The Impact of Rotor Inlet Cavity Volume and Length Scale on Efficiency
The interaction between the cavity and the main flows accounts for a considerable amount of the overall aerodynamic losses in axial turbomachinery. Experimental work supplemented by a computational analysis is presented in this paper on the impact of rotor inlet cavity volume and length scale on turbine stage efficiency. Inlet cavity volume and geometry have been systematically varied. The flow interactions occurring at the cavity inlet between the cavity and main flows and their subsequent impact on efficiency were studied. Five different configurations have been examined within this study. The radial cavity wall has been shortened by 13% and 25% compared to the initial cavity length. Cavity volume has been reduced by 14% and 28% respectively. An additional rounding introduced at the upper right corner of the cavity generated two more variations. Efficiency was increased by 1.1% and 1.6% for the 14% and 28% cavity volume reductions, respectively. The rounding introduced led only to efficiency deficits as the strengthening of the cavity vortex caused increased interaction at the cavity inlet area.