A Spectral Study of a Moderately Loaded LPT Airfoil: Part 2—Effects of Turbulence Intensity and Reynolds Number on Frequencies Affecting By-Pass Transition

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. S. Graveline ◽  
S. A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Spectral Study ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Spectral Measures ◽  
Single Wire ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wire Probe ◽  
Tollmien Schlichting

A single wire, hot-wire, probe is used to examine the airflow in, and in close vicinity to, the shearlayer of a Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) airfoil. The experiment was performed with varying turbulence intensities (Tu) and Reynolds numbers (ReBx); in this work, Re is based on the cascade inflow velocity and axial chord length. In part 1 of the present study [1], the methodology used to identify the key frequencies in the free shearlayer using a combination of statistical and spectral measures of the airflow was first discussed. Here, the focus is on the effects of ReBx and Tu on the spectral results. The frequencies and location in the shearlayer of the Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves and Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instabilities are shown to be affected by both Tu and ReBx. Additionally, the KH instabilities are shown to undergo pairing.

A Spectral Study of a Moderately Loaded LPT Airfoil: Part 1—Identifying Frequencies Affecting By-Pass Transition

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. S. Graveline ◽  
S. A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Boundary Layer Thickness ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Airflow Velocity ◽  
Single Wire ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wire Probe ◽  
Empirical Relations ◽  
Tollmien Schlichting

A single wire, hot-wire, probe is used to examine the airflow in, and in close vicinity to, the shearlayer of a Low-Pressure Turbine (LPT) airfoil. A spectral analysis of the data identifies two sets of wide peaks of turbulent kinetic energy, one near 200 Hz and a second near 1 kHz. A method is developed to identify these peaks based on a combination of empirical relations between the airflow velocity and boundary layer thickness and on the location of the frequency peaks relative to the state of the free shearlayer as it transitioned from laminar to turbulent. The method suggests the presence of Tollmien-Schlichting waves and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are shown to pair.

An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Freestream Turbulence on the Wake of a Separated Low-Pressure Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. Murawski ◽  
K. Vafai
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Flow Reynolds Number

An experimental study was conducted in a two-dimensional linear cascade, focusing on the suction surface of a low pressure turbine blade. Flow Reynolds numbers, based on exit velocity and suction length, have been varied from 50,000 to 300,000. The freestream turbulence intensity was varied from 1.1 to 8.1 percent. Separation was observed at all test Reynolds numbers. Increasing the flow Reynolds number, without changing freestream turbulence, resulted in a rearward movement of the onset of separation and shrinkage of the separation zone. Increasing the freestream turbulence intensity, without changing Reynolds number, resulted in shrinkage of the separation region on the suction surface. The influences on the blade’s wake from altering freestream turbulence and Reynolds number are also documented. It is shown that width of the wake and velocity defect rise with a decrease in either turbulence level or chord Reynolds number. [S0098-2202(00)00202-9]

Using Turbulence Intensity and Reynolds Number to Predict Flow Separation on a Highly Loaded, Low-Pressure Gas Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Van Treuren ◽  
Tyler Pharris ◽  
Olivia Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
High Altitudes ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

The low-pressure turbine has become more important in the last few decades because of the increased emphasis on higher overall pressure and bypass ratios. The desire is to increase blade loading to reduce blade counts and stages in the low-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine. Increased turbine inlet temperatures for newer cycles results in higher temperatures in the low-pressure turbine, especially the latter stages, where cooling technologies are not used. These higher temperatures lead to higher work from the turbine and this, combined with the high loadings, can lead to flow separation. Separation is more likely in engines operating at high altitudes and reduced throttle setting. At the high Reynolds numbers found at takeoff, the flow over a low-pressure turbine blade tends to stay attached. At lower blade Reynolds numbers (25,000 to 200,000), found during cruise at high altitudes, the flow on the suction surface of the low-pressure turbine blades is inclined to separate. This paper is a study on the flow characteristics of the L1A turbine blade at three low Reynolds numbers (60,000, 108,000, and 165,000) and 15 turbulence intensities (1.89% to 19.87%) in a steady flow cascade wind tunnel. With this data, it is possible to examine the impact of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity on the location of the initiation of flow separation, the flow separation zone, and the reattachment location. Quantifying the change in separated flow as a result of varying Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities will help to characterize the low momentum flow environments in which the low-pressure turbine must operate and how this might impact the operation of the engine. Based on the data presented, it is possible to predict the location and size of the separation as a function of both the Reynolds number and upstream freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI). Being able to predict this flow behavior can lead to more effective blade designs using either passive or active flow control to reduce or eliminate flow separation.

Large-Eddy Simulation of Flow in a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gorazd Medic ◽  
Om Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Subgrid Scale ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Subgrid Scale Model

Flow over three low-pressure turbine airfoils presented in [1] is analyzed for a range of Reynolds numbers (30,000 to 150,000) by means of large-eddy simulation. Baseline computational grid for these 2D linear cascade configurations consisted of 35 millions cells, and additional finer grids of 70 millions cells were used for grid sensitivity studies. For these low Reynolds number flows, this represents a quasi-DNS resolution which minimizes the role of the subgrid-scale model — however, WALE subgrid-scale model [7] was still employed. The configurations were analyzed for low free-stream turbulence intensity, as well as for 4% turbulence intensity at free-stream. Laminar separation exists on the suction side, and, depending on the Reynolds number, the flow at the outer edge of the separation either transitions, and the separation closes before the trailing edge, or not. Detailed comparisons to measurements are presented for computed surface pressure and total pressure losses over the range of Reynolds numbers for all three airfoils; these show that LES analyses are able to capture the main trends across all three geometries.

Analysis of Laminar-Turbulent Transition of a Low-Loss Generic Low Pressure Turbine Distribution

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Brück ◽  
Christoph Lyko ◽  
Dieter Peitsch ◽  
Christoph Bode ◽  
Jens Friedrichs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Wind Tunnel ◽  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Low Loss ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

The efficiency of modern Turbofan engines can be significantly increased by using a gearbox between compressor and turbine of the low pressure section. Rotational speed of the low pressure turbine (LPT) in a Geared Turbofan is much higher than in normal LPT’s which lead to necessary adjustments in blade design. This work has investigated the transition behavior of a modified profile geometry for low-loss at engine cruise conditions. Typical LPT conditions have thus been chosen as baseline for the experimental work. A pressure distribution has been created on a flat plate by means of contoured walls in a low speed wind tunnel. The paper will analyze the experimental results and show additionally the numerical predictions of the test case. The experimental part of this paper describe how the blade was Mach number scaled to obtain the geometry of the wind tunnel wall contour. The pressure distribution for the incompressible test case show a very good agreement to the compressible case. Boundary layer (BL) measurements with hot-wire-anemometry have been performed at high spatial resolution under a freestream turbulence of almost 8%. Different Reynolds numbers have been investigated and will be compared with special attention being paid to the transition on the suction side by contour plots (turbulence levels, turbulent intermittency) and integral BL parameters. It was found that the transition on the suction side is not completed for small Reynolds numbers but takes place at higher velocities. In the numerical part studies by means of steady RANS simulations with k-ω – SST turbulence model and γ-Reθ transition model have been conducted. The aim is to validate the RANS solver for the low-loss LPT application. Hence, comparison is made to the measured data and the transitional behavior of the BL. Furthermore, additional parameter variations have been conducted (turbulence intensity and Reynolds number). The numerical investigations show partially a good comparison for the BL development indicating the different transition modi with increasing Reynolds number and turbulence intensity.

Experimental Study of the Unsteady Aerodynamics in a Linear Cascade With Low Reynolds Number Low Pressure Turbine Blades

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Murawski ◽  
Rolf Sondergaard ◽  
Richard B. Rivir ◽  
Kambiz Vafai ◽  
Terrence W. Simon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Linear Cascade ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Flow Reynolds Number

Low pressure turbines in aircraft experience large changes in flow Reynolds number as the gas turbine engine operates from takeoff to high altitude cruise. Low pressure turbine blades are also subject to regions of strong acceleration and diffusion. These changes in Reynolds number, strong acceleration, as well as elevated levels of turbulence can result in unsteady separation and transition zones on the surface of the blade. An experimental study was conducted in a two-dimensional linear cascade, focusing on the suction surface of a low pressure turbine blade. The intent was to assess the effects of changes in Reynolds number, and freestream turbulence intensity. Flow Reynolds numbers, based on exit velocity and suction surface length, have been varied from 50,000 to 300,000. The freestream turbulence intensity was varied from 1.1 to 8.1 percent. Separation was observed at all test Reynolds numbers. Increasing the flow Reynolds number, without changing freestream turbulence, resulted in a slightly rearward movement of the onset of separation and shrinkage of the separation zone. Increasing the freestream turbulence intensity, without changing Reynolds number resulted in a shrinkage of the separation region on the suction surface. Increasing both flow Reynolds numbers and freestream turbulence intensity compounded these effects such that at a Reynolds number of 300,000 and a freestream turbulence intensity of 8.1%, the separation zone was almost nonexistent. The influences on the blade’s wake from altering freestream turbulence and Reynolds number are also documented. The width of the wake and velocity defect rise with a decrease in either turbulence level or chord Reynolds number. Numerical simulations were performed in support of experimental results. The numerical results compare well qualitatively with the low freestream turbulence experimental cases.

A Spectral Study of a Moderately Loaded Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil—Part I: Identifying Frequencies Affecting Bypass Transition

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. S. Graveline ◽  
S. A. Sjolander
Keyword(s):  
Shear Layer ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Free Shear Layer ◽  
Airflow Velocity ◽  
Single Wire ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wire Probe ◽  
Empirical Relations ◽  
Tollmien Schlichting

A single wire, hot-wire, probe is used to examine the airflow in, and in close vicinity to, the shear layer of a low-pressure turbine (LPT) airfoil. A spectral analysis of the data identifies two sets of wide peaks of turbulent kinetic energy, one near 200 Hz and a second near 1 kHz. A method is developed to identify these peaks based on a combination of empirical relations between the airflow velocity and boundary layer thickness and on the location of the frequency peaks relative to the state of the free shear layer as it transitioned from laminar to turbulent. The method suggests the presence of Tollmien–Schlichting waves and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities. The Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities are shown to pair.

scholarly journals Turbulence Intensity Modulation by Micropolar Fluids

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 195
Author(s):  
George Sofiadis ◽  
Ioannis Sarris
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Fluid Flows ◽  
Turbulent Channel Flow ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Intensity Modulation ◽  
Wall Turbulence ◽  
Volume Fractions ◽  
Physical Phenomena

Fluid microstructure nature has a direct effect on turbulence enhancement or attenuation. Certain classes of fluids, such as polymers, tend to reduce turbulence intensity, while others, like dense suspensions, present the opposite results. In this article, we take into consideration the micropolar class of fluids and investigate turbulence intensity modulation for three different Reynolds numbers, as well as different volume fractions of the micropolar density, in a turbulent channel flow. Our findings support that, for low micropolar volume fractions, turbulence presents a monotonic enhancement as the Reynolds number increases. However, on the other hand, for sufficiently high volume fractions, turbulence intensity drops, along with Reynolds number increment. This result is considered to be due to the effect of the micropolar force term on the flow, suppressing near-wall turbulence and enforcing turbulence activity to move further away from the wall. This is the first time that such an observation is made for the class of micropolar fluid flows, and can further assist our understanding of physical phenomena in the more general non-Newtonian flow regime.

The Effect of Pulsed Blowing on the Boundary Layer of a Highly Loaded Low Pressure Turbine Blade

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Mack ◽  
Roland Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Highly Loaded

The performance of the low pressure turbine (LPT) can vary appreciably, because this component operates under a wide range of Reynolds numbers. At higher Reynolds numbers, mid and aft loaded profiles have the advantage that transition of suction side boundary layer happens further downstream than at front loaded profiles, resulting in lower profile loss. At lower Reynolds numbers, aft loading of the blade can mean that if a suction side separation exists, it may remain open up to the trailing edge. This is especially the case when blade lift is increased via increased pitch to chord ratio. There is a trend in research towards exploring the effect of coupling boundary layer control with highly loaded turbine blades, in order to maximize performance over the full relevant Reynolds number range. In an earlier work, pulsed blowing with fluidic oscillators was shown to be effective in reducing the extent of the separated flow region and to significantly decrease the profile losses caused by separation over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. These experiments were carried out in the High-Speed Cascade Wind Tunnel of the German Federal Armed Forces University Munich, Germany, which allows to capture the effects of pulsed blowing at engine relevant conditions. The assumed control mechanism was the triggering of boundary layer transition by excitation of the Tollmien-Schlichting waves. The current work aims to gain further insight into the effects of pulsed blowing. It investigates the effect of a highly efficient configuration of pulsed blowing at a frequency of 9.5 kHz on the boundary layer at a Reynolds number of 70000 and exit Mach number of 0.6. The boundary layer profiles were measured at five positions between peak Mach number and the trailing edge with hot wire anemometry and pneumatic probes. Experiments were conducted with and without actuation under steady as well as periodically unsteady inflow conditions. The results show the development of the boundary layer and its interaction with incoming wakes. It is shown that pulsed blowing accelerates transition over the separation bubble and drastically reduces the boundary layer thickness.

Hot-wire spatial resolution issues in wall-bounded turbulence

2009 ◽  
Vol 635 ◽  
pp. 103-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. HUTCHINS ◽  
T. B. NICKELS ◽  
I. MARUSIC ◽  
M. S. CHONG
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Energy Spectra ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wire Length ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Near Wall

Careful reassessment of new and pre-existing data shows that recorded scatter in the hot-wire-measured near-wall peak in viscous-scaled streamwise turbulence intensity is due in large part to the simultaneous competing effects of the Reynolds number and viscous-scaled wire length l+. An empirical expression is given to account for these effects. These competing factors can explain much of the disparity in existing literature, in particular explaining how previous studies have incorrectly concluded that the inner-scaled near-wall peak is independent of the Reynolds number. We also investigate the appearance of the so-called outer peak in the broadband streamwise intensity, found by some researchers to occur within the log region of high-Reynolds-number boundary layers. We show that the ‘outer peak’ is consistent with the attenuation of small scales due to large l+. For turbulent boundary layers, in the absence of spatial resolution problems, there is no outer peak up to the Reynolds numbers investigated here (Reτ = 18830). Beyond these Reynolds numbers – and for internal geometries – the existence of such peaks remains open to debate. Fully mapped energy spectra, obtained with a range of l+, are used to demonstrate this phenomenon. We also establish the basis for a ‘maximum flow frequency’, a minimum time scale that the full experimental system must be capable of resolving, in order to ensure that the energetic scales are not attenuated. It is shown that where this criterion is not met (in this instance due to insufficient anemometer/probe response), an outer peak can be reproduced in the streamwise intensity even in the absence of spatial resolution problems. It is also shown that attenuation due to wire length can erode the region of the streamwise energy spectra in which we would normally expect to see kx−1 scaling. In doing so, we are able to rationalize much of the disparity in pre-existing literature over the kx−1 region of self-similarity. Not surprisingly, the attenuated spectra also indicate that Kolmogorov-scaled spectra are subject to substantial errors due to wire spatial resolution issues. These errors persist to wavelengths far beyond those which we might otherwise assume from simple isotropic assumptions of small-scale motions. The effects of hot-wire length-to-diameter ratio (l/d) are also briefly investigated. For the moderate wire Reynolds numbers investigated here, reducing l/d from 200 to 100 has a detrimental effect on measured turbulent fluctuations at a wide range of energetic scales, affecting both the broadband intensity and the energy spectra.

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