Influence of Rim Seal Purge Flow on the Performance of an Endwall-Profiled Axial Turbine

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schuepbach ◽  
R. S. Abhari ◽  
M. G. Rose ◽  
J. Gier
Keyword(s):  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Streamwise Vortex ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Baseline Case ◽  
Purge Flow

Nonaxisymmetric endwall profiling is a promising method to reduce secondary losses in axial turbines. However, in high-pressure turbines, a small amount of air is ejected at the hub rim seal to prevent the ingestion of hot gases into the cavity between the stator and the rotor disk. This rim seal purge flow has a strong influence on the development of the hub secondary flow structures. This paper presents time-resolved experimental and computational data for a one-and-1/2-stage high work axial turbine, showing the influence of purge flow on the performance of two different nonaxisymmetric endwalls and the axisymmetric baseline case. The experimental total-to-total efficiency assessment reveals that the nonaxisymmetric endwalls lose some of their benefit relative to the baseline case when purge is increased. The first endwall design loses 50% of the efficiency improvement seen with low suction, while the second endwall design exhibits a 34% deterioration. The time-resolved computations show that the rotor dominates the static pressure field at the rim seal exit when purge flow is present. Therefore, the purge flow establishes itself as jets emerging at the blade suction side corner. The jet strength is modulated by the first vane pressure field. The jets introduce circumferential vorticity as they enter the annulus. As the injected fluid is turned around the rotor leading edge, a streamwise vortex component is created. The dominating leakage vortex has the same sense of rotation as the rotor hub passage vortex. The first endwall design causes the strongest circumferential variation in the rim seal exit static pressure field. Therefore, the jets are stronger with this geometry and introduce more vorticity than the other two cases. As a consequence the experimental data at the rotor exit shows the greatest unsteadiness within the rotor hub passage with the first endwall design.

Influence of Rim Seal Purge Flow on Performance of an Endwall-Profiled Axial Turbine

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Schuepbach ◽  
R. S. Abhari ◽  
M. G. Rose ◽  
J. Gier
Keyword(s):  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Streamwise Vortex ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Baseline Case ◽  
Purge Flow

Non-axisymmetric endwall profiling is a promising method to reduce secondary losses in axial turbines. However, in high-pressure turbines, a small amount of air is ejected at the hub rim seal to prevent the ingestion of hot gases into the cavity between the stator and the rotor disk. This rim seal purge flow has a strong influence on the development of the hub secondary flow structures. This paper presents time-resolved experimental and computational data for a one-and-1/2-stage high work axial turbine showing the influence of purge flow on the performance of two different non-axisymmetric endwalls and the axisymmetric baseline case. The experimental total-to-total efficiency assessment reveals that the non-axisymmetric endwalls lose some of their benefit relative to the baseline case when purge is increased. The first endwall design loses 50% of the efficiency improvement seen with low suction, while the second endwall design exhibits a 34% deterioration. The time-resolved computations show that the rotor dominates the static pressure field at rim seal exit when purge flow is present. Therefore, the purge flow establishes itself as jets emerging at the blade suction side corner. The jet strength is modulated by the first vane pressure field. The jets introduce circumferential vorticity as they enter the annulus. As the injected fluid is turned around the rotor leading edge a streamwise vortex component is created. The dominating leakage vortex has the same sense of rotation as the rotor hub passage vortex. The first endwall design causes the strongest circumferential variation in the rim seal exit static pressure field. Therefore, the jets are stronger with this geometry and introduce more vorticity than the other two cases. As a consequence the experimental data at rotor exit shows the greatest unsteadiness within the rotor hub passage with the first endwall design.

Effect of Clocking on the Second Stator Pressure Field of a One and a Half Stage Transonic Turbine

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Gadea ◽  
R. De´nos ◽  
G. Paniagua ◽  
N. Billiard ◽  
C. H. Sieverding
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Pressure Transducers ◽  
Static Pressure Distribution ◽  
Transonic Turbine

This paper focuses on the experimental investigation of the time-averaged and time-resolved pressure field of a second stator tested in a one and a half stage high-pressure transonic turbine. The effect of clocking and its influence on the aerodynamic and mechanical behaviour are investigated. The test program includes four different clocking positions, i.e. relative pitch-wise positions between the first and the second stator. Pneumatic probes located upstream and downstream of the second stator provide the time-averaged component of the pressure field. For the second stator airfoil, both time-averaged and time-resolved surface static pressure fields are measured at 15, 50 and 85% span with fast response pressure transducers. Regarding the time-averaged results, the effect of clocking is mostly observed in the leading edge region of the second stator, the largest effects being observed at 15% span. The surface static pressure distribution is changed locally, which is likely to affect the overall performance of the airfoil. The phase-locked averaging technique allows to process the time-resolved component of the data. The pressure fluctuations are attributed to the passage of pressure gradients linked to the traversing of the upstream rotor. The pattern of these fluctuations changes noticeably as a function of clocking. Finally, the time-resolved pressure distribution is integrated along the second stator surface to determine the unsteady forces applied on the vane. The magnitude of the unsteady force is very dependent on the clocking position.

Turbine Blade Platform Film Cooling With Simulated Swirl Purge Flow and Slashface Leakage Conditions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew F. Chen ◽  
Chao-Cheng Shiau ◽  
Je-Chin Han
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Cooling Effectiveness ◽  
Film Cooling Effectiveness ◽  
Purge Flow ◽  
Endwall Film Cooling ◽  
Film Cooling Holes

The combined effects of inlet purge flow and the slashface leakage flow on the film cooling effectiveness of a turbine blade platform were studied using the pressure sensitive paint (PSP) technique. Detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions on the endwall were obtained and analyzed. The inlet purge flow was generated by a row of equally-spaced cylindrical injection holes inside a single-tooth generic stator-rotor seal. In addition to the traditional 90 degree (radial outward) injection for the inlet purge flow, injection at a 45 degree angle was adopted to create a circumferential/azimuthal velocity component toward the suction side of the blades, which created a swirl ratio (SR) of 0.6. Discrete cylindrical film cooling holes were arranged to achieve an improved coverage on the endwall. Backward injection was attempted by placing backward injection holes near the pressure side leading edge portion. Slashface leakage flow was simulated by equally-spaced cylindrical injection holes inside a slot. Experiments were done in a five-blade linear cascade with an average turbulence intensity of 10.5%. The inlet and exit Mach numbers were 0.26 and 0.43, respectively. The inlet and exit mainstream Reynolds numbers based on the axial chord length of the blade were 475,000 and 720,000, respectively. The coolant-to-mainstream mass flow ratios (MFR) were varied from 0.5%, 0.75%, to 1% for the inlet purge flow. For the endwall film cooling holes and slashface leakage flow, blowing ratios (M) of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 were examined. Coolant-to-mainstream density ratios (DR) that range from 1.0 (close to low temperature experiments) to 1.5 (intermediate DR) and 2.0 (close to engine conditions) were also examined. The results provide the gas turbine engine designers a better insight into improved film cooling hole configurations as well as various parametric effects on endwall film cooling when the inlet (swirl) purge flow and slashface leakage flow were incorporated.

Film Cooling Jet Injection Effect in Heat Transfer Coefficient Augmentation for the Pressure Side Cooling of Turbine Vane

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hossein Nadali Najafabadi ◽  
Matts Karlsson ◽  
Mats Kinell ◽  
Esa Utriainen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Density Ratio ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Turbine Vane

Improving film cooling performance of turbine vanes and blades is often achieved through application of multiple arrays of cooling holes on the suction side, the showerhead region and the pressure side. This study investigates the pressure side cooling under the influence of single and multiple rows of cooling in the presence of a showerhead from a heat transfer coefficient augmentation perspective. Experiments are conducted on a prototype turbine vane working at engine representative conditions. Transient IR thermography is used to measure time-resolved surface temperature and the semi-infinite method is utilized to calculate the heat transfer coefficient on a low conductive material. Investigations are performed for cylindrical and fan-shaped holes covering blowing ratio 0.6 and 1.8 at density ratio of about unity. The freestream turbulence is approximately 5% close to the leading edge. The resulting heat transfer coefficient enhancement, the ratio of HTC with to that without film cooling, from different case scenarios have been compared to showerhead cooling only. Findings of the study highlight the importance of showerhead cooling to be used with additional row of cooling on the pressure side in order to reduce heat transfer coefficient enhancement. In addition, it is shown that extra rows of cooling will not significantly influence heat transfer augmentation, regardless of the cooling hole shape.

Flow Physics and Profiling of Recessed Blade Tips: Impact on Performance and Heat Load

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Mischo ◽  
Thomas Behr ◽  
Reza S. Abhari
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Improved Design

In axial turbine the tip clearance flow occurring in rotor blade rows is responsible for about one third of the aerodynamic losses in the blade row and in many cases is the limiting factor for the blade lifetime. The tip leakage vortex forms when the leaking fluid crosses the gap between the rotor blade tip and the casing from pressure to suction side and rolls up into a vortex on the blade suction side. The flow through the tip gap is both of high velocity and high temperature, with the heat transfer to the blade from the hot fluid being very high in the blade tip area. In order to avoid blade tip burnout and a failure of the machine, blade tip cooling is commonly used. This paper presents the physical study and an improved design of a recessed blade tip for a highly loaded axial turbine rotor blade with application in high pressure axial turbines in aero engine or power generation. With use of three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the flow field near the tip of the blade for different shapes of the recess cavities is investigated. Through better understanding and control of cavity vortical structures, an improved design is presented and the differences to the generic flat tip blade are highlighted. It is observed that by an appropriate profiling of the recess shape, the total tip heat transfer Nusselt Number was significantly reduced, being 15% lower than the flat tip and 7% lower than the baseline recess shape. Experimental results also showed an overall improvement of 0.2% in the one-and-1/2-stage turbine total efficiency with the improved recess design compared to the flat tip case. The CFD analysis conducted on single rotor row configurations predicted a 0.38% total efficiency increase for the rotor equipped with the new recess design compared to the flat tip rotor.

scholarly journals Reconstructing Compressor Non-Uniform Circumferential Flow Field From Spatially Undersampled Data: Part 2 — Practical Application for Experiments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangyuan Lou ◽  
Douglas R. Matthews ◽  
Nicholas J. Kormanik ◽  
Nicole L. Key
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Pressure Profile ◽  
Sampled Data ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Novel Method

Abstract In the previous part of the paper, a novel method to reconstruct the compressor non-uniform circumferential flow field using spatially under-sampled data points is developed. In this part of the paper, the method is applied to two compressor research articles to further demonstrate the potential of the novel method in resolving the important flow features associated with these circumferential non-uniformities. In the first experiment, the static pressure field at the leading edge of a vaned diffuser in a high-speed centrifugal compressor is reconstructed using pressure readings from nine static pressure taps placed on the hub of the diffuser. The magnitude and phase information for the first three dominant wavelets are characterized. Additionally, the method shows significant advantages over the traditional averaging methods for calculating repeatable mean values of the static pressure. While using the multi-wavelet approximation method, the errors in the mean static pressure with one dropout measurement are 70% less than the pitchwise-averaging method. In the second experiment, the full-annulus total pressure field downstream of Stator 2 in a three-stage axial compressor is reconstructed from a small segment of data representing 20% coverage of the annulus. Results show very good agreement between the reconstructed total pressure profile and the experiment at a variety of spanwise locations from near hub to near shroud. The features associated with blade-row interactions accounting for passage-to-passage variations are resolved in the reconstructed total pressure profile.

On the effects of vertical offset and core structure in streamwise-oriented vortex–wing interactions

2016 ◽  
Vol 799 ◽  
pp. 128-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Barnes ◽  
M. R. Visbal ◽  
P. G. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Flow Structure ◽  
Hydrodynamic Instability ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Streamwise Vortex ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Linear Stability Theory ◽  
Vertical Position ◽  
Pressure Gradients

This article explores the three-dimensional flow structure of a streamwise-oriented vortex incident on a finite aspect-ratio wing. The vertical positioning of the incident vortex relative to the wing is shown to have a significant impact on the unsteady flow structure. A direct impingement of the streamwise vortex produces a spiralling instability in the vortex just upstream of the leading edge, reminiscent of the helical instability modes of a Batchelor vortex. A small negative vertical offset develops a more pronounced instability while a positive vertical offset removes the instability altogether. These differences in vertical position are a consequence of the upstream influence of pressure gradients provided by the wing. Direct impingement or a negative vertical offset subject the vortex to an adverse pressure gradient that leads to a reduced axial velocity and diminished swirl conducive to hydrodynamic instability. Conversely, a positive vertical offset removes instability by placing the streamwise vortex in line with a favourable pressure gradient, thereby enhancing swirl and inhibiting the growth of unstable modes. In every case, the helical instability only occurs when the properties of the incident vortex fall within the instability threshold predicted by linear stability theory. The influence of pressure gradients associated with separation and stall downstream also have the potential to introduce suction-side instabilities for a positive vertical offset. The influence of the wing is more severe for larger vortices and diminishes with vortex size due to weaker interaction and increased viscous stability. Helical instability is not the only possible outcome in a direct impingement. Jet-like vortices and a higher swirl ratio in wake-like vortices can retain stability upon impact, resulting in the laminar vortex splitting over either side of the wing.

Flow Physics and Profiling of Recessed Blade Tips: Impact on Performance and Heat Load

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Mischo ◽  
Thomas Behr ◽  
Reza S. Abhari
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Total Efficiency ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Improved Design

In axial turbine, the tip clearance flow occurring in rotor blade rows is responsible for about one-third of the aerodynamic losses in the blade row and in many cases is the limiting factor for the blade lifetime. The tip leakage vortex forms when the leaking fluid crosses the gap between the rotor blade tip and the casing from pressure to suction side and rolls up into a vortex on the blade suction side. The flow through the tip gap is both of high velocity and of high temperature, with the heat transfer to the blade from the hot fluid being very high in the blade tip area. In order to avoid blade tip burnout and a failure of the machine, blade tip cooling is commonly used. This paper presents the physical study and an improved design of a recessed blade tip for a highly loaded axial turbine rotor blade with application in high pressure axial turbines in aero engine or power generation. With use of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the flow field near the tip of the blade for different shapes of the recess cavities is investigated. Through better understanding and control of cavity vortical structures, an improved design is presented and its differences from the generic flat tip blade are highlighted. It is observed that by an appropriate profiling of the recess shape, the total tip heat transfer Nusselt number was significantly reduced, being 15% lower than the flat tip and 7% lower than the base line recess shape. Experimental results also showed an overall improvement of 0.2% in the one-and-a-half-stage turbine total efficiency with the improved recess design compared to the flat tip case. The CFD analysis conducted on single rotor row configurations predicted a 0.38% total efficiency increase for the rotor equipped with the new recess design compared to the flat tip rotor.

Measured Endwall Flow and Passage Heat Transfer in a Linear Blade Passage With Endwall and Leading Edge Modifications

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gazi I. Mahmood ◽  
Sumanta Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Static Pressure ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Blade Surface ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Throat Region ◽  
Nusselt Numbers

The role of contouring via leading edge fillets or 3-dimensional end wall contouring is examined and compared. The contour endwall profile varies along both the pitch-direction and the axial direction and represents full-passage contouring. The fillets are employed at the corner of blade leading edge and endwall and extend about one-third of the blade axial chord along the blade. Both the endwall contouring and leading edge fillet are employed at the passage bottom endwall. Measurements are obtained for static pressure, pitchwise velocity, flow yaw angle, streamwise vorticity, and Nusselt number on the endwall. The Reynolds number based on the axial chord and passage inlet velocity for the measurements is 2.39×105. The blade surface static pressure coefficients near the endwall indicate no effects of the leading fillet on the blade surface. However, the static pressure difference from the blade-pressure to the blade-suction surface near the endwall shows that the pressure differences generally decrease with the contour endwall and leading edge fillet. This results in less turning of the endwall region flow from the pressure side to suction side in the passage as indicated by reductions in the flow yaw angles and pitchwise velocity with the structural modifications. The streamwise vorticity of the passage vortex is also affected indicating weaker secondary flows in the endwall region for the contour endwall and leading edge fillet cases. The endwall Nusselt numbers are smaller especially upstream of the throat region for the contour endwall and fillet cases.

scholarly journals Effect of purge air on rotor endwall heat transfer of an axial turbine

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. F29ZWY ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastiano Lazzi Gazzini ◽  
Rainer Schädler ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
Reza S. Abhari ◽  
Sebastian Hohenstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Wall Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Local Heat ◽  
Heat Fluxes ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Adiabatic Wall ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Purge Flow

AbstractIn order to gain in cycle efficiency, turbine inlet temperatures tend to rise, posing the challenge for designers to cool components more effectively. Purge flow injection through the rim seal is regularly used in gas turbines to limit the ingestion of hot air in the cavities and prevent overheating of the disks and shaft bearings. The interaction of the purge air with the main flow and the static pressure field of the blade rows results in a non-homogenous distribution of coolant on the passage endwall which poses questions on its effect on endwall heat transfer. A novel measurement technique based on infrared thermography has been applied in the rotating axial turbine research facility LISA of the Laboratory for Energy Conversion (LEC) of ETH Zürich. A 1.5 stage configuration with fully three-dimensional airfoils and endwall contouring is integrated in the facility. The effect of different purge air mass flow rates on the distribution of the heat transfer quantities has been observed for the rated operating condition of the turbine. Two-dimensional distributions of Nusselt number and adiabatic wall temperature show that the purge flow affects local heat loads. It does so by acting on the adiabatic wall temperature on the suction side of the passage until 30% of the axial extent of the rotor endwall. This suggests the possibility of effectively employing purge air also as rotor platform coolant in this specific region. The strengthening of the secondary flows due to purge air injection is observed, but plays a negligible role in varying local heat fluxes. For one test case, experimental data is compared to high-fidelity, unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations performed on a model of the full 1.5 stage configuration.

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