Direct Numerical Simulations of Transitional Flow in Turbomachinery

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 668-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Wissink ◽  
W. Rodi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Direct Numerical Simulations ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Turbulent Fluctuations ◽  
First Case ◽  
Turbine Cascades

An overview is provided of various direct numerical simulations (DNS) of transitional flows in turbine-related geometries. Two flow cases are considered: the first case concerns separating flow over a flat plate and the second case flows in turbine cascades. In the first case, in which Re=60,000, either an oscillating oncoming flow (1) or a uniform flow with and without oncoming turbulent free-stream fluctuations (2) is prescribed at the inlet. In both subcases (1) and (2), separation is induced by a contoured upper wall. In (1), the separated boundary layer is found to roll up due to a Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability. This rolled-up shear layer is subject to spanwise instability and disintegrates rapidly into turbulent fluctuations. In (2), a massive separation bubble is obtained in the simulation without oncoming free-stream fluctuations. A KH instability is eventually triggered by numerical round-off error and is followed again by a rapid transition. With oncoming turbulent fluctuations, this KH instability is triggered much earlier and transition is enhanced, which leads to a drastic reduction in size of the separation bubble. The second case, concerning flow in turbine cascades, includes (1) flow in the T106 turbine cascade with periodically oncoming wakes at Re=51,800 and (2) flow and heat transfer in a MTU cascade with oncoming wakes and background turbulence at Re=72,000. In the simulation of flow in the T106 cascade with oncoming wakes, the boundary layer along the downstream half of the suction side is found to separate intermittently and subsequently rolls up due to a KH instability leading to separation-induced transition. At times when the wakes impinge separation is suppressed. In the simulations of flow around a MTU turbine blade, evidence of by-pass transition in the suction-side boundary-layer flow is observed while the pressure-side boundary layer remains laminar in spite of significant fluctuations present. In agreement with the experiments, the impinging wakes cause the heat transfer coefficient to increase significantly in the transitional suction-side region close to the trailing edge and by about 30% on the pressure side. The large increase in heat transfer in the pre-transitional suction-side region observed in the experiments could not be reproduced. The discrepancy is explained by differences in spectral contents of the turbulence in the oncoming wakes.

Numerical Predictions of Turbine Cascade Secondary Flows and Heat Transfer With Inflow Turbulence

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yousef Kanani ◽  
Sumanta Acharya ◽  
Forrest Ames
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Lateral Spreading ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Initial Flow ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Inflow Turbulence

Abstract Turbine passage secondary flows are studied for a large rounded leading edge airfoil geometry considered in the experimental investigation of Varty et al. (J. Turbomach. 140(2):021010) using high resolution Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The complex nature of secondary flow formation and evolution are affected by the approach boundary layer characteristics, components of pressure gradients tangent and normal to the passage flow, surface curvature, and inflow turbulence. This paper presents a detailed description of the secondary flows and heat transfer in a linear vane cascade at exit chord Reynolds number of 5 × 105 at low and high inflow turbulence. Initial flow turning at the leading edge of the inlet boundary layer leads to a pair of counter-rotating flow circulation in each half of the cross-plane that drive the evolution of the pressure-side and suction side of the near-wall vortices such as the horseshoe and leading edge corner vortex. The passage vortex for the current large leading-edge vane is formed by the amplification of the initially formed circulation closer to the pressure side (PPC) which strengthens and merges with other vortex systems while moving toward the suction side. The predicted suction surface heat transfer shows good agreement with the measurements and properly captures the augmented heat transfer due to the formation and lateral spreading of the secondary flows towards the vane midspan downstream of the vane passage. Effects of various components of the secondary flows on the endwall and vane heat transfer are discussed in detail.

Numerical Predictions of Turbine Cascade Secondary Flows and Heat Transfer With Inflow Turbulence

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Yousef Kanani ◽  
Sumanta Acharya ◽  
Forrest Ames
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Lateral Spreading ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Initial Flow ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Inflow Turbulence

Abstract Turbine passage secondary flows are studied for a large rounded leading edge airfoil geometry considered in the experimental investigation of Varty et al. (J. Turbomach. 140(2):021010) using high resolution Large Eddy Simulation. The complex nature of secondary flow formation and evolution are affected by the approach boundary layer characteristics, components of pressure gradients tangent and normal to the passage flow, surface curvature, and inflow turbulence. This paper presents a detailed description of the secondary flows and heat transfer in a linear vane cascade at exit chord Reynolds number of 500,000 at low and high inflow turbulence. Initial flow turning at the leading edge of the inlet boundary layer leads to a pair of counter-rotating flow circulation in each half of the cross-plane that drive the evolution of the pressure-side and suction side of the near-wall vortices such as the horseshoe and leading edge corner vortex. The passage vortex for the current large leading-edge vane is formed by the amplification of the initially formed circulation closer to the pressure side which strengthens and merges with other vortex systems while moving toward the suction side. The predicted suction surface heat transfer shows good agreement with the measurements and properly captures the augmented heat transfer due to the formation and lateral spreading of the secondary flows towards the vane midspan downstream of the vane passage. Effects of various components of the secondary flows on the endwall and vane heat transfer are discussed in detail.

Numerical investigation of the tone noise mechanism over laminar airfoils

2007 ◽  
Vol 591 ◽  
pp. 155-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. DESQUESNES ◽  
M. TERRACOL ◽  
P. SAGAUT
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
The Other ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Tone Frequency ◽  
Noise Phenomenon

This paper presents the first numerical investigation via direct numerical simulation of the tone noise phenomenon occurring in the flow past laminar airfoils. This phenomenon corresponds to the radiation of discrete acoustic tones in some specific flow conditions, and has received much attention since the 1970s, and several experimental studies have been carried out to identify and understand the underlying physical mechanisms. However, several points remain to be clarified in order to provide a complete explanation of its origin. The flow around a two-dimensional NACA0012 airfoil is considered in order to have a deeper understanding of the tone noise phenomenon. Consistently with previous experimental studies, it is shown that depending on the Reynolds number and angle of attack, two different types of acoustic spectrum are observed: one which exhibits a broadband contribution with a dominant frequency together with a sequence of regularly spaced discrete frequencies, while the other one is only characterized by a simple broadband contribution. The first configuration is typical of the tone noise phenomenon. The present work shows that in this case, the mean flow on the pressure side of the airfoil exhibits a separation bubble near the trailing edge and the main tone frequency is close to the most amplified frequency of the boundary layer. The mechanism proposed in previous works for the main tone generation – which implies the existence of a separation bubble at the pressure side – is therefore validated by numerical simulation. On the other hand, the analysis of the suction side boundary layer reveals that there is no separation and that the most amplified frequency is different from the main tonal one. However, the suction side boundary layer is highly receptive to the tone frequency. Finally, an original explanation for the existence of the secondary discrete frequencies observed in the radiated pressure spectrum is given. They are associated to a bifurcation of the airfoil wake from a symmetric to a non-symmetric vortex pattern. A possible explanation for the existence of this bifurcation is the interaction between the disturbances which are the most amplified by the suction side boundary layer and those originating in the forcing of the suction side flow by the main tone noise mechanism.

Separated Flow Transition in a Low Pressure Turbine Cascade: Mean Flow and Turbulence Spectra

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Christopher G. Murawski
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Turbulence Spectra ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

Boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment have been studied experimentally in a low-pressure turbine cascade. Cases with Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 (based on suction surface length and exit velocity) have been considered under low free-stream turbulence conditions. Mean and fluctuating velocity profiles and turbulence spectra are presented for streamwise locations along the suction side of one airfoil and in the wake downstream of the airfoils. Hot film gages on the suction side surface of the airfoil are used to measure the fluctuation level and the spectra of the fluctuations on the surface. Higher Re moves transition upstream. Transition is initiated in the shear layer over the separation bubble and leads to boundary layer reattachment. Peak frequencies in the boundary layer spectra match those found in similar cases in the literature, indicating that the important frequencies may be predictable. Spectra in the wake downstream of the airfoils were similar to the spectra in the boundary layer near the trailing edge of the airfoil. Comparisons to the literature indicate that small but measurable differences in the spectra of the low free-stream turbulence can have a significant effect on boundary layer reattachment.

Effect of Incidence on Wall Heating Rates and Aerodynamics on a Film-Cooled Transonic Turbine Blade

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 493-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Camci ◽  
T. Arts
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer ◽  
Stagnation Point ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Convective Heat ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Pressure Side

This study investigates the influence of incidence on convective heat transfer to highly curved surfaces of a film-cooled turbine rotor blade. A computational study of free-stream inviscid aerodynamics without cooling at various incidences is followed by well-documented measured heat transfer data sets. The heat transfer experiments are discussed for cases with and without film cooling, performed under realistic gas turbine flow conditions in the short-duration heat transfer facility of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. The precise location of the stagnation point and the iso-Mach number contours in the passage for each incidence (−10, 0, 10, +15 deg) are presented for a nominal exit Mach number of 0.94. The free-stream mass flow rate was kept constant for each experiment at different incidence levels. Three rows of compound angled discrete cooling holes are located near the leading edge in a showerhead configuration. Two rows of staggered discrete cooling holes are located on the suction side and a single row of cooling holes is located on the pressure side. The short-duration measurements of quantitative wall heat fluxes on nearly isothermal blade surfaces both in the presence and absence of coolant ejection are presented. The study indicated that the change of the position of the stagnation point strongly altered the aerodynamic behavior and convective heat transfer to the blade in approximately the first 30 percent of both the pressure side and the suction side in the presence and absence of film cooling. The immediate vicinity of the stagnation point was not significantly affected by changing incidence without cooling. Transitional behavior both on the suction surface and on the pressure surface was significantly influenced by the changes in approaching flow direction. Flow separation associated with incidence variations was also observed. Extremely low levels of the convective heat transfer coefficients were experienced near the regions where small separation bubbles are located.

Laminar separation bubble development on an airfoil emitting tonal noise

2015 ◽  
Vol 780 ◽  
pp. 167-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pröbsting ◽  
S. Yarusevych
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Quantitative Description ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Laminar Separation Bubble ◽  
Tonal Noise ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Trailing Edge Noise

The subject of this experimental study is the feedback effects due to tonal noise emission in a laminar separation bubble (LSB) formed on the suction side of an airfoil in low Reynolds number flows. Experiments were performed on a NACA 0012 airfoil for a range of chord-based Reynolds numbers $0.65\times 10^{5}\leqslant \mathit{Re}_{c}\leqslant 4.5\times 10^{5}$ at angle of attack ${\it\alpha}=2^{\circ }$, where laminar boundary layer separation is encountered on both sides of the airfoil. Simultaneous time-resolved, two-component particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements, unsteady surface pressure and far-field acoustic pressure measurements were employed to characterize flow development and acoustic emissions. Amplification of disturbances in separated shear layers on both the suction and pressure sides of the airfoil leads to shear layer roll-up and shedding of vortices from separation bubbles. When the vortices do not break up upstream of the trailing edge, the passage of these structures over the trailing edge generates tonal noise. Acoustic feedback between the trailing edge noise source and the upstream separation bubble narrows the frequency band of amplified disturbances, effectively locking onto a particular frequency. Acoustic excitation further results in notable changes to the overall separation bubble characteristics. Roll-up vortices forming on the pressure side, where the bubble is located closer to the trailing edge, are shown to define the characteristic frequency of pressure fluctuations, thereby affecting the disturbance spectrum on the suction side. However, when the bubble on the pressure side is suppressed via boundary layer tripping, a weaker feedback effect is also observed on the suction side. The results give a detailed quantitative description of the observed phenomenon and provide a new outlook on the role of coherent structures in separation bubble dynamics and trailing edge noise generation.

Effect of Incidence on Wall Heating Rates and Aerodynamics on a Film Cooled Transonic Turbine Blade

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Tony Arts
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer ◽  
Stagnation Point ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Convective Heat ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Pressure Side

This study investigates the influence of incidence on convective heat transfer to highly curved surfaces of a film cooled turbine rotor blade. A computational study of free stream inviscid aerodynamics without cooling at various incidences is followed by well documented measured heat transfer data sets. The heat transfer experiments are discussed for cases with and without film cooling, performed under realistic gas turbine flow conditions in the short duration heat transfer facility of the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. The precise location of the stagnation point and the iso-Mach number contours in the passage for each incidence (−10°, 0°, 10°, +10°) are presented for a nominal exit Mach number of 0.94. The free stream mass flow rate was kept constant for each experiment at different incidence levels. Three rows of compound angled discrete cooling holes are located near the leading edge in a shower-head configuration. Two rows of staggered discrete cooling holes are located on the suction side and a single row of cooling holes is located on the pressure side. The short duration measurements of quantitative wall heat fluxes on nearly isothermal blade surfaces both in the presence and absence of coolant ejection are presented. The study indicated that the change of the position of the stagnation point strongly altered the aerodynamic behaviour and convective heat transfer to the blade in approximately the first 30 % of both the pressure side and the suction side in the presence and absence of film cooling. The immediate vicinity of the stagnation point was not significantly affected by changing incidence without cooling. Transitional behaviour both on the suction surface and on the pressure surface was significantly influenced by the changes in approching flow direction. Flow separation associated with incidence variations was also observed. Extremely low levels of convective heat transfer coefficients were experienced near the regions where small separation bubbles are located.

Investigation of a High Lift LP Turbine Blade Submitted to Passing Wakes: Part 1 — Profile Loss and Heat Transfer

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Coton ◽  
Tony Arts
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Exit Mach Number

A new test case for very high lift LP turbines has been investigated. The interaction with incoming wakes has been experimentally assessed at two Reynolds number values (13 and 30 × 104) and two inlet turbulence levels (0.8 and 3.5%) for an exit Mach number equal to 0.7. The wakes were generated by bars mounted on a rotating disk. Their features were varied in terms of diameter, rotational speed and number. In part 1 of the paper, the blade performance is discussed. Its evolution with the flow and wake parameters is mainly related to the variations of the boundary layer transition along the suction side. The beneficial effect of the wakes in suppressing the separation bubble could lead to a loss reduction of 36%. Distributions of the heat transfer coefficient and of higher order statistical variables support the discussion and constitute a quantitative database for LP turbines. The boundary layer behavior and its transitional aspects are particularly investigated in part 2.

Studies on Transitional Heat Transfer Characteristics Over Turbine Vane Surface Using a High Order LES Approach

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debasish Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Turbine Vane ◽  
Turbine Airfoils

The boundary layer developing on a turbo-machinery blade usually starts as a laminar layer but in most situations it inevitably becomes turbulent. The transition from laminar to turbulent in the boundary layer, which often causes a significant change in operational performance of the machinery, is generally influenced by the free-stream turbulence level, the pressure gradient, and surface curvature, etc. Therefore, boundary layer transition is an important phenomenon experienced by the flow through gas turbine engines. A substantial fraction of the boundary layer on both sides of a gas turbine airfoil may be transitional. The extended transition zone exist due to strong favorable pressure gradients, found on both near the leading edge portion of the suction side and the pressure side, which serve to stabilize the boundary layer and consequently delay the transition process, even under high free-stream turbulence intensity (FSTI) in practical gas turbine. It is very important to properly model and predict the high FSTI transition mechanism, since boundary layer transition leads to substantial increase in friction coefficients and heat transfer rate. Boundary layer separation, which is expected to be a significant problem on the suction side of some high pressure turbine airfoils due to shock-boundary layer interaction, also depends strongly on the state of boundary layer with respect to transition. Acceleration rates, Reynolds numbers and FSTI play very important role in controlling the boundary layer transition on the pressure side of gas turbine airfoils. The main objective of the present work is to study the performance of a high order LES turbulence model in predicting the transitional heat transfer characteristics over turbine vane surface under high pressure turbine flow conditions. In this regard the model is assessed to the precise experimental data where measurements were carried out in moderate temperature using three-vane cascades under steady state conditions. Two types of vane configurations were used in the experiment. The aerodynamic configurations of the two vanes were carefully selected to emphasize fundamental differences in the character of suction surface pressure distributions and the consequent effect on surface heat transfer distributions. In both the experiments and the computations, principle independent parameters (Mach number, Reynolds number, turbulence intensity, and wall-to-gas temperature ratio) were varied over ranges consistent with actual engine operation. The computed results explained measured data very satisfactorily and helped to have a very good understanding of basic mechanism involved in the complex flow behavior and transition from laminar to turbulent flow.

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