The Influence of Sweep on Axial Flow Turbine Aerodynamics in the Endwall Region

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Pullan ◽  
Neil W. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Stream Surface ◽  
Reported Study ◽  
Secondary Flow Structure ◽  
Turbine Design ◽  
Axisymmetric Stream

Sweep, when the stacking axis of the blade is not perpendicular to the axisymmetric stream surface in the meridional view, is often an unavoidable feature of turbine design. In a previously reported study, the authors demonstrated that sweep leads to an inevitable increase in midspan profile loss. In this paper, the influence on the flowfield close to the endwalls is investigated. Experimental data from two linear cascades, one unswept, and the other swept at 45 deg but having the same overall turning and midspan pressure distribution, are presented. It is shown that sweep causes the blade to become more rear loaded at the hub and fore loaded at the casing. This is further shown to reduce the penetration of the secondary flow at the hub, and to produce a highly unusual secondary flow structure, with low endwall overturning, at the casing. A computational study is then presented in which the development of the secondary flows of both blades is studied. The differences in the endwall flowfields are found to be caused by a combination of the effect of sweep on both the endwall blade loading distribution and on the bulk movements of the primary irrotational flow.

The Influence of Sweep on Axial Flow Turbine Aerodynamics in the Endwall Region

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Pullan ◽  
Neil W. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
The Other ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Reported Study ◽  
Secondary Flow Structure ◽  
Turbine Design ◽  
Profile Loss

Sweep, when the stacking axis of the blade is not perpendicular to the axi-symmetric streamsurface in the meridional view, is often an unavoidable feature of turbine design. In a previously reported study, the authors demonstrated that sweep leads to an inevitable increase in mid-span profile loss. In this paper, the influence on the flowfield close to the endwalls is investigated. Experimental data from two linear cascades, one unswept, the other swept at 45 degrees but having the same overall turning and mid-span pressure distribution, are presented. It is shown that sweep causes the blade to become more rear-loaded at the hub and fore-loaded at the casing. This is further shown to reduce the penetration of the secondary flow at the hub, and to produce a highly unusual secondary flow structure, with low endwall over-turning, at the casing. A computational study is then presented in which the development of the secondary flows of both blades is studied. The differences in the endwall flowfields are found to be caused by a combination of the effect of sweep on both the endwall blade loading distribution, and on the bulk movements of the primary irrotational flow.

Predictions of Endwall Losses and Secondary Flows in Axial Flow Turbine Cascades

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. P. Sharma ◽  
T. L. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Integral Boundary ◽  
Realistic Interpretation ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Flow Theories ◽  
Semi Empirical ◽  
End Wall

This paper describes the development of a semi-empirical model for estimating end-wall losses. The model has been developed from improved understanding of complex endwall secondary flows, acquired through review of flow visualization and pressure loss data for axial flow turbomachine cascades. The flow visualization data together with detailed measurements of viscous flow development through cascades have permitted more realistic interpretation of the classical secondary flow theories for axial turbomachine cascades. The re-interpreted secondary flow theories together with integral boundary layer concepts are used to formulate a calculation procedure for predicting losses due to the endwall secondary flows. The proposed model is evaluated against data from published literature and improved agreement between the data and predictions is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Experimental and Computational Study of the Unsteady Flow in a 1.5 Stage Axial Turbine With Emphasis on the Secondary Flow in the Second Stator

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf E. Walraevens ◽  
Heinz E. Gallus ◽  
Alexander R. Jung ◽  
Jürgen F. Mayer ◽  
Heinz Stetter
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Dependent Flow

A study of the unsteady flow in an axial flow turbine stage with a second stator blade row is presented. The low aspect ratio blades give way to a highly three-dimensional flow which is dominated by secondary flow structures. Detailed steady and unsteady measurements throughout the machine and unsteady flow simulations which include all blade rows have been carried out. The presented results focus on the second stator flow. Secondary flow structures and their origins are identified and tracked on their way through the passage. The results of the time-dependent secondary velocity vectors as well as flow angles and Mach number distributions as perturbation from the time-mean flow field are shown in cross-flow sections and azimuthal cuts throughout the domain of the second stator. At each location the experimental and numerical results are compared and discussed. A good overall agreement in the time-dependent flow behaviour as well as in the secondary flow structures is stated.

Complex Secondary Flow and Associated Loss Generation in Ultra-Highly Loaded Turbine Cascade

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoshio Tsujita ◽  
Atsumasa Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Blade Surface ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Oil Flow Visualization ◽  
Secondary Flow Structure ◽  
Highly Loaded

An increase of turbine blade loading decreases the numbers of blades and stages, and results in the improvement of the performance characteristics of gas turbines. However, in such highly loaded turbine cascade with high turning angle, the secondary flow becomes much strong due to the steep pressure gradient across the blade-to-blade passage and deteriorates the performance of turbine enormously. In this study, the computations were performed for the flow in the ultra-highly loaded turbine cascade in order to clarify the effects of the inlet boundary layer thickness and the incidence angle which strongly influence the secondary flow structure in a turbine cascade. Moreover, the experimental oil flow visualization was conducted on the blade surface and the endwall, and the measurements of blade surface static pressure were performed at the midspan. The computed results agreed well with the oil flow visualization and the measured blade surface static pressure. The effects of the incidence angle and the inlet boundary layer thickness on the secondary flow structure, the total pressure loss, the secondary flow kinetic energy and the blade loading distributions were examined in detail. The positive incidence angle induced the characteristic vortex released from the endwall. Moreover, it was revealed that the interactions among the horseshoe vortex, the passage vortex and the characteristic vortex strongly increase the secondary loss in the cascade passage.

Visualization Study of Flow in Axial Flow Inducer

1972 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 777-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lakshminarayana
Keyword(s):  
Radial Velocity ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Flow Theory ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Flow Through

A visualization study of the flow through a three ft dia model of a four bladed inducer, which is operated in air at a flow coefficient of 0.065, is reported in this paper. The flow near the blade surfaces, inside the rotating passages, downstream and upstream of the inducer is visualized by means of smoke, tufts, ammonia filament, and lampblack techniques. Flow is found to be highly three dimensional, with appreciable radial velocity throughout the entire passage. The secondary flows observed near the hub and annulus walls agree with qualitative predictions obtained from the inviscid secondary flow theory. Based on these investigations, methods of modeling the flow are discussed.

Secondary Flow, Turbulent Diffusion, and Mixing in Axial-Flow Compressors

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Wisler ◽  
R. C. Bauer ◽  
T. H. Okiishi
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Turbulent Diffusion ◽  
Fluid Motion ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tracer Gas ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Diffusive Effects ◽  
Experimental Findings ◽  
Axial Flow Compressors

The relative importance of convection by secondary flows and diffusion by turbulence as mechanisms responsible for mixing in multistage, axial-flow compressors has been investigated by using the ethylene tracer-gas technique and hot-wire anemometry. The tests were conducted at two loading levels in a large, low-speed, four-stage compressor. The experimental results show that considerable cross-passage and spanwise fluid motion can occur and that both secondary flow and turbulent diffusion can play important roles in the mixing process, depending upon location in the compressor and loading level. In the so-called freestream region, turbulent diffusion appeared to be the dominant mixing mechanism. However, near the endwalls and along airfoil surfaces at both loading levels, the convective effects from secondary flow were of the same order of magnitude as, and in some cases greater than, the diffusive effects from turbulence. Calculations of the secondary flowfield and mixing coefficients support the experimental findings.

Improving Efficiency of a High Work Turbine Using Non-Axisymmetric Endwalls: Part II—Time-Resolved Flow Physics

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schuepbach ◽  
R. S. Abhari ◽  
M. G. Rose ◽  
T. Germain ◽  
I. Raab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Flow Physics ◽  
High Work

This paper is the second part of a two part paper that reports on the improvement of efficiency of a one-and-half stage high work axial flow turbine. The first part covered the design of the endwall profiling as well as a comparison with steady probe data, this part covers the analysis of the time-resolved flow physics. The focus is on the time-resolved flow physics that lead to a total-to-total stage efficiency improvement of Δηtt = 1.0% ± 0.4%. The investigated geometry is a model of a high work (Δh/U2 = 2.36), axial shroudless HP turbine. The time-resolved measurements have been acquired upstream and downstream of the rotor using a Fast Response Aerodynamic Probe (FRAP). The paper contains a detailed analysis of the secondary flow field that is changed between the axisymmetric and the non-axisymmetric endwall profiling cases. The flowfield at exit of the first stator is improved considerably due to non-axisymmetric endwall profiling and results in reduced secondary flow and a reduction of loss at both hub and tip, as well as a reduced trailing shed vorticity. The rotor has reduced losses and a reduction of secondary flows mainly at the hub. At the rotor exit the flow field with non-axisymmetric endwalls is more homogenous due to the reduction of secondary flows in the two rows upstream of the measurement plane. This confirms that non-axisymmetric endwall profiling is an effective tool for reducing secondary losses in axial turbines. Using a frozen flow assumption the time-resolved data is used to estimate the axial velocity gradients, which are then used to evaluate the streamwise vorticity and dissipation. The non-axisymmetric endwall profiling of the first nozzle guide vane show reductions of dissipation and streamwise vorticity due to reduced trailing shed vorticity. This smaller vorticity explains the reduction of loss at mid-span, which is shown in the first part of the two part paper. This leads to the conclusion that non-axisymmetric endwall profiling also has the potential of reducing trailing shed vorticity.

Some Effects of Non-Axisymmetric End Wall Profiling on Axial Flow Compressor Aerodynamics: Part I—Linear Cascade Investigation

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. W. Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Flow Region ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Secondary Loss ◽  
End Wall

Non-axisymmetric end wall profiling is now a well established design methodology in axial flow turbines, used principally to improve their aerodynamic efficiency by reducing secondary loss. However, profiled end walls (PEWs) have yet to find an in-service application in a gas turbine compressor. This two-part paper presents the results of a number of studies, both experimental and computational, into the potential aerodynamic benefits of applying PEWs in axial flow compressors. The first paper reports research carried out using a linear compressor stator cascade at Cambridge University. The datum geometry was based on previous research with this cascade. The PEW geometry was generated using a method that had been proven to reduce secondary loss in turbine blade rows. Data was taken on the datum and PEW geometries in the form of exit area traverses and surface static pressure measurements. The experiments demonstrated improvements to the exit flow field in terms of local reductions in the loss and under-turning in the secondary flow region due to the PEW. It was found that the original design method had over estimated the benefits of the PEW. The datum and PEW geometries were further analysed using state-of-the-art CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The CFD is shown to achieve very good agreement with measurement at the design condition and a reasonable, qualitative match at off-design. It is concluded that the PEW geometry, though not optimum, effected predictable changes to the compressor stator flow field. The mechanisms for these effects are discussed and conclusions are drawn for taking the work forward. In particular, a mechanism is identified whereby the PEW enhances the cross-flow on the end wall and the subsequent radial migration of the secondary flow adjacent to the aerofoil suction surface. The control of corner stall by means of this flow mechanism is highlighted as a possible area for further investigation. This is followed up in the second paper, which presents a computational study of applying PEWs to a multi-stage HP compressor.

Secondary flows in ducts of square cross-section

1972 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. Launder ◽  
W. M. Ying
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Friction Velocity ◽  
Rough Surfaces ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Main Emphasis

The paper presents the outcome of experimental research on turbulence-induced secondary flows in square-sectioned ducts. The main emphasis of the experiments has been on the measurement of the secondary flows in a duct with equally roughened surfaces. Here the secondary flow is a substantially larger proportion of the axial flow than is the case in smooth-walled ducts. With the secondary velocities normalized by the friction velocity, however, the resultant profiles for smooth and rough surfaces are the same, within the precision of the measurements.

A Numerical Study of Secondary Flows in a 1.5 Stage Axial Turbine Guiding the Design of a Non-Axisymmetric Hub

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayder M. B. Obaida ◽  
Hakim T. K. Kadhim ◽  
Aldo Rona ◽  
Katrin Leschke ◽  
J. Paul Gostelow
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Side Branch ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Design Work ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Turbine Performance

The performance of axial flow turbines is affected by losses from secondary flows that result in entropy generation. Reducing these secondary flow losses improves the turbine performance. This paper investigates the effect of applying a non-axisymmetric contour to the hub of a representative one-and-half stage axial turbine on the turbine performance. An analytical end-wall hub surface definition with a guide groove is used to direct the pressure side branch of the horseshoe vortex away from the blade suction side, so to retard its interaction with the suction side secondary flow and thus decrease the losses. This groove design is a development of the concept outlined in Obaida et al. (2016). A baseline three-dimensional steady RANS k-ω SST model, with axisymmetric walls, is validated against reference experimental measurements from a one-and-half stage turbine at the Institute of Jet Propulsion and Turbomachinery at RWTH Aachen, Germany. The CFD predictions of the non-axisymmetric hub with the guide groove show a decrease in the total pressure loss coefficient. The design work-flow is generated using the Alstom Process and Optimisation Workbench (APOW), which sensibly reduced the designer workload. The implementation of the guide groove has excellent portability to the turbomachinery industry and this makes this method promising for delivering the UK energy agenda through more efficient power turbines.

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