A Design Methodology for Radial Turbomachinery: Application to Turbines and Compressors

Author(s):  
Carlo Cravero

Different design/analysis tools are combined in an automatic procedure for the design of radial turbomachinery. The algorithms developed have different complexity levels ranging from the meanline one-dimensional design tool to the fully three-dimensional Navier-Stokes based analysis. Each code gives complementary information to the designer. The codes have been written and developed by the author at DIMSET. The design procedure is developed for both radial compressors and turbines and it is proposed for the dimensioning of rotating machinery for microgasturbine power plants.

Author(s):  
Carlo Cravero ◽  
Martino Marini ◽  
Antonio Satta

An automatic software procedure, previously developed by the authors, is used for the design of a radial inflow turbine for microgasturbine applications. The procedure is formed by algorithms of different complexity levels ranging from the meanline one-dimensional design tool to the fully three-dimensional Navier-Stokes based analysis. Each code gives complementary information to the designer. The codes have been written and developed by the authors at DIMSET. The present application demonstrate the use of the above procedure and allows for a critical analysis of the tools involved.


2003 ◽  
pp. 55-82
Author(s):  
M. Despotovic ◽  
Milun Babic ◽  
D. Milovanovic ◽  
Vanja Sustersic

This paper describes a three-dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes code, which has been developed for analysis of turbocompressor blade rows and other internal flows. Despite numerous numerical techniques and statement that Computational Fluid Dynamics has reached state of the art, issues related to successful simulations represent valuable database of how particular tech?nique behave for a specifie problem. This paper deals with rapid numerical method accurate enough to be used as a design tool. The mathematical model is based on System of Favre averaged Navier-Stokes equations that are written in relative frame of reference, which rotates with constant angular velocity around axis of rotation. The governing equations are solved using finite vol?ume method applied on structured grids. The numerical procedure is based on the explicit multistage Runge-Kutta scheme that is coupled with modem numerical procedures for convergence acceleration. To demonstrate the accuracy of the described numer?ical method developed software is applied to numerical analysis of flow through impeller of axial turbocompressor, and obtained results are compared with available experimental data.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Rhie ◽  
A. J. Gleixner ◽  
D. A. Spear ◽  
C. J. Fischberg ◽  
R. M. Zacharias

A multistage compressor performance analysis method based on the three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations is presented in this paper. This method is an average passage approach where deterministic stresses are used to ensure continuous physical properties across interface planes. The average unsteady effects due to neighboring blades and/or vanes are approximated using deterministic stresses along with the application of bodyforces. Bodyforces are used to account for the “potential” interaction between closely coupled (staged) rows. Deterministic stresses account for the “average” wake blockage and mixing effects both axially and radially. The attempt here is to implement an approximate technique for incorporating periodic unsteady flow physics that provides for a robust multistage design procedure incorporating reasonable computational efficiency. The present paper gives the theoretical development of the stress/bodyforce models incorporated in the code, and demonstrates the usefulness of these models in practical compressor applications. Compressor performance prediction capability is then established through a rigorous code/model validation effort using the power of networked workstations. The numerical results are compared with experimental data in terms of one-dimensional performance parameters such as total pressure ratio and circumferentially averaged radial profiles deemed critical to compressor design. This methodology allows the designer to design from hub to tip with a high level of confidence in the procedure.


Author(s):  
Ghislaine Ngo Boum ◽  
Rodolfo Bontempo ◽  
Isabelle Trébinjac

High accuracy simulation of compressor surge origin and growth is an important challenge for designers of systems using compressors likely to develop that severe instability. Indeed, understanding its driving phenomena, which can be system dependent, is necessary to build an adequate strategy to avoid or control surge emergence. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, commonly used to explore flow in the compressor, need then to be extended beyond the compressor as surge is a system scale instability. To get an insight on the path to surge and through surge cycles, a reliable alternative to full three-dimensional (3D) system modeling is used for a turbocharger compressor inserted in an experimental test rig. The air flow in the whole circuit, is modeled with a one-dimensional (1D) Navier Stokes approach which is coupled with a 3D unsteady RANS modeling of the 360 deg air flow in the centrifugal compressor including the volute. Starting from an initial stable flow solution in the system, the back-pressure valve is progressively closed to reduce the massflow and trigger the instability. An entire deep surge loop is simulated and compared with good agreement with the experimental data. The existence of a system-induced convective wave is revealed, and its major role on surge inception at diffuser inlet demonstrated.


Author(s):  
M. Pau ◽  
F. Cambuli ◽  
N. Mandas

Three dimensional steady multistage calculations, using mixing plane approach, are presented for two different blade geometries in a two stage axial test turbine with shrouded blades. A 3D multiblock Navier-Stokes finite volume solver (TBLOCK) has been used in all the simulations. In order to study shroud leakage flow effects the whole shroud cavity geometry has been modeled, overcoming most of the limitations of simple shroud leakage model in calculating fluid flow over complex geometries. Numerical investigations are mainly focused on assessing the ability of the solver to be used as multistage design tool for modeling leakage-mainstream flow interaction. Several calculations are compared. The first computes the main blade flow path with no modeling of the shroud cavities. The second includes the modeling of the shroud cavities for a zero leakage mass flow rate. Finally a multiblock calculation which models all the leakage flow paths and shroud cavities has been carried out for two different levels of shroud seal clearance. It is found that neglecting shroud leakage significantly alters the computed velocity profiles and loss distributions, for both the computed blade geometries. A numerically predicted shroud leakage offset loss is presented for the two considered blade geometries, focusing on the relative importance of the leakage flow, re-entry mixing losses, and inlet and exit shroud cavity effect. Results demonstrates that full calculation of leakage flow paths and cavities is required to obtain reliable results, indicating the different effects of the leakage-to-mainstream flow interaction on the blade geometries computed. Despite a slight increase in the computational time, multiblock approach in handling leakage flow problem can now-days be used as a practical tool in the blade design process and routine shroud leakage calculations.


Author(s):  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Stefano Cecchi ◽  
Federico Dacca`

A three-dimensional, multistage, Navier-Stokes solver is applied to the numerical investigation of a four stage low-pressure steam turbine. The thermodynamic behavior of the wet steam is reproduced by adopting a real-gas model, based on the use of gas property tables. Geometrical features and flow-path details consistent with the actual turbine geometry, such as cavity purge flows, shroud leakage flows and partspan snubbers, are accounted for, and their impact on the turbine performance is discussed. These details are included in the analysis using simple models, which prevent a considerable growth of the computational cost and make the overall procedure attractive as a design tool for industrial purposes. Shroud leakage flows are modeled by means of suitable endwall boundary conditions, based on coupled sources and sinks, while body forces are applied to simulate the presence of the damping wires on the blades. In this work a detailed description of these models is provided, and the results of computations are compared with experimental measurements.


2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 268-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Boncinelli ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Massimiliano Cecconi ◽  
Carlo Cortese

A numerical model was included in a three-dimensional viscous solver to account for real gas effects in the compressible Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. The behavior of real gases is reproduced by using gas property tables. The method consists of a local fitting of gas data to provide the thermodynamic property required by the solver in each solution step. This approach presents several characteristics which make it attractive as a design tool for industrial applications. First of all, the implementation of the method in the solver is simple and straightforward, since it does not require relevant changes in the solver structure. Moreover, it is based on a low-computational-cost algorithm, which prevents a considerable increase in the overall computational time. Finally, the approach is completely general, since it allows one to handle any type of gas, gas mixture or steam over a wide operative range. In this work a detailed description of the model is provided. In addition, some examples are presented in which the model is applied to the thermo-fluid-dynamic analysis of industrial turbomachines.


Author(s):  
M. Eck ◽  
W.-D. Steinmann

The direct steam generation (DSG) is an attractive option regarding the economic improvement of parabolic trough technology for solar thermal electricity generation in the multi megawatt range. According to [1] and [2] a 10% reduction of the LEC is expected compared to conventional SEGS like parabolic trough power plants. The European DISS project has proven the feasibility of the DSG process under real solar conditions at pressures up to 100 bar and temperatures up to 400°C in more than 4000 operation hours [3]. In a next step the detailed engineering for a pre-commercial DSG solar thermal power plant will be performed. This detailed engineering of the collector field requires the consideration of the occurring thermohydraulic phenomena and their influence on the stability of the absorber tubes. A design tool has been developed at DLR calculating all relevant process parameters including pressure drop, temperature field and stress in the absorber tubes. The models implemented in this design tool have been validated in detail at the DISS test facility under real DSG conditions for pressures between 30 and 100 bar and inner diameters between 50 and 85 mm. The models have been implemented into a MATLAB® program to allow for a first quick determination of critical process conditions. Once critical process conditions have been identified the FEM package ANSYS® is used for a detailed investigation. This article summarises the models used and shows the design procedure for a DSG collector field. The design program has proven to be a reliable tool for the detailed design of DSG collector fields.


Author(s):  
Chae M. Rhie ◽  
Aaron J. Gleixner ◽  
David A. Spear ◽  
Craig J. Fischberg ◽  
Robert M. Zacharias

A novel multistage compressor performance analysis method based on the three-dimensional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations is presented in this paper. This approach is a “continuous interface plane approach” where deterministic stresses are used to ensure continuous physical properties across interface planes. The average unsteady effects due to neighboring blades and/or vanes are approximated using deterministic stresses along with the application of bodyforces. Bodyforces are used to account for the “potential” interaction between closely coupled (staged) rows. Deterministic stresses account for the “average” wake blockage and mixing effects both axially and radially. The attempt here is to implement an approximate technique for incorporating periodic unsteady flow physics that provides for a robust multistage design procedure incorporating reasonable computational efficiency. The present paper gives the theoretical development of the stress/bodyforce models incorporated in the code, and demonstrates the usefulness of these models in practical compressor applications. Compressor performance prediction capability is then established through a rigorous code/model validation effort using the power of networked workstations. The numerical results are compared with experimental data in terms of one-dimensional performance parameters such as total pressure ratio and circumferentially averaged radial profiles deemed critical to compressor design. This methodology allows the designer to design from hub to tip with a high level of confidence in the procedure.


1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuichi Arakawa ◽  
Yi Qian ◽  
Takashi Kubota

A three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code with pseudo-compressibility, an implicit formulation of finite difference, and a k – ε two-equation turbulence model has been developed for the Francis hydraulic runner. The viscous flow in the rotating field can be simulated well in the design flow operating condition as well as in the off-design conditions in which a strong vortex occurs due to the separation near the leading edge. Because the code employs an implicit algorithm and a wall function near the wall, it does not require a large CPU time. It can therefore be used on a small computer such as the desk-top workstation, and is available for use as a design tool. The same kind of algorithm that is used for compressible flows has been found to be appropriate for the simulation of complex incompressible flows in the field of turbomachinery.


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