Prediction of Rotor Dynamic Destabilizing Forces in Axial Flow Compressors

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Colding-Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Present Theory ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Normal Operation ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Backward Whirl ◽  
Actuator Disc ◽  
Rotor Dynamic

It has been shown by Thomas (1958) and Alford (1965), that axial flow turbo-machinery is subject to rotor dynamic destabilizing gas forces produced by the circumferential variation of blade-tip clearance when the rotor is whirling. However, the magnitude and direction of these forces have yet to be clarified. For example, it is still uncertain, under which circumstances the rotor whirl direction will be forward, and when it will be backward, with respect to the rotation. In the present paper, a simple analysis of the perturbed flow in an axial compressor stage with whirling rotor is presented, based on the actuator disc analysis of Horlock and Greitzer (1983), and the gas force on the rotor is calculated on this basis. It appears that in the normal operation range of an axial compressor, the whirl direction is predicted to be forward always. Backward whirl is predicted to take place only at very low flow rates, well below the normally expected stall limit. Experimentally, forces were indeed found in direction of backward whirl for low flow rates, and in direction of forward whirl for high flow rates, in the results reported by Vance and Laudadio (1984), as analyzed by Ehrich (1989). While this experimental evidence supports the present theory qualitatively, a direct comparison of the measured and predicted destabilizing force has yet to be carried out.

scholarly journals Pressure Fluctuation on Casing Wall of Isolated Axial Compressor Rotors at Low Flow Rate

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Inoue ◽  
Motoo Kurdumaru ◽  
Youichi Anoo
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Flow Compressor ◽  
Low Flow Rate

The pressure fluctuations on the casing wall of two axial flow compressor rotors with various tip clearances have been analyzed by the use of two kinds of correlation functions. Behavior of the pressure fluctuation varies depending on tip clearance and blade solidity. In the case of small tip clearance, the nature of disturbances becomes random as the flow rate is reduced to a stall condition. For moderate tip clearance, coherent-structured disturbances appear intermittently at low flow rate. They appear more frequently as the solidity is increased and the flow rate becomes lower. For large tip clearance, the coherent structured disturbances exist even at considerably higher flow rates. Corresponding to these features there are peculiar patterns in the correlation designated as “phase-locked correlation function”.

Pressure Fluctuation on Casing Wall of Isolated Axial Compressor Rotors at Low Flow Rate

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inoue ◽  
M. Kuroumaru ◽  
Y. Ando
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Correlation Functions ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Flow Compressor ◽  
Low Flow Rate

The pressure fluctuations on the casing wall of two axial flow compressor rotors with various tip clearances have been analyzed by the use of two kinds of correlation functions. The behavior of the pressure fluctuation varies depending on tip clearance and blade solidity. In the case of small tip clearance, the nature of disturbances becomes random as the flow rate is reduced to a stall condition. For moderate tip clearance, coherent-structured disturbances appear intermittently at low flow rate. They appear more frequently as the solidity is increased and the flow rate becomes lower. For large tip clearance, the coherent structured disturbances exist even at considerably higher flow rates. Corresponding to these features, there are peculiar patterns in the correlation designated as “phase-locked correlation functions.”

The Simulation of an Axial Flow Fan Performance Curve at Low Flow Rates

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. van der Spuy ◽  
F. N. le Roux ◽  
T. W. von Backstro¨m ◽  
D. G. Kro¨ger
Keyword(s):  
Static Pressure ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Operating Point ◽  
Pressure Curve ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Air Cooled Condensers ◽  
Actuator Disc ◽  
Experimental Values

Simplified fan models are often used to simulate the effect of axial flow fans in large arrays of air-cooled condensers. The actuator disc method and its shortcomings are discussed and illustrated using computational fluid dynamics. A full 3-dimensional analysis of the fan is also performed at a single operating point to evaluate the flow conditions around the blade. This analysis confirms the results of the actuator disc method at the specific operating point. An adaptation of the actuator disc method, to improve its ability to model fan operation at low flow rates, is proposed. The effectiveness of the adaptation is evaluated by comparing the fan static pressure curve obtained from experimental results to the fan static pressure curve obtained from the simulations. The comparison shows that an analysis using the adapted actuator disc method produces results that correlate well with experimental values.

Effect of Tip Clearance on Suction Performance at Different Flow Rates in a Mixed Flow Pump

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yo Han Jung ◽  
Young Uk Min ◽  
Jin Young Kim
Keyword(s):  
Performance Test ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Suction Performance ◽  
Flow Pump

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the effect of tip clearance on the suction performance and flow characteristics at different flow rates in a vertical mixed-flow pump. Numerical analyses were carried out by solving three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. Steady computations were performed for three different tip clearances under noncavitating and cavitating conditions at design and off-design conditions. The pump performance test was performed for the mixed-flow pump and numerical results were validated by comparing the experimental data for a system characterized by the original tip clearance. It was shown that for large tip clearance, the head breakdown occurred earlier at the design and high flow rates. However, the head breakdown was quite delayed at low flow rate. This resulted from the cavitation structure caused by the tip leakage flow at different flow rates.

A Proposal for Passive Wall Treatment Applied in High Performance Axial Flow Compressors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubén Bruno Díaz ◽  
Jesuino Takachi Tomita ◽  
Cleverson Bringhenti ◽  
Francisco Carlos Elizio de Paula ◽  
Luiz Henrique Lindquist Whitacker
Keyword(s):  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Smooth Wall ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Viscous Effects ◽  
Stall Margin ◽  
Tip Leakage

Abstract Numerical simulations were carried out with the purpose of investigating the effect of applying circumferential grooves at axial compressor casing passive wall treatment to enhance the stall margin and change the tip leakage flow. The tip leakage flow is pointed out as one of the main contributors to stall inception in axial compressors. Hence, it is of major importance to treat appropriately the flow in this region. Circumferential grooves have shown a good performance in enhancing the stall margin in previous researches by changing the flow path in the tip clearance region. In this work, a passive wall treatment with four circumferential grooves was applied in the transonic axial compressor NASA Rotor 37. Its effect on the axial compressor performance and the flow in the tip clearance region was analyzed and set against the results attained for the smooth wall case. A 2.63% increase in the operational range of the axial compressor running at 100%N, was achieved, when compared with the original smooth wall casing configuration. The grooves installed at compressor casing, causes an increase in the flow entropy generation due to the high viscous effects in this gap region, between the rotor tip surface and casing with grooves. These viscous effects cause a drop in the turbomachine efficiency. For the grooves configurations used in this work, an efficiency drop of 0.7% was observed, compared with the original smooth wall. All the simulations were performed based on 3D turbulent flow calculations using Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, and the flow eddy viscosity was determined using the two-equation SST turbulence model. The details of the grooves geometrical dimensions and its implementation are described in the paper.

scholarly journals The Inner Workings of Axial Casing Grooves in a One and a Half Stage Axial Compressor With a Large Rotor Tip Gap: Changes in Stall Margin and Efficiency

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunill Hah
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Stall Margin ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Boundary ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Large Rotor

Effects of axial casing grooves (ACGs) on the stall margin and efficiency of a one and a half stage low-speed axial compressor with a large rotor tip gap are investigated in detail. The primary focus of the current paper is to identify the flow mechanisms behind the changes in stall margin and on the efficiency of the compressor stage with a large rotor tip gap. Semicircular axial grooves installed in the rotor’s leading edge area are investigated. A large eddy simulation (LES) is applied to calculate the unsteady flow field in a compressor stage with ACGs. The calculated flow fields are first validated with previously reported flow visualizations and stereo PIV (SPIV) measurements. An in-depth examination of the calculated flow field indicates that the primary mechanism of the ACG is the prevention of full tip leakage vortex (TLV) formation when the rotor blade passes under the axial grooves periodically. The TLV is formed when the incoming main flow boundary layer collides with the tip clearance flow boundary layer coming from the opposite direction near the casing and rolls up around the rotor tip vortex. When the rotor passes directly under the axial groove, the tip clearance flow boundary layer on the casing moves into the ACGs and no roll-up of the incoming main flow boundary layer can occur. Consequently, the full TLV is not formed periodically as the rotor passes under the open casing of the axial grooves. Axial grooves prevent the formation of the full TLV. This periodic prevention of the full TLV generation is the main mechanism explaining how the ACGs extend the compressor stall margin by reducing the total blockage near the rotor tip area. Flows coming out from the front of the grooves affect the overall performance as it increases the flow incidence near the leading edge and the blade loading with the current ACGs. The primary flow mechanism of the ACGs is periodic prevention of the full TLV formation. Lower efficiency and reduced pressure rise at higher flow rates for the current casing groove configuration are due to additional mixing between the main passage flow and the flow from the grooves. At higher flow rates, blockage generation due to this additional mixing is larger than any removal of the flow blockage by the grooves. Furthermore, stronger double-leakage tip clearance flow is generated with this additional mixing with the ACGs at a higher flow rate than that of the smooth wall.

Effect of Rotor Tip Gap Variation at the Rear Stages of an Axial Flow Compressor

2012 ◽  
Vol 225 ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
A.M. Pradeep ◽  
R.N. Chiranthan ◽  
Debarshi Dutta ◽  
Bhaskar Roy
Keyword(s):  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Multi Stage

In this paper, detailed analysis of the tip flow of an axial compressor rotor blade has been carried out using the commercial CFD package ANSYS CFX. The rotor blade was designed such that it is reminiscent of the rear stages of a multi-stage axial compressor. The effects of varying tip gaps are studied using CFD simulations for overall pressure rise and flow physics of the tip flow at the design point and near the peak pressure point. Rig tests of a low speed research compressor rotor with 3% tip clearance provided characteristics plots for validation of the CFD results. With increase in clearance from 1% to 4%, the rotor pressure rise at the design point was observed to decrease linearly. Increase in the clearance increases the cross flow across the tip; however, the magnitude of the average jet velocity crossing the tip decreases. The tip leakage vortex was observed to stay close to the suction surface with increase in clearance.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Flow Field in the Vicinity of an Axial Flow Fan During Low Flow Rates

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francois G. Louw ◽  
Theodor W. von Backström ◽  
Sybrand J. van der Spuy
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Axial Flow Fan ◽  
Free Vortex ◽  
Flow Rates

Large axial flow fans are used in forced draft air cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs). Previous studies have shown that adverse operating conditions cause certain sectors of the fan, or the fan as a whole to operate at very low flow rates, thereby reducing the cooling effectiveness of the ACHE. The present study is directed towards the experimental and numerical analyses of the flow in the vicinity of an axial flow fan during low flow rates. This is done to obtain the global flow structure up and downstream of the fan. A near-free-vortex fan, designed for specific application in ACHEs, is used for the investigation. Experimental fan testing was conducted in a British Standard 848, type A fan test facility, to obtain the fan characteristic. Both steady-state and time-dependent numerical simulations were performed, depending on the operating condition of the fan, using the Realizable k-ε turbulence model. Good agreement is found between the numerically and experimentally obtained fan characteristic data. Using data from the numerical simulations, the time and circumferentially averaged flow field is presented. At the design flow rate the downstream fan jet mainly moves in the axial and tangential direction, as expected for a free-vortex design criteria, with a small amount of radial flow that can be observed. As the flow rate through the fan is decreased, it is evident that the down-stream fan jet gradually shifts more diagonally outwards, and the region where reverse flow occur between the fan jet and the fan rotational axis increases. At very low flow rates the flow close to the tip reverses through the fan, producing a small recirculation zone as well as swirl at certain locations upstream of the fan.

An Axial Compressor End-Wall Boundary Layer Theory

1971 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. L. Mellor ◽  
G. M. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Jump Condition ◽  
Present Theory ◽  
Boundary Layer Theory ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Wall Boundary ◽  
End Wall

The essential ingredient missing in existing prediction methods for the performance of multistage axial compressors is that which would account for the effect of end-wall boundary layers. It is, in fact, believed that end-wall boundary layers play a major role in compressor performance and the absence of an adequate theory represents a handicap to turbomachinery designers that might be likened to the handicap that designers of wings, for example, would face if Prandtl had not introduced the idea of a boundary layer. In this paper a new theory is developed which retains all elements of classical boundary layer theory; for example, we discuss variables such as momentum thickness and wall shear stress. However, the present theory introduces new concepts such as axial and tangential defect force thickness, a rotor exit-stator inlet “jump condition” and the importance of these concepts is demonstrated. Inherent in the derivation is an identification of the role of secondary flow and tip clearance flow. A proper means of matching the boundary layer calculations to conventional main stream calculations is suggested. Independent of empirical parametization it appears that the theory is capable of correctly modeling boundary layer blockage, losses, and end-wall stall. Near stall, the main stream-boundary layer interaction is very strong.

Experimental Analysis of the Flow in a Two Stage Axial Compressor at Off-Design Conditions

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristide Massardo ◽  
Antonio Satta
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Energy Flow ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Flow Compressor

The experimental analysis of the flow that develops in a two stage axial flow compressor at off-design conditions is presented. The measurements are performed upstream, between and downstream of the four blade rows of the compressor. The analysis shows the off-design effects on the local conditions of the flow field. Low energy flow zones are identified, and the development of annulus boundary layer, secondary and tip clearance flows, are shown. The tip clearance flows are also present in the stator rows with various outlying conditions (stationary or rotating hub).

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