Shock Formation in Overexpanded Tip Leakage Flow

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Moore ◽  
K. M. Elward
Keyword(s):  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Shock Formation ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Hydraulic Analogy ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows ◽  
Turbine Design

Shock formation due to overexpansion of supersonic flow at the inlet to the tip clearance gap of a turbomachine has been studied. The flow was modeled on a water table using a sharp-edged rectangular channel. The flow exhibited an oblique hydraulic jump starting on the channel sidewall near the channel entrance. This flow was analyzed using hydraulic theory. The results suggest a model for the formation of the jump. The hydraulic analogy between free surface water flows and compressible gas flows is used to predict the location and strength of oblique shocks in analogous tip leakage flows. Features of the flow development are found to be similar to those of compressible flow in sharp-edged orifices. Possible implications of the results for high-temperature gas turbine design are considered.

scholarly journals Shock Formation in Overexpanded Tip Leakage Flow

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Moore ◽  
Kevin M. Elward
Keyword(s):  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Gas Flows ◽  
Shock Formation ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Hydraulic Analogy ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows ◽  
Turbine Design

Shock formation due to overexpansion of supersonic flow at the inlet to the tip clearance gap of a turbomachine has been studied. The flow was modelled on a water table using a sharp-edged rectangular channel. The flow exhibited an oblique hydraulic jump starting on the channel sidewall near the channel entrance. This flow was analyzed using hydraulic theory. The results suggest a model for the formation of the jump. The hydraulic analogy between free surface water flows and compressible gas flows is used to predict the location and strength of oblique shocks in analogous tip leakage flows. Features of the flow development are found to be similar to those of compressible flow in sharp-edged orifices. Possible implications of the results for high-temperature gas turbine design are considered.

An Experimental and Numerical Study of Tip-Leakage Flows in an Idealized Turbine Tip Gap at High Mach Numbers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian Passmann ◽  
Stefan aus der Wiesche ◽  
Franz Joos
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Blow Down ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Mach Numbers ◽  
High Mach ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

This paper presents results of a detailed investigation of turbine tip-leakage flows at high Mach numbers. The experimental work was carried out using a small blow-down wind tunnel. An idealized blade test section was used to study blade tip-clearance effects in transonic conditions. Unshrouded blade tips are considered and different tip gap heights are investigated. A high blade exit Mach number of Me = 2 was selected deliberately. While conventional transonic turbine stages generally operate at lower supersonic exit Mach numbers, the conditions are representative for ORC turbines. Both experimental and numerical results are presented in this contribution. The results indicate, that tip leakage flow under transonic conditions leads to a complex three-dimensional flow field. A strong interaction between tip gap vortex and trailing edge shocks was observed, that also had a profound effect on the base region. While no final statement on losses could be made in the present configuration, the results indicate a weakened shock system.

Characteristics of Tip-Clearance Flows of a Compressor Cascade and a Propulsion Pump

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. T. Lee ◽  
M. J. Laurita ◽  
J. Feng ◽  
C. L. Merkle
Keyword(s):  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Pump Rotor ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

Tip-leakage flows for a linear compressor cascade and a one-stage shrouded pump rotor are discussed in this paper. A numerical method solving the Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes equations is used to explore various detail features of the tip-leakage flows. Calculation results for the cascade provide an assessment for predicting flow past a non-rotating blade passage with zero and 2% chord clearances. On the other hand, the pump rotor configuration provides a swirling passage flow with the complication of a trailing-edge separation vortex mixed with the tip-clearance and passage vortices and produces a very complex three-dimensional flow in the rotor wake. The physical aspects of the tip-clearance flows are discussed including suction-side reloading and pressure-side unloading due to a tip clearance and formation and transportation of the tip-leakage vortex. Detailed velocity comparisons in the blade passage and the tip gap region are shown to indicate the difficulty of predicting tip-leakage flow. The pressure at the core of the tip vortex is also examined to evaluate the strength of the tip-leakage vortex. Some computational guidelines for design usage are provided for these tip-leakage flow calculations.

Numerical Investigation on the Originating Mechanism of Unsteadiness in Tip Leakage Flow for a Transonic Fan Rotor

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Du ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Hongwu Zhang ◽  
Jingyi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Computational Model ◽  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
The Self ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

Despite the fact that the importance of steady tip leakage flows in rotor efficiency and stability has been long recognized and extensively studied, the unsteadiness of tip leakage flows became an interesting research topic only about 10 years ago. Many issues, such as its onset conditions, its role in compressor instability, etc. need to be further explored. In this paper, we present a numerical investigation on the influences of two important driving “forces”, the incoming main flow and the tip leakage flow, to clarify the originating mechanism of self-induced unsteadiness in transonic compressors. NASA Rotor 67 is chosen as the computational model. It is found that among all the simulated cases, the self-induced unsteadiness exists when the size of the tip clearance equals or larger than design tip clearance of the computational model. The time-dependent flow pattern in the rotor tip region is provided to illustrate that the main unsteady regions are on the blade’s pressure side that happens to be under the alternate influence of tip leakage flow and the incoming main flow. It is found the self-induced unsteady mechanism in the transonic rotor is the same as that in previously studied low-speed rotor. The interaction between shock wave and tip leakage vortex does not initiate the self-induced unsteadiness, but might be the cause of other unsteadiness, such as turbulent unsteadiness. A correlation based on the momentum ratio of tip leakage flow over the main incoming flow at the tip region is used as an indicator for the onset of the self-induced unsteadiness in tip leakage flow.

Flow Structures in the Tip Region for a Transonic Compressor Rotor

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Du ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Jingyi Chen ◽  
Chaoqun Nie ◽  
Christoph Biela
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Reference Frame ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

Numerical simulations are carried out to investigate flow structures in the tip region for an axial transonic rotor, with careful comparisons with the experimental results. The calculated performance curve and two-dimensional (2D) flow structures observed at casing, such as the shock wave, the expansion wave around the leading edge, and the tip leakage flow at peak efficiency and near-stall points, are all captured by simulation results, which agree with the experimental data well. An in-depth analysis of three-dimensional flow structures reveals three features: (1) there exists an interface between the incoming main flow and the tip leakage flow, (2) in this rotor the tip leakage flows along the blade chord can be divided into at least two parts according to the blade loading distribution, and (3) each part plays a different role on the stall inception mechanism in the leakage flow dominated region. A model of three-dimensional flow structures of tip leakage flow is thus proposed accordingly. In the second half of this paper, the unsteady features of the tip leakage flows, which emerge at the operating points close to stall, are presented and validated with experiment observations. The numerical results in the rotor relative reference frame are first converted to the casing absolute reference frame before compared with the measurements in experiments. It is found that the main frequency components of simulation at absolute reference frame match well with those measured in the experiments. The mechanism of the unsteadiness and its significance to stability enhancement design are then discussed based on the details of the flow field obtained through numerical simulations.

Influences of Tip Leakage Flows Discharged From Main and Splitter Blades on Flow Field in Transonic Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanao Kaneko ◽  
Hoshio Tsujita
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Transonic Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

A transonic centrifugal compressor impeller is generally composed of the main and the splitter blades which are different in chord length. As a result, the tip leakage flows from the main and the splitter blades interact with each other and then complicate the flow field in the compressor. In this study, in order to clarify the individual influences of these leakage flows on the flow field in the transonic centrifugal compressor stage at near-choke to near-stall condition, the flows in the compressor at four conditions prescribed by the presence and the absence of the tip clearances were analyzed numerically. The computed results clarified the following noticeable phenomena. The tip clearance of the main blade induces the tip leakage vortex from the leading edge of the main blade. This vortex decreases the blade loading of the main blade to the negative value by the increase of the flow acceleration along the suction surface of the splitter blade, and consequently induces the tip leakage vortex caused by the negative blade loading of the main blade at any operating points. These phenomena decline the impeller efficiency. On the other hand, the tip clearance of the splitter blade decreases the afore mentioned acceleration by the formation of the tip leakage vortex from the leading edge of the splitter blade and the decrease of the incidence angle for the splitter blade caused by the suction of the flow into the tip clearance. These phenomena reduce the loss generated by the negative blade loading of the main blade and consequently reduce the decline of the impeller efficiency. Moreover, the tip clearances enlarge the flow separation around the diffuser inlet and then decline the diffuser performance independently of the operating points.

Aerodynamic Performance of Blade Tip End-Plates Designed for Low-Noise Operation in Axial Flow Fans

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Corsini ◽  
Franco Rispoli ◽  
A. G. Sheard
Keyword(s):  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Acoustic Emissions ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

This study assesses the effectiveness of modified blade-tip configurations in achieving passive noise control in industrial fans. The concepts developed here, which are based on the addition of end-plates at the fan-blade tip, are shown to have a beneficial effect on the fan aeroacoustic signature as a result of the changes they induce in tip-leakage-flow behavior. The aerodynamic merits of the proposed blade-tip concepts are investigated by experimental and computational studies in a fully ducted configuration. The flow mechanisms in the blade-tip region are correlated with the specific end-plate design features, and their role in the creation of overall acoustic emissions is clarified. The tip-leakage flows of the fans are analyzed in terms of vortex structure, chordwise leakage flow, and loading distribution. Rotor losses are also investigated. The modifications to blade-tip geometry are found to have marked effects on the multiple vortex behaviors of leakage flow as a result of changes in the near-wall fluid flow paths on both blade surfaces. The improvements in rotor efficiency are assessed and correlated with the control of tip-leakage flows produced by the modified tip end-plates.

Blade Tip Shape Optimization for Enhanced Turbine Aerothermal Performance

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. De Maesschalck ◽  
S. Lavagnoli ◽  
G. Paniagua
Keyword(s):  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Turbine Efficiency ◽  
Gap Flow ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

In high-speed unshrouded turbines tip leakage flows generate large aerodynamic losses and intense unsteady thermal loads over the rotor blade tip and casing. The stage loading and rotational speeds are steadily increased to achieve higher turbine efficiency, and hence the overtip leakage flow may exceed the transonic regime. However, conventional blade tip geometries are not designed to cope with supersonic tip flow velocities. A great potential lays in the modification and optimization of the blade tip shape as a means to control the tip leakage flow aerodynamics, limit the entropy production in the overtip gap, manage the heat load distribution over the blade tip and improve the turbine efficiency at high stage loading coefficients. The present paper develops an optimization strategy to produce a set of blade tip profiles with enhanced aerothermal performance for a number of tip gap flow conditions. The tip clearance flow was numerically simulated through two-dimensional compressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) calculations that reproduce an idealized overtip flow along streamlines. A multi-objective optimization tool, based on differential evolution combined with surrogate models (artificial neural networks), was used to obtain optimized 2D tip profiles with reduced aerodynamic losses and minimum heat transfer variations and mean levels over the blade tip and casing. Optimized tip shapes were obtained for relevant tip gap flow conditions in terms of blade thickness to tip gap height ratios (between 5 and 25), and blade pressure loads (from subsonic to supersonic tip leakage flow regimes) imposing fixed inlet conditions. We demonstrated that tip geometries which perform superior in subsonic conditions are not optimal for supersonic tip gap flows. Prime tip profiles exist depending on the tip flow conditions. The numerical study yielded a deeper insight on the physics of tip leakage flows of unshrouded rotors with arbitrary tip shapes, providing the necessary knowledge to guide the design and optimization strategy of a full blade tip surface in a real 3D turbine environment.

Investigation Into Core Compressor Tip Leakage Modelling Techniques Using a 3D Viscous Solver

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Glanville
Keyword(s):  
Transport Model ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

The leakage flow through the tip clearance gap of an axial compressor has a significant effect on loss production and stall behaviour. Accurate modelling is essential if improved designs are to be developed which control such flows. Studies have been carried out using the DERA TRANSCode 3D Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes code to predict the tip leakage flows in a low speed research compressor. Calculations were carried out using both a simple pinched-tip model and an improved mesh which allowed the true square-tip geometry to be represented. Comparisons between the Baldwin-Lomax algebraic turbulence model and the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation transport model were also made. The results showed that the predictions of both the detailed flows and the loss levels were sensitive to the modelling and that substantial improvements in accuracy were possible.

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