Effects of Tip Clearance on Blade Loading in a Planar Cascade of Turbine Blades

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Sjolander ◽  
K. K. Amrud
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Axial Component ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
New Feature

The paper examines in detail the structure of the tip leakage flow and its effect on the blade loading in a large-scale planar cascade of turbine blades. The tip clearance was varied from 0.0 to 2.86 percent of the blade chord. One of the blades is instrumented with 14 rows of 73 static taps which allowed a very detailed picture of the loading near the tip to be obtained. In addition to the measurements, extensive flow visualization was conducted using both smoke and surface oil flow. A new feature found in the present experiment was the formation of multiple, discrete tip-leakage vortices as the clearance was increased. Their presence is clearly evident from the surface oil flow and they account for the multiple suction peaks found in the blade pressure distributions. Integration of the pressure distributions showed that for larger values of the clearance the blade loading increases as the tip is approached and only begins to decline very near the tip. The increase was found to occur primarily in the axial component of the force.

scholarly journals Effects of Tip Clearance on Blade Loading in a Planar Cascade of Turbine Blades

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steen A. Sjolander ◽  
Kim K. Amrud
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Axial Component ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
New Feature

The paper examines in detail the structure of the tip leakage flow and its effect on the blade loading in a large-scale planar cascade of turbine blades. The tip clearance was varied from 0.0 to 2.86% of the blade chord. One of the blades is instrumented with 14 rows of 73 static taps which allowed a very detailed picture of the loading near the tip to be obtained. In addition to the measurements, extensive flow visualization was conducted using both smoke and surface oil flow. A new feature found in the present experiment was the formation of multiple, discrete tip-leakage vortices as the clearance was increased. Their presence is clearly evident from the surface oil flow and they account for the multiple suction peaks found in the blade pressure distributions. Integration of the pressure distributions showed that for larger values of the clearance the blade loading increases as the tip is approached and only begins to decline very near the tip. The increase was found to occur primarily in the axial component of the force.

scholarly journals On Scaling Method to Investigate High-Speed Over-Tip-Leakage Flow at Low-Speed Condition

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongmei Jiang ◽  
Li He ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
Lipo Wang
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Scaling Method ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Speed Condition

Modern high-pressure turbine blades operate at high-speed conditions. The over-tip-leakage (OTL) flow can be high-subsonic or even transonic. From the consideration of problem simplification and cost reduction, the OTL flow has been studied extensively in low-speed experiments. It has been assumed a redesigned low-speed blade profile with a matched blade loading should be sufficient to scale the high-speed OTL flow down to the low-speed condition. In this paper, the validity of this conventional scaling approach is computationally examined. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology was first validated by experimental data conducted in both high- and low-speed conditions. Detailed analyses on the OTL flows at high- and low-speed conditions indicate that, only matching the loading distribution with a redesigned blade cannot ensure the match of the aerodynamic performance at the low-speed condition with that at the high-speed condition. Specifically, the discrepancy in the peak tip leakage mass flux can be as high as 22%, and the total pressure loss at the low-speed condition is 6% higher than the high-speed case. An improved scaling method is proposed hereof. As an additional dimension variable, the tip clearance can also be “scaled” down from the high-speed to low-speed case to match the cross-tip pressure gradient between pressure and suction surfaces. The similarity in terms of the overall aerodynamic loss and local leakage flow distribution can be improved by adjusting the tip clearance, either uniformly or locally.

Effect of Endwall Motion on Blade Tip Heat Transfer

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Srinivasan ◽  
R. J. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Pressure Gradients ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Linear Cascade ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Wind Tunnel Data

Local mass transfer measurements were conducted on the tip of a turbine blade in a five-blade linear cascade with a blade-centered configuration. The tip clearance levels ranged from 0.6 to 6.9% of blade chord. The effect of relative motion between the casing and the blade tip was simulated using a moving endwall made of neoprene mounted on the top of the wind tunnel. Data were obtained for a single Reynolds number of 2.7×105 based on cascade exit velocity and blade chord. Pressure measurements indicate that the effect of endwall motion on blade loading at a clearance of 0.6% of blade chord is to reduce the pressure gradients driving the tip leakage flow. With the introduction of endwall motion, there is a reduction of about 9% in mass transfer levels at a clearance of 0.6% of chord. This is presumably due to the tip leakage vortex coming closer to the suction side of the blade and ‘blocking the flow,’ leading to reduced tip gap velocities and hence lower mass transfer.

scholarly journals Blade Loading Effects on Axial Turbine Tip Leakage Vortex Dynamics and Loss

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Huang ◽  
E. M. Greitzer ◽  
C. S. Tan ◽  
E. F. Clemens ◽  
S. G. Gegg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Vortex Dynamics ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Loss ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Dominant Feature

Numerical simulations have been carried out to define the loss generation mechanisms associated with tip leakage in un-shrouded axial turbines. Tip clearance vortex dynamics are a dominant feature of two mechanisms important in determining this loss: (i) decreased swirl velocity due to vortex line contraction in regions of decreasing axial velocity, i.e., adverse pressure gradient and (ii) vortex breakdown and reverse flow in the vortex core. The mixing losses behave differently from the conventional view of flow exiting a turbine tip clearance. More specifically, it is shown, through both control volume arguments and computations, that as a swirling leakage flow passes through a pressure rise, such as in the aft portion of the suction side of a turbine blade, the mixed-out loss can either decrease or increase. For turbines the latter typically occurs if the deceleration is large enough to initiate vortex breakdown, and it is demonstrated that this is the case in modern turbines. The effect of blade pressure distribution on clearance losses is illustrated through computational examination of two turbine blades, one with forward loading at the tip and one with aft loading. A 15% difference in leakage loss is found between the two, due to lower clearance vortex deceleration (lower core static pressure rise) with forward loading, and hence lower vortex breakdown loss. Additional computational experiments, carried out to define the effects of blade loading, incidence, and solidity, are found to be consistent with the proposed ideas linking blade pressure distribution, vortex breakdown and turbine tip leakage loss.

Interaction Between Inlet Boundary Layer, Tip-Leakage and Secondary Flows in a Low-Speed Turbine Cascade

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. K. Chan ◽  
M. I. Yaras ◽  
S. A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage

An experiment has been conducted in a large-scale linear turbine cascade to examine the interaction between the inlet endwall boundary layer, tip-leakage and secondary flows. Detailed flow field measurements have been made upstream and downstream of the blade row for two values of inlet boundary layer thickness (δ*/c of about 0.015 and 0.04) together with three values of tip clearance (gap heights of 0.0, 1.5 and 5.5 percent of blade chord). In the downstream plane, the total pressure deficits associated with the tip-leakage and secondary flows were discriminated by examining the sign of the streamwise vorticity. For this case, the streamwise vorticity of the two flows have opposite signs and this proved an effective criterion for separating the flows despite their close proximity in space. It was found that with clearance the loss associated with the secondary flow was substantially reduced from the zero clearance value, in contradiction to the assumption made in most loss prediction schemes. Further work is needed, notably to clarify the influence of relative tip-wall motion which in turbines reduces the tip-leakage flow while enhancing the secondary flow.

Parametric study of injection from the casing in an axial turbine

2019 ◽  
Vol 234 (5) ◽  
pp. 582-593
Author(s):  
Sarallah Abbasi ◽  
Afshin Gholamalipour
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Turbine Performance

Tip leakage flow reduces both efficiency and performance of axial turbines and damages turbine blades as well. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify and control tip leakage flow. This study investigated the effect of flow injection (from the casing), alongside flow structure, on turbine performance. Additionally, the effect of different injection parameters, including injection mass flow rate, angle, location, and diameter on the turbine performance are evaluated. A numerical analysis of the flow in a two-stage axial turbine was employed by using CFX software. To ensure the accuracy of the results, turbine performance curves were compared with the experimental results, which are in good agreement. Analyses revealed that active control method reduces tip leakage flow, improves turbine performance, and increases the efficiency by 1% to 5% as well. A parametric investigation of the tip injection has sought to identify how various parameters affect the turbine performance. The cross-section diameter and the angle of injection had no significant increase on efficiency. Additionally, results showed that at a point 9 mm further from the leading edge, the injection degree of effectiveness is optimum. Finally, analysis of the flow structure in the tip clearance region supported the tip leakage flow reduction.

Numerical Study on Tip Leakage Flow Structure of an Axial Flow Compressor Rotor

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenkai Zhang ◽  
Jun Hu ◽  
Zhiqiang Wang ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Chao Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Tip Leakage

To deepen the knowledge of tip leakage flow/vortex flow structure in the tip clearance of axial compressor rotors, this paper presents steady numerical studies on a subsonic rotor. The rotor and its related low-speed large-scale repeating-stage axial compressor are used for low-speed model testing of a modern high-pressure compressor. Results were first compared with available experimental data to validate adopted numerical method. Then complex endwall flow structure and flow loss mechanism at design operating point were studied. At last, comparisons were made for tip leakage vortex structure, interface of the leakage flow/main flow, endwall blockage and loss between design and near-stall operating points. Results show that only the spilled flows below 62.5% clearance height at the leading edge will roll into tip leakage vortex for this rotor. In addition, tip leakage vortex plays a secondary important role for higher positions, where secondary leakage flow occurs and occupies broader chordwise range. Although tip leakage vortex would expand and strongly mix with the mainflow when it propagates downstream, which leads to a rapid reduction of the normalized streamwise vorticity, the value of the normalized helicity shows that concentrated vortex feature is still maintained.

Numerical Investigation on the Self-Induced Unsteadiness in Tip Leakage Flow for a Transonic Fan Rotor

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Du ◽  
Feng Lin ◽  
Hongwu Zhang ◽  
Jingyi Chen
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
The Self ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Transonic Fan

A numerical investigation on the self-induced unsteadiness in tip leakage flow is presented for a transonic fan rotor. NASA Rotor 67 is chosen as the computational model. It is found that under certain conditions the self-induced unsteadiness can be originated from the interaction of two important driving “forces:” the incoming main flow and the tip leakage flow. Among all the simulated cases, the self-induced unsteadiness exists when the size of the tip clearance is equal to or larger than the design tip clearance. The originating mechanism of the unsteadiness is clarified through time-dependent internal flow patterns in the rotor tip region. It is demonstrated that when strong enough, the tip leakage flow impinges the pressure side of neighboring blade and alters the blade loading significantly. The blade loading in turn changes the strength of the tip leakage flow and results in a flow oscillation with a typical signature frequency. This periodic process is further illustrated by the time-space relation between the driving forces. A correlation based on the momentum ratio of tip leakage flow over the incoming main flow at the tip region is used as an indicator for the onset of the self-induced unsteadiness in tip leakage flow. It is discussed that the interaction between shock wave and tip leakage vortex does not initiate the self-induced unsteadiness, but might be the cause of other types of unsteadiness, such as broad-banded turbulence unsteadiness.

Investigation of Tip Clearance Flow Effects on an Open 3D Steam Turbine Flutter Test Case

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianrui Sun ◽  
Paul Petrie-Repar ◽  
Di Qi
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Last Stage

Blade failure caused by flutter is a major problem in the last stage of modern steam turbines. It is because rotor at this stage always has a large scale in spanwise, which provides low structural frequency as well as supersonic tip speeds. Since most of the unsteady aerodynamic work is done in the tip region, transonic tip-leakage flow that influences the tip region flow could have a remarkable effect on the aerodynamic stability of rotor blades. However, few research had been done on the tip-leakage flow influence on flutter characteristic based on full-scale steam turbine numerical models. In this paper, an open 3D steam turbine stage model designed by Durham University was applied, which was widely analyzed and representative for the last stage of modern industrial steam turbines. The average Mach number at the rotor outlet is 1.1. URANS simulation carried by both numerical software CFX and LUFT code is applied, and the two solvers show an agreement on steady and unsteady results. The numerical results indicate that the influence of tip leakage flow on blade stability is based on two types of flow mechanisms. Both mechanisms act on the suction side of near tip region. The first type of mechanism is produced by the reduction of passage shock near the leading edge, and the other type of mechanism at the rear of blade is caused by the interaction between tip leakage vortex and trailing edge shock of the neighbor blade. In conclusion, tip leakage flow has a significant influence on steam turbine flutter boundary prediction and requires further analysis in the future.

scholarly journals Measurements of Secondary Flows in a Turbine Cascade at Off-Design Incidence

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Benner ◽  
S. A. Sjolander ◽  
S. H. Moustapha
Keyword(s):  
Flow Visualization ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Oil Flow Visualization ◽  
Extensive Surface

The present study is part of an on-going project concerned with the effects of off-design incidence on losses. Previous work has examined the profile losses (Benner et al., 1995). This study focusses on the secondary flow, the endwall flow in the absence of tip clearance. This paper describes an experimental study in a large-scale, low-speed, linear turbine cascade for which the incidence was varied. Three different values of incidence were investigated: 0, +10 and +20 degrees. Detailed flow field measurements were made upstream and downstream of the cascade and static pressure distributions were measured on the blade surfaces. The data were supplemented by extensive surface oil flow visualization. This paper concentrates on the physical insights into the relationship between the behaviour of secondary flows and incidence which have been gained from the measurements and the flow visualization. A preliminary discussion of the effect of incidence on the losses is also included.

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