Experiments With Three-Dimensional Passive Flow Control Devices on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Bohl ◽  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Turbine Airfoils

The effectiveness of three-dimensional passive devices for flow control on low pressure turbine airfoils was investigated experimentally. A row of small cylinders was placed at the pressure minimum on the suction side of a typical airfoil. Cases with Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) were considered under low freestream turbulence conditions. Streamwise pressure profiles and velocity profiles near the trailing edge were documented. Without flow control a separation bubble was present, and at the lower Reynolds numbers the bubble did not close. Cylinders with two different heights and a wide range of spanwise spacings were considered. Reattachment moved upstream as the cylinder height was increased or the spacing was decreased. If the spanwise spacing was sufficiently small, the flow at the trailing edge was essentially uniform across the span. The cylinder size and spacing could be optimized to minimize losses at a given Reynolds number, but cylinders optimized for low Reynolds number conditions caused increased losses at high Reynolds numbers. The effectiveness of two-dimensional bars had been studied previously under the same flow conditions. The cylinders were not as effective for maintaining low losses over a range of Reynolds numbers as the bars.

Experiments With Three Dimensional Passive Flow Control Devices on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Bohl ◽  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Turbine Airfoils

The effectiveness of three dimensional passive devices for flow control on low pressure turbine airfoils was investigated experimentally. A row of small cylinders was placed at the pressure minimum on the suction side of a typical airfoil. Cases with Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 300,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) were considered under low freestream turbulence conditions. Streamwise pressure profiles and velocity profiles near the trailing edge were documented. Without flow control a separation bubble was present, and at the lower Reynolds numbers the bubble did not close. Cylinders with two different heights and a wide range of spanwise spacings were considered. Reattachment moved upstream as the cylinder height was increased or the spacing was decreased. If the spanwise spacing was sufficiently small, the flow at the trailing edge was essentially uniform across the span. The cylinder size and spacing could be optimized to minimize losses at a given Reynolds number, but cylinders optimized for low Reynolds number conditions caused increased losses at high Reynolds numbers. The effectiveness of two-dimensional bars had been studied previously under the same flow conditions. The cylinders were not as effective for maintaining low losses over a range of Reynolds numbers as the bars.

The Effect of Pulsed Blowing on the Boundary Layer of a Highly Loaded Low Pressure Turbine Blade

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Mack ◽  
Roland Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Highly Loaded

The performance of the low pressure turbine (LPT) can vary appreciably, because this component operates under a wide range of Reynolds numbers. At higher Reynolds numbers, mid and aft loaded profiles have the advantage that transition of suction side boundary layer happens further downstream than at front loaded profiles, resulting in lower profile loss. At lower Reynolds numbers, aft loading of the blade can mean that if a suction side separation exists, it may remain open up to the trailing edge. This is especially the case when blade lift is increased via increased pitch to chord ratio. There is a trend in research towards exploring the effect of coupling boundary layer control with highly loaded turbine blades, in order to maximize performance over the full relevant Reynolds number range. In an earlier work, pulsed blowing with fluidic oscillators was shown to be effective in reducing the extent of the separated flow region and to significantly decrease the profile losses caused by separation over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. These experiments were carried out in the High-Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel of the German Federal Armed Forces University Munich, Germany, which allows to capture the effects of pulsed blowing at engine relevant conditions. The assumed control mechanism was the triggering of boundary layer transition by excitation of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. The current work aims to gain further insight into the effects of pulsed blowing. It investigates the effect of a highly efficient configuration of pulsed blowing at a frequency of 9.5 kHz on the boundary layer at a Reynolds number of 70000 and exit Mach number of 0.6. The boundary layer profiles were measured at five positions between peak Mach number and the trailing edge with hot wire anemometry and pneumatic probes. Experiments were conducted with and without actuation under steady as well as periodically unsteady inflow conditions. The results show the development of the boundary layer and its interaction with incoming wakes. It is shown that pulsed blowing accelerates transition over the separation bubble and drastically reduces the boundary layer thickness.

Designing Low-Pressure Turbine Blades With Integrated Flow Control

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Bons ◽  
Laura C. Hansen ◽  
John P. Clark ◽  
Peter J. Koch ◽  
Rolf Sondergaard
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range

A low pressure turbine blade was designed to produce a 17% increase in blade loading over an industry-standard airfoil using integrated flow control to prevent separation. The design was accomplished using two-dimensional CFD predictions of blade performance coupled with insight gleaned from recently published work in transition modeling and from previous experiments with flow control using vortex generator jets (VGJs). In order to mitigate the Reynolds number lapse in efficiency associated with LPT airfoils, a mid-loaded blade was selected. Also, separation predictions from the computations were used to guide the placement of control actuators on the blade suction surface. Three blades were fabricated using the new design and installed in a two-passage linear cascade facility. Flow velocity and surface pressure measurements taken without activating the VGJs indicate a large separation bubble centered at 68% axial chord on the suction surface. The size of the separation and its growth with decreasing Reynolds number agree well with CFD predictions. The separation bubble reattaches to the blade over a wide range of inlet Reynolds numbers from 150,000 down to below 20,000. This represents a marked improvement in separation resistance compared to the original blade profile which separates without reattachment below a Reynolds number of 40,000. This enhanced performance is achieved by increasing the blade spacing while simultaneously adjusting the blade shape to make it less aft-loaded but with a higher peak cp. This reduces the severity of the adverse pressure gradient in the uncovered portion of the modified blade passage. With the use of pulsed VGJs, the design blade loading was achieved while providing attached flow over the entire range of Re. Detailed phase-locked flow measurements using three-component PIV show the trajectory of the jet and its interaction with the unsteady separation bubble. Results illustrate the importance of integrating flow control into the turbine blade design process and the potential for enhanced turbine performance.

The Influence of Reynolds Number, Mach Number and Incidence Effects on Loss Production in Low Pressure Turbine Airfoils

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rau´l Va´zquez ◽  
Antonio Antoranz ◽  
David Cadrecha ◽  
Leyre Arman˜anzas
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Mach Numbers ◽  
Turbine Airfoils ◽  
Annular Cascade ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents an experimental study of the flow field in an annular cascade of Low Pressure Turbine airfoils. The influence of Reynolds number, Mach number and incidence on profile and end wall losses have been investigated. The annular cascade consisted of 100 high lift, high aspect ratio, high turning blades that are characteristic of modern LP Turbines. The investigation was carried out for a wide range of Reynolds numbers, extending from 120k to 315k, exit Mach numbers, from 0.5 to 0.9, and incidences from −20 to +14 degrees. Results clearly indicate a significant effect of incidence and Mach number in secondary loss production; however, the Reynolds number shows it much weaker impact. It has also been found that the profile loss production is strongly influenced by both Reynolds and Mach numbers, being the impact of the incidence weaker. Finally, measured data suggest that, in order to properly reproduce the performance of these types of airfoils, annular cascades can be required as far as linear cascades may miss some essential flow features.

scholarly journals Assessment of Machine-Learned Turbulence Models Trained for Improved Wake-Mixing in Low-Pressure Turbine Flows

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8327
Author(s):  
Roberto Pacciani ◽  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Francesco Bertini ◽  
Simone Rosa Taddei ◽  
Ennio Spano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Turbulence Closures ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents an assessment of machine-learned turbulence closures, trained for improving wake-mixing prediction, in the context of LPT flows. To this end, a three-dimensional cascade of industrial relevance, representative of modern LPT bladings, was analyzed, using a state-of-the-art RANS approach, over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. To ensure that the wake originates from correctly reproduced blade boundary-layers, preliminary analyses were carried out to check for the impact of transition closures, and the best-performing numerical setup was identified. Two different machine-learned closures were considered. They were applied in a prescribed region downstream of the blade trailing edge, excluding the endwall boundary layers. A sensitivity analysis to the distance from the trailing edge at which they are activated is presented in order to assess their applicability to the whole wake affected portion of the computational domain and outside the training region. It is shown how the best-performing closure can provide results in very good agreement with the experimental data in terms of wake loss profiles, with substantial improvements relative to traditional turbulence models. The discussed analysis also provides guidelines for defining an automated zonal application of turbulence closures trained for wake-mixing predictions.

Aerodynamics of a Family of Three Highly Loaded Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils: Measured Effects of Reynolds Number and Turbulence Intensity in Steady Flow

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Popovic ◽  
J. Zhu ◽  
W. Dai ◽  
S. A. Sjolander ◽  
T. Praisner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Favourable Effect ◽  
Pressure Probe ◽  
Turbine Airfoils

The steady, midspan aerodynamic performance of a family of three low pressure (LP) turbine airfoils has been investigated in a low-speed cascade wind tunnel. The baseline profile has a Zweifel coefficient of 1.08. To examine the influence of increased loading as well as the loading distribution, two additional airfoils were designed, each with 25% higher loading than the baseline version. All three airfoils have the same design inlet and outlet flow angles. The aerodynamic performance was investigated for Reynolds numbers ranging from 25,000 to 150,000 (based on the axial chord and inlet velocity) and for values of freestream turbulence intensity of 1.5% and 4%. The flow field was measured with a three-hole pressure probe. Also, detailed loading distributions were obtained for all three airfoils using surface static pressure taps. The baseline airfoil and the new aft-loaded airfoil showed a separation bubble on the suction side of the airfoil under most of the conditions examined. In addition, a sudden and intermittent stall was observed at low Reynolds numbers for the new aft-loaded airfoil. The relatively short separation bubble would abruptly “burst” and fail to reattach. As the Reynolds number was decreased over a narrow range, the percentage of time that the flow was fully-separated increased to 100%. By comparison, the separation bubble on the baseline airfoil gradually increased in size in an orderly way as the Reynolds number was decreased. The new front-loaded airfoil provided the most encouraging performance: no separation bubble was present except at the very lowest Reynolds numbers. The absence of a separation bubble also had a favourable effect on the loss behaviour of this airfoil: despite its much higher aerodynamic loading, it exhibited very similar midspan losses to those observed for the baseline airfoil.

A Low Pressure Turbine at Extreme Off-Design Operation

2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lipfert ◽  
Martin Marx ◽  
Martin G. Rose ◽  
Stephan Staudacher ◽  
Inga Mahle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Incidence

In a cooperative project between the Institute of Aircraft Propulsion Systems and MTU Aero Engines GmbH, a two-stage low pressure turbine with integrated 3D airfoil and endwall contouring is tested. The experimental data taken in the altitude test-facility study the effect of high incidence in off-design operation. Steady measurements are covering a wide range of Reynolds numbers between 40,000 and 180,000. The results are compared with steady multistage CFD predictions with a focus on the stator rows. A first unsteady simulation is taken into account as well. The CFD simulations include leakage flow paths with disk cavities modeled. Compared to design operation the extreme off-design high-incidence conditions lead to a different flow-field Reynolds number sensitivity. Airfoil lift data reveals changing incidence with Reynolds number of the second stage. Increased leading edge loading of the second vane indicates a strong cross channel pressure gradient in the second stage leading to larger secondary flow regions and a more three-dimensional flow-field. Global characteristics and area traverse data of the second vane are discussed. The unsteady CFD approach indicates improvement in the numerical prediction of the predominating flow-field.

Active Flow Control Using Steady Blowing for a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. McAuliffe ◽  
S. A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Wall Jet ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Blowing Ratio ◽  
Profile Losses

The paper presents mid-span measurements for a turbine cascade with active flow control. Steady blowing through an inclined plane wall jet has been used to control the separation characteristics of a high-lift low-pressure turbine airfoil at low Reynolds numbers. Measurements were made at design incidence for blowing ratios from approximately 0.25 to 2.0 (ratio of jet-to-local freestream velocity), for Reynolds numbers of 25000 and 50000 (based on axial chord and inlet velocity), and for freestream turbulence intensities of 0.4% and 4%. Detailed flow field measurements were made downstream of the cascade using a three-hole pressure probe, static pressure distributions were measured on the airfoil suction surface, and hot-wire measurements were made to characterize the interaction between the wall jet and boundary layer. The primary focus of the study is on the low-Reynolds number and low-freestream turbulence intensity cases, where the baseline airfoil stalls and high profile losses result. For low freestream turbulence (0.4%), the examined method of flow control was effective at preventing stall and reducing the profile losses. At a Reynolds number of 25000, a blowing ratio greater than 1.0 was required to suppress stall. At a Reynolds number of 50000, a closed separation bubble formed at a very low blowing ratio (0.25) resulting in a significant reduction in the profile loss. For high freestream turbulence intensity (4%), where the baseline airfoil has a closed separation bubble and low profile losses, blowing ratios below 1.0 resulted in a larger separation bubble and higher losses. The mechanism by which the wall jet affects the separation characteristics of the airfoil is examined through hot-wire traverse measurements in the vicinity of the slot.

Use Deflected Trailing Edge to Improve the Aerodynamic Performance and Develop Low Solidity LPT Cascade

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Chao ◽  
Yan Peigang ◽  
Wang Xiangfeng ◽  
Han Wanjin ◽  
Wang Qingchao
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Energy Loss ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Control Mechanism ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Loss Coefficient ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

AbstractThis paper investigates the feasibility of improving the aerodynamic performance of low pressure turbine (LPT) blade cascades and developing low solidity LPT blade cascades through deflected trailing edge. A deflected trailing edge improved aerodynamic performance of both LPT blade cascades and low solidity LPT blade cascades. For standard solidity LPT cascades, deflecting the trailing edge can decrease the energy loss coefficient by 20.61 % for a Reynolds number (Re) of 25,000 and freestream turbulence intensities (FSTI) of 1 %. For a low solidity LPT cascade, aerodynamic performance was also improved by deflecting the trailing edge. Solidity of the LPT cascade can be reduced by 12.5 % for blades with a deflected trailing edge without a drop in efficiency. Here, the flow control mechanism surrounding a deflected trailing edge was also revealed.

Active Flow Control Using Steady Blowing for a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 560-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian R. McAuliffe ◽  
Steen A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Active Flow Control ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Wall Jet ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Blowing Ratio ◽  
Profile Losses

The paper presents mid-span measurements for a turbine cascade with active flow control. Steady blowing through an inclined plane wall jet has been used to control the separation characteristics of a high-lift low-pressure turbine airfoil at low Reynolds numbers. Measurements were made at design incidence for blowing ratios from approximately 0.25 to 2.0 (ratio of jet-to-local freestream velocity), for Reynolds numbers of 25,000 and 50,000 (based on axial chord and inlet velocity), and for freestream turbulence intensities of 0.4% and 4%. Detailed flow field measurements were made downstream of the cascade using a three-hole pressure probe, static pressure distributions were measured on the airfoil suction surface, and hot-wire measurements were made to characterize the interaction between the wall jet and boundary layer. The primary focus of the study is on the low-Reynolds number and low-freestream turbulence intensity cases, where the baseline airfoil stalls and high profile losses result. For low freestream turbulence (0.4%), the examined method of flow control was effective at preventing stall and reducing the profile losses. At a Reynolds number of 25,000, a blowing ratio greater than 1.0 was required to suppress stall. At a Reynolds number of 50,000, a closed separation bubble formed at a very low blowing ratio (0.25) resulting in a significant reduction in the profile loss. For high freestream turbulence intensity (4%), where the baseline airfoil has a closed separation bubble and low profile losses, blowing ratios below 1.0 resulted in a larger separation bubble and higher losses. The mechanism by which the wall jet affects the separation characteristics of the airfoil is examined through hot-wire traverse measurements in the vicinity of the slot.

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