooling fluid. The passage flow, heat transfer and geometry evolve together under the constraints of flow and thermal boundary conditions. The iceformation concept is not media dependent and can be used in analogous flows and materials to evolve novel boundary shapes. In the past, this method has been shown to reduce aerodynamic drag and total pressure loss in flows such as diffusers and cylinder/endwall junctures. A prior paper [1] showed that the Reynolds number matched iceform geometry had a 24% lower average endwall heat transfer than the rotationally symmetric endwall geometry of the Energy Efficiency Engine (E3). Comparisons were made between three endwall geometries: the ‘iceform’, the ‘E3’ and the ‘flat’ as a limiting case of the endwall design space. This paper adds to the iceformation design record by reporting the endwall aerodynamic performances. Second vane exit flow velocities and pressures were measured using an automated 2-D traverse of a 1.2 mm diameter five-hole probe. Exit plane maps for the three endwall geometries are presented showing the details of the total pressure coefficient contours and the velocity vectors. The formation of secondary flow vortices is shown in the exit plane and this results in an impact on exit plane total pressure loss distribution, off-design over- and under-turning of the exit flow. The exit plane contours are integrated to form overall measures of the total pressure loss. Relative to the E3 endwall, the iceform endwall has a slightly higher total pressure loss attributed to higher dissipation of the secondary flow within the passage. The iceform endwall has a closer-to-design exit flow pattern than the E3 endwall.


Author(s):  
F. E. Ames ◽  
J. D. Johnson ◽  
N. J. Fiala

Exit surveys detailing total pressure loss, turning angle, and secondary velocities have been acquired for a fully loaded vane profile in a large scale low speed cascade facility. Exit surveys have been taken over a four-to-one range in Reynolds numbers based on exit conditions and for both a low turbulence condition and a high turbulence condition. The high turbulence condition was generated using a mock aero-derivative combustor. Exit loss, angle, and secondary velocity measurements were acquired in the facility using a five-hole cone probe at two stations representing axial chord spacings of 0.25 and 0.50. Substantial differences in the level of losses, distribution of losses, and secondary flow vectors are seen with the different turbulence conditions and at the different Reynolds numbers. The higher turbulence condition produces a significantly broader wake than the low turbulence case and shows a measurable total pressure loss in the region outside the wakes. Generally, total pressure losses are about 0.02 greater for the high turbulence case compared with the low turbulence case primarily due to the state of the suction surface boundary layers. Losses decrease moderately with increasing Reynolds number. Cascade inlet velocity distributions have been previously documented in an endwall heat transfer study of this same geometry. These exit survey measurements support our understanding of the endwall heat transfer distributions, the secondary flows in the passage, and the origin of losses.


Author(s):  
Prasanta K. Sinha ◽  
Biswajit Haldar ◽  
Amar N. Mullick ◽  
Bireswar Majumdar

Curved diffusers are an integral component of the gas turbine engines of high-speed aircraft. These facilitate effective operation of the combustor by reducing the total pressure loss. The performance characteristics of these diffusers depend on their geometry and the inlet conditions. In the present investigation the distribution of axial velocity, transverse velocity, mean velocity, static and total pressures are experimentally studied on a curved diffuser of 30° angle of turn with an area ratio of 1.27. The centreline length was chosen as three times of inlet diameter. The experimental results then were numerically validated with the help of Fluent, the commercial CFD software. The measurements of axial velocity, transverse velocity, mean velocity, static pressure and total pressure distribution were taken at Reynolds number 1.9 × 105 based on inlet diameter and mass average inlet velocity. The mean velocity and all the three components of mean velocity were measured with the help of a pre-calibrated five-hole pressure probe. The velocity distribution shows that the flow is symmetrical and uniform at the inlet and exit sections and high velocity cores are accumulated at the top concave surface due to the combined effect of velocity diffusion and centrifugal action. It also indicates the possible development of secondary motions between the concave and convex walls of the test diffuser. The mass average static pressure recovery and total pressure loss within the curved diffuser increases continuously from inlet to exit and they attained maximum values of 35% and 14% respectively. A comparison between the experimental and predicated results shows a good qualitative agreement between the two. Standard k-ε model in Fluent solver was chosen for validation. It has been observed that coefficient of pressure recovery Cpr for the computational investigation was obtained as 38% compared to the experimental investigation which was 35% and the coefficient of pressure loss is obtained as 13% in computation investigation compared to the 14% in experimental study, which indicates a very good qualitative matching.


2001 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Sullerey ◽  
Sourabh Mishra ◽  
A. M. Pradeep

An experimental investigation was undertaken to study the effect of various fences and vortex generator configurations in reducing the exit flow distortion and improving total pressure recovery in two-dimensional S-duct diffusers of different radius ratios. Detailed measurements including total pressure and velocity distribution, surface static pressure, skin friction, and boundary layer measurements were taken in a uniform inlet flow at a Reynolds number of 7.8×105. These measurements are presented here along with static pressure rise, distortion coefficient, and the transverse velocity vectors at the duct exit determined from the measured data. The results indicate that substantial improvement in static pressure rise and flow quality is possible with judicious deployment of fences and vortex generators.


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