Effect of Roughness and Unsteadiness on the Performance of a New LPT Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

Author(s):  
Francesco Montomoli ◽  
Howard Hodson ◽  
Frank Haselbach

This paper presents a study of the performance of a high lift profile for low pressure turbines at Reynolds numbers lower than in previous investigations. The separate and combined effects of roughness and wake passing are compared. The effect of incidence on cascade losses is also evaluated. The experimental investigation was carried out in the high speed wind tunnel of Whittle Laboratory, University of Cambridge. This is a closed circuit, continuous wind tunnel where the Reynolds number and Mach number can be fixed independently. The unsteadiness caused by wake passing in front of the blades is reproduced using a wake generator with rotating bars. The results obtained confirm that the beneficial effect of unsteadiness on losses is also present at the lowest Reynolds number examined (Re3 = 0.2×105). Roughening the surface also had a beneficial effect on the losses but this effect vanishes at the lower Reynolds numbers, i.e. (Re3 ≤ 0.3×105), where the surface becomes hydraulically smooth. The present study suggests that a blade with as-cast surface roughness has a lower loss than a polished one.

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Montomoli ◽  
Howard Hodson ◽  
Frank Haselbach

This paper presents a study of the performance of a high-lift profile for low pressure turbines at Reynolds numbers lower than in previous investigations. By following the results of Coull et al. (2008, “Velocity Distributions for Low Pressure Turbines,” ASME Paper No. GT2008-50589) on the design of high-lift airfoils, the profile is forward loaded. The separate and combined effects of roughness and wake passing are compared. On a front loaded blade, the effect of incidence becomes more important and the consequences in terms of cascade losses, is evaluated. The experimental investigation was carried out in the high speed wind tunnel of Whittle Laboratory, University of Cambridge. This is a closed-circuit continuous wind tunnel where the Reynolds number and Mach number can be fixed independently. The unsteadiness caused by wake passing in front of the blades is reproduced using a wake generator with rotating bars. The results confirm that the beneficial effect of unsteadiness on losses is present even at the lowest Reynolds number examined (Re3=20,000). This beneficial effect is reduced at positive incidence. With a front loaded airfoil and positive incidence, the transition occurs on the suction side close to the leading edge and this results in higher losses. This has been found valid for the entire Reynolds range investigated (20,000≤Re3≤140,000). Roughening the surface also had a beneficial effect on the losses but this effect vanishes at the lower Reynolds numbers, i.e., (Re3≤30,000), where the surface becomes hydraulically smooth. The present study suggests that a blade with as-cast surface roughness has a lower loss than a polished one.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vera ◽  
Xue Feng Zhang ◽  
Howard Hodson ◽  
Neil Harvey

This paper presents the second part of an investigation of the combined effects of unsteadiness and surface roughness on an aft-loaded ultra-high-lift low-pressure turbine (LPT) profile at low Reynolds numbers. The investigation has been performed using low- and high-speed cascade facilities. The low- and high-speed profiles have been designed to have the same normalized isentropic Mach number distribution. The low-speed results have been presented in the first part (Zhang, Vera, Hodson, and Harvey, 2006, ASME J. Turbomach., 128, pp. 517–527). The current paper examines the effect of different surface finishes on an aft-loaded ultra-high-lift LPT profile at Mach and Reynolds numbers representative of LPT engine conditions. The surface roughness values are presented along with the profile losses under steady and unsteady inflow conditions. The results show that the use of a rough surface finish can be used to reduce the profile loss. In addition, the results show that the same quantitative values of losses are obtained at high- and low-speed flow conditions. The latter proves the validity of the low-speed approach for ultra-high-lift profiles for the case of an exit Mach number of the order of 0.64. Hot-wire measurements were carried out to explain the effect of the surface finish on the wake-induced transition mechanism.


1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taeyoung Han ◽  
V. C. Patel

Surface streamline patterns on a spheroid have been examined at several angles of attack. Most of the tests were performed at low Reynolds numbers in a hydraulic flume using coloured dye to make the surface flow visible. A limited number of experiments was also carried out in a wind tunnel, using wool tufts, to study the influence of Reynolds number and turbulent separation. The study has verified some of the important qualitative features of three-dimensional separation criteria proposed earlier by Maskell, Wang and others. The observed locations of laminar separation lines on a spheroid at various incidences have been compared with the numerical solutions of Wang and show qualitative agreement. The quantitative differences are attributed largely to the significant viscous-inviscid flow interaction which is present, especially at large incidences.


Author(s):  
Maria Vera ◽  
Xue Feng Zhang ◽  
Howard Hodson ◽  
Neil Harvey

This paper presents the second part of an investigation of the combined effects of unsteadiness and surface roughness on an aft-loaded ultra high lift low pressure turbine (LPT) profile at low Reynolds numbers. The investigation has been performed using low-speed and high-speed cascade facilities. The low speed and the high speed profiles have been designed to have the same normalized isentropic Mach number distribution. The low speed results have been presented in Part 1 of this paper. The current paper examines the effect of different surface finishes on an aft-loaded ultra-high-lift LPT profile at Mach and Reynolds numbers representative of LPT engine conditions. The surface roughness values are presented along with the profile losses under steady and unsteady inflow conditions. The results show that the use of a rough surface finish might reduce the profile loss. In addition, the results show that the same quantitative values of losses are obtained at high and low speed flow conditions. The latter proves the validity of the low speed approach for ultra high lift profiles for the case of an exit Mach number of the order of 0.64. Hot wire measurements were carried out to explain the effect of the surface finish on the wake induced transition mechanism.


Author(s):  
LS Roberts ◽  
MV Finnis ◽  
K Knowles

The transition-sensitive, three-equation k- kL- ω eddy-viscosity closure model was used for simulations of three-dimensional, single-element and multi-element wing configurations operating in close proximity to the ground. The aim of the study was to understand whether the model correctly simulated the transitional phenomena that occurred in the low Reynolds number operating conditions and whether it offered an improvement over the classical fully turbulent k-ω shear stress transport model. This was accomplished by comparing the simulation results to experiments conducted in a 2.7 m × 1.7 m closed-return, three-quarter-open-jet wind tunnel. The model was capable of capturing the presence of a laminar separation bubble on the wing and predicted sectional forces and surface-flow structures generated by the wings in wind tunnel testing to within 2.5% in downforce and 4.1% in drag for a multi-element wing. It was found, however, that the model produced insufficient turbulent kinetic energy during shear-layer reattachment, predicted turbulent trailing-edge separation prematurely in areas of large adverse pressure gradients, and was found to be very sensitive to inlet turbulence quantities. Despite these deficiencies, the model gave results that were much closer to wind-tunnel tests than those given by the fully turbulent k-ω shear stress transport model, which tended to underestimate downforce. Significant differences between the transitional and fully turbulent models in terms of pressure field, wake thickness and turbulent kinetic energy production were found and highlighted the importance of using transitional models for wings operating at low Reynolds numbers in ground effect. The k- kL- ω model has been shown to be appropriate for the simulation of separation-induced transition on a three-dimensional wing operating in ground effect at low Reynolds number.


Author(s):  
M. P. Mihelish ◽  
F. E. Ames

Engine companies typically emphasize research which has been conducted at conditions as close to engine conditions as possible. This focus on engine relevant conditions often causes difficulties in University research laboratories. One particularly difficult testing regime is high speed but low Reynolds number flows. High speed low Reynolds number flows can occur in both low pressure turbines under a normal range of engine operating conditions and in high pressure turbines run at very high altitudes. This paper documents a new steady state closed loop wind tunnel facility which has been developed to study high speed cascade flows at low Reynolds numbers. The initial test configuration has been representative of a first stage vane configuration for a UAV turbofan which flies at a very high altitude. The initial test section was configured in a three full passage four-vane linear cascade arrangement with upper and lower bleed flows. Both heat transfer and aerodynamics loss measurements were acquired and are presented in this paper. Heat transfer measurements were taken at a Reynolds number of 720,000 based on true chord and exit conditions at Mach numbers of 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9. Exit survey measurements were conducted at a chord exit Reynolds number of 720,000 over a similar range in Mach numbers. However, this facility has the capability to run at chord Reynolds numbers of 90,000 or below in the present configuration which uses an approximately three times scale test vane.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bolló

Abstract The two-dimensional flow around a stationary heated circular cylinder at low Reynolds numbers of 50 < Re < 210 is investigated numerically using the FLUENT commercial software package. The dimensionless vortex shedding frequency (St) reduces with increasing temperature at a given Reynolds number. The effective temperature concept was used and St-Re data were successfully transformed to the St-Reeff curve. Comparisons include root-mean-square values of the lift coefficient and Nusselt number. The results agree well with available data in the literature.


Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Emanuel A. R. Camacho ◽  
Fernando M. S. P. Neves ◽  
André R. R. Silva ◽  
Jorge M. M. Barata

Natural flight has consistently been the wellspring of many creative minds, yet recreating the propulsive systems of natural flyers is quite hard and challenging. Regarding propulsive systems design, biomimetics offers a wide variety of solutions that can be applied at low Reynolds numbers, achieving high performance and maneuverability systems. The main goal of the current work is to computationally investigate the thrust-power intricacies while operating at different Reynolds numbers, reduced frequencies, nondimensional amplitudes, and mean angles of attack of the oscillatory motion of a NACA0012 airfoil. Simulations are performed utilizing a RANS (Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes) approach for a Reynolds number between 8.5×103 and 3.4×104, reduced frequencies within 1 and 5, and Strouhal numbers from 0.1 to 0.4. The influence of the mean angle-of-attack is also studied in the range of 0∘ to 10∘. The outcomes show ideal operational conditions for the diverse Reynolds numbers, and results regarding thrust-power correlations and the influence of the mean angle-of-attack on the aerodynamic coefficients and the propulsive efficiency are widely explored.


2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-454
Author(s):  
G. N. Bogomazova ◽  
M. A. Golovkin ◽  
A. A. Efremov ◽  
O. V. Pavlenko

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