The Effect of Leading-Edge Geometry on Wake Interactions in Compressors

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. S. Wheeler ◽  
Alessandro Sofia ◽  
Robert J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Loss ◽  
Edge Geometry ◽  
Boundary Layer Interaction ◽  
Wake Interactions ◽  
Stator Blade ◽  
Profile Loss

The effect of leading-edge geometry on the wake/boundary-layer interaction was studied in a low-speed single-stage HP compressor. Both a 3:1 elliptic and a circular leading edge were tested on a controlled diffusion aerofoil stator blade. Experiments were undertaken on the stator suction surface; these included hotwire boundary-layer traverses, surface hotfilm measurements, and high resolution leading-edge pressure measurements. Steady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions were also performed to aid the interpretation of the results. The two leading-edge shapes gave rise to significantly different flows. For a blade with an elliptic leading edge (Blade A), the leading-edge boundary layer remained attached and laminar in the absence of wakes. The wake presence led to the formation of a thickened laminar boundary layer in which turbulent disturbances were observed to form. Measurements of the trailing-edge boundary layer indicated that the wake/leading-edge interaction for Blade A raised the suction-surface loss by 20%. For a blade with a circular leading edge (Blade B), the leading-edge boundary-layer exhibited a separation bubble, which was observed to reattach laminar in the absence of wakes. The presence of the wake moved the separation position forward while inducing a turbulent reattachment upstream of the leading-edge time-average reattachment position. This produced a region of very high momentum thickness at the leading edge. The suction-surface loss was found to be 38% higher for Blade B than for Blade A. Wake traverses downstream of the blades were used to determine the total profile loss of each blade. The profile loss of Blade B was measured to be 32% higher than that of Blade A.

The Effect of Leading-Edge Geometry on Wake Interactions in Compressors

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. S. Wheeler ◽  
Alessandro Sofia ◽  
Robert J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Surface Profile ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Pressure Surface ◽  
Edge Geometry ◽  
Boundary Layer Interaction ◽  
Wake Interactions ◽  
Stator Blade

The effect of leading-edge geometry on wake/boundary-layer interaction was studied in a low-speed single-stage HP compressor. Both a 3:1 elliptic and circular leading-edge were tested on a Controlled Diffusion (CDA) stator-blade. Experiments were undertaken on the stator suction-surface, these included hotwire boundary-layer traverses, surface hotfilm measurements and high resolution leading-edge pressure measurements. Steady CFD predictions were also performed to aid the interpretation of the results. The two leading-edge shapes gave rise to significantly different flows. For the blade with the elliptic leading-edge (Blade A), the leading-edge boundary-layer remained attached and laminar in the absence of wakes. The wake presence led to the formation of a thickened laminar boundary-layer in which turbulent disturbances were observed to form. Measurements of the trailing-edge boundary-layer indicated that the wake/leading interaction for Blade A raised the suction-surface loss by 20%. For the blade with the circular leading-edge (Blade B) the leading-edge boundary-layer exhibited a separation bubble, which was observed to reattach laminar in the absence of wakes. The presence of the wake moved the separation position forwards whilst inducing a turbulent reattachment upstream of the time-average reattachment position. This produced a region of very high momentum thickness at the leading-edge. The suction-surface profile loss was found to be 38% higher for Blade B compared to Blade A. The total loss (suction-surface and pressure-surface) for Blade B was measured to be 32% higher than that of Blade A.

Leading Edge Contamination of a C-D Compressor Blade Using Large Eddy Simulation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Katiyar ◽  
S. Sarkar
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Eddy Simulation ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Local Flow ◽  
Flow Acceleration ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy

Abstract A large-eddy simulation (LES) is employed here to predict the flow field over the suction surface of a controlled-diffusion (C-D) compressor stator blade following the experiment of Hobson et al. [1]. When compared with the experiment, LES depicts a separation bubble (SB) in the mid-chord region of the suction surface, although discrepancies exist in Cp. Further, the LES resolves the growth of boundary layer over the mid-chord and levels of turbulence intensity with an acceptable limit. What is noteworthy that LES also resolves a tiny SB near the leading-edge at the designed inflow angle of 38.3°. The objective of the present study is to assess how this leading-edge bubble influences the transition and development of boundary layer on the suction surface before the mid-chord. It appears that the separation at leading-edge suddenly enhances the perturbation levels exciting development of boundary layer downstream. The boundary layer becomes pre-transitional followed by a decay of fluctuations up to 30% of chord attributing to the local flow acceleration. Further, the boundary layer appears like laminar after being relaxed from the leading edge excitation near the mid-chord. It separates again because of the adverse pressure gradient, depicting augmentation of turbulence followed by the breakdown at about 70% of chord.

Effect of Leading-Edge Geometry on Separation Bubble on a Compressor Blade

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huoxing Liu ◽  
Baojie Liu ◽  
Ling Li ◽  
Haokang Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Wedge Angle ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Test Model ◽  
Edge Geometry ◽  
Separation Bubbles

Accurate prediction of flow field is the most important factor during the design of high performance compressors. In some cases the agreement of pressure ratio and efficiency between predicted and measured is excellent, but it is common for the efficiency to be in error by perhaps one or two percent. This error is enough to render the calculation unable to replace expensive experiment testing. One of the important matters in need of more study is the mechanism of boundary layer transition from laminar to turbulent flow. The objective of this fundamental research work is to acquire the detailed structure of separation bubbles on the suction side of the blade by using the PIV and pressure taps. This paper presents an experimental study of the influence of 2d leading-edge geometry on behavior of separation bubbles. The measurements on a nose of enlarged blade were conducted on a special large-scale experimental facility, the pressure distribution and flowfield of flow were measured. The test model used in this study consists of circular leading edge and elliptic leading edge. Results are presented for a range of incidence. The measurement result indicated that the leading edge shape has a large influence on flow details separation and transition as well as the boundary layer properties after reattached point. The wedge angle appears to be an important role in leading edge geometry parameters.

Interpretation of Low-Pressure Turbine Profile Loss Generation Mechanisms From a Viewpoint of Blade Drag Forces

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidekazu Kodama ◽  
Ken-ichi Funazaki
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Friction Drag ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Pressure Drag ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Wake Passing ◽  
Profile Loss

Abstract This paper describes the interpretation of a generation mechanism of profile loss of low pressure turbine (LPT) blades from a viewpoint of blade drag forces. On the analogy of profile drag of an isolated body, the profile loss of a cascade blade is subdivided into two components, the loss due to friction drag and the loss due to pressure drag. The friction drag is equal to the integral of all axial component of shearing stresses taken over the surface of the blade. The pressure drag, which does not exist in an inviscid flow, is due to the fact that the presence of the boundary later modifies the pressure distribution on the blade. The losses due to friction drag and pressure drag are evaluated for two kinds of blade profiles using the results of steady incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations at three different Reynolds numbers (Re), 57,000, 100,000 and 147,000. It is found that the trend of the total profile loss with Reynolds number is mainly determined by the trend of the loss due to pressure drag with Reynolds number. A rise in the total profile loss of the blade with a laminar separation bubble on the suction surface at low Reynolds number is mainly attributed to the increase in the pressure drag due to thickened suction surface boundary layer by the enlarged separation bubble. The friction drag and the pressure drag are also estimated for the measured data of low speed linear cascade tests with a moving-bar mechanism. In the estimation, the pressure drag is derived from the estimated total profile loss and the estimated friction drag by using boundary layer integral equations. It is found that the trend of total profile loss with incoming wake passing frequency is almost determined by the trend of the loss due to pressure drag with the wake passing frequency.

CFD Prediction of Boundary Layer Transition and Separation on an Airfoil at Varying Angle of Attack

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Wolgemuth ◽  
D. Keith Walters
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Boundary Layer Transition ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Layer Transition ◽  
Turbulent Airflow ◽  
Naca 0012

This study analyzes the predicted flow over a NACA 0012 airfoil at varying angles of attack and three different Reynolds numbers. The ability of three different turbulence models to predict boundary layer separation and transition behavior is investigated. Particular interest is paid to prediction of the separation bubble that develops near the leading edge of the airfoil suction surface prior to stall. The FLUENT CFD solver was used to simulate turbulent airflow over the airfoil. The three turbulence models include the standard and realizable forms of the k-ε model, available in FLUENT, as well as a recently developed transition-sensitive k-ω model that was implemented into the solver using user-defined functions. By employing the new, transition-sensitive model, computed properties of the flow field were found to be closer to experimental data than results produced by utilizing built-in turbulence models. Most importantly, the new, transition-sensitive model predicts the occurrence of the separation bubble, which the other models are unable to predict. The new model also clearly reproduces the laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow that occurs over the airfoil.

Effect of Leading Edge Roughness and Reynolds Number on Compressor Profile Loss

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju Hyun Im ◽  
Ju Hyun Shin ◽  
Garth V. Hobson ◽  
Seung Jin Song ◽  
Knox T. Millsaps
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Laser Doppler Velocimeter ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Edge Roughness ◽  
Profile Loss

An experimental investigation has been conducted to characterize the influence of leading edge roughness and Reynolds number on compressor cascade profile loss. Tests have been conducted in a low-speed linear compressor cascade at Reynolds numbers between 210,000 and 640,000. Blade loading and loss have been measured with pressure taps and pneumatic probes. In addition, a two-component laser-doppler velocimeter (LDV) has been used to measure the boundary layer velocity profiles and turbulence levels at various chordwise locations near the blade suction surface. The “smooth” blade has a centerline-averaged roughness (Ra) of 0.62 μm. The “rough” blade is roughened by covering the leading edge of the “smooth” blade, including 2% of the pressure side and 2% of the suction side, with a 100 μm-thick tape with a roughness Ra of 4.97 μm. At Reynolds numbers ranging from 210,000 to 380,000, the leading edge roughness decreases loss slightly. At Reynolds number of 210,000, the leading edge roughness reduces the size of the suction side laminar separation bubble and turbulence level in the turbulent boundary layer after reattachment. Thus, the leading edge roughness reduces displacement and momentum thicknesses as well as profile loss at Reynolds number of 210,000. However, the same leading edge roughness increases loss significantly for Re = 450,000 ∼ 640,000. At Reynolds number of 640,000, the leading edge roughness decreases the magnitude of the favorable pressure gradient for axial chordwise locations less than 0.41 and induces turbulent separation for axial chordwise locations greater than 0.63, drastically increasing loss. Thus, roughness limited to the leading edge still has a profound effect on the compressor flow field.

Characteristics of a separated flow past a semicircular leading-edge airfoil model under different imposed pressure gradient

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441002110212
Author(s):  
K Anand ◽  
KT Ganesh
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Particle Image ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Separated Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Bench Mark ◽  
Image Velocimetry

The effect of pressure gradient on a separated boundary layer past the leading edge of an airfoil model is studied experimentally using electronically scanned pressure (ESP) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) for a Reynolds number ( Re) of 25,000, based on leading-edge diameter ( D). The features of the boundary layer in the region of separation and its development past the reattachment location are examined for three cases of β (−30°, 0°, and +30°). The bubble parameters such as the onset of separation and transition and the reattachment location are identified from the averaged data obtained from pressure and velocity measurements. Surface pressure measurements obtained from ESP show a surge in wall static pressure for β = −30° (flap deflected up), while it goes down for β = +30° (flap deflected down) compared to the fundamental case, β = 0°. Particle image velocimetry results show that the roll up of the shear layer past the onset of separation is early for β = +30°, owing to higher amplification of background disturbances compared to β = 0° and −30°. Downstream to transition location, the instantaneous field measurements reveal a stretched, disoriented, and at instances bigger vortices for β = +30°, whereas a regular, periodically shed vortices, keeping their identity past the reattachment location, is observed for β = 0° and −30°. Above all, this study presents a new insight on the features of a separation bubble receiving a disturbance from the downstream end of the model, and these results may serve as a bench mark for future studies over an airfoil under similar environment.

Characterization of Shock Wave–Endwall Boundary Layer Interactions in a Transonic Compressor Rotor

1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (3) ◽  
pp. 386-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Rabe ◽  
A. J. Wennerstrom ◽  
W. F. O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shock Wave ◽  
Air Force ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
Laser Measurements ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Boundary Layer Interaction ◽  
Air Force Base

The passage shock wave–endwall boundary layer interaction in a transonic compressor was investigated with a laser transit anemometer. The transonic compressor used in this investigation was developed by the General Electric Company under contract to the Air Force. The compressor testing was conducted in the Compressor Research Facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Laser measurements were made in two blade passages at seven axial locations from 10 percent of the axial blade chord in front of the leading edge to 30 percent of the axial blade chord into the blade passage. At three of these axial locations, laser traverses were taken at different radial immersions. A total of 27 different locations were traversed circumferentially. The measurements reveal that the endwall boundary layer in this region is separated from the core flow by what appears to be a shear layer where the passage shock wave and all ordered flow seem to end abruptly.

Large Eddy Simulation of Transitional Flow in a Compressor Cascade

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Anjum Haider Rizvi ◽  
Joseph Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Transitional Flow ◽  
Transitional Region ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Pass Filter ◽  
Low Pass Filter ◽  
Large Eddy

At off-design conditions, when the blade Reynolds number is low, a significant part of the blade boundary layer can be transitional. Then, standard RANS models are unable to predict the flows correctly but explicit transition modeling provides some improvement. Since large eddy simulations (LES) are improvements on RANS, the performance of LES was examined by simulating a flow through a linear, compressor cascade for which experimental data are available — specifically at the Reynolds number of 210,000 based on blade chord when transition processes occur over a significant extent of the suction surface. The LES were performed with an explicit filtering approach, applying a low-pass filter to achieve sub-grid-scale modeling. Explicit 8th-order difference formulas were used to obtain high resolution spatial derivative terms. An O-grid was wrapped around the blade with suitable clustering for the boundary layer and regions of large changes along the blade. Turbulent in-flow was provided from a precursor simulation of homogeneous, isotropic turbulence. Two LES and a DNS were performed. The second LES refines the grid in the vicinity of the separation bubble on the suction surface, and along the span. Surface pressure distributions from all simulations agree closely with experiment, thus providing a much better prediction than even transition-sensitive RANS computations. Wall normal profiles of axial velocity and fluctuations also agree closely with experiment. Differences between LES and DNS are small, but the refined grid LES is closer to the DNS almost everywhere. This monotonic convergence, expected of the LES method used, demonstrates its reliability. The pressure surface undergoes transition almost immediately downstream of the leading edge. On the suction surface there are streaks as expected for freestream-turbulence-induced transition, but spots do not appear. Instead, a separating shear layer rolls up and breaks down to turbulence at re-attachment. Both LES capture this process. Skin friction distribution reveals the transition near the re-attachment to occur over an extended region, and subsequent relaxation is slower in the LES. The narrower transition zone in the DNS is indicative of the essential role of smaller scales during transition that should not be neglected in LES. Simulation data also reveal that an assumption of laminar kinetic energy transition models that Reynolds shear stress remains small in the pre-transitional region is supported. The remaining differences in the predictions of such models is thus likely to be the separation-induced transition which preempts the spot formation.

Optimal Application of Riblets on Compressor Blades and Their Contamination Behavior

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Lietmeyer ◽  
Karsten Oehlert ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Particle Deposition ◽  
Smooth Surface ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Compressor Blade ◽  
Viscous Drag ◽  
Loss Reduction ◽  
Flat Plates ◽  
Profile Loss

During the last decades, riblets have shown a potential for viscous drag reduction in turbulent boundary layers. Several investigations and measurements of skin-friction in the boundary layer over flat plates and on turbomachinery type blades with ideal riblet geometry have been reported in the literature. The question where riblets must be applied on the surface of a compressor blade is still not sufficiently answered. In a first step, the profile loss reduction by ideal triangular riblets with a trapezoidal groove and a constant geometry along the surface on the suction and pressure side of a compressor blade is investigated. The results show a higher potential on the profile loss reduction by riblets on the suction side. In a second step, the effect of laser-structured ribs on the laminar separation bubble and the influence of these structures on the laminar boundary layer near the leading edge are investigated. After clarifying the best choices where riblets should be applied on the blade surface, a strategy for locally adapted riblets is presented. The suction side of a compressor blade is laser-structured with a segmented riblet-like structure with a constant geometry in each segment. The measured profile loss reduction shows the increasing effect on the profile loss reduction of this locally adapted structure compared to a constant riblet-geometry along the surface. Furthermore, the particle deposition on a riblet-structured compressor blade is investigated and compared to the particle deposition on a smooth surface. Results show a primary particle deposition on the riblet tips followed by an agglomeration. The particle deposition on the smooth surface is stochastic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document