Numerical Investigation of Three-Dimensional Wet Steam Flows in an Exhaust Diffuser With Non-Uniform Inlet Flows From the Turbine Stages in a Steam Turbine

Author(s):  
Tadashi Tanuma ◽  
Yasuhiro Sasao ◽  
Satoru Yamamoto ◽  
Yoshiki Niizeki ◽  
Naoki Shibukawa ◽  
...  

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical evaluation method for the aerodynamic design and development of high-efficiency exhaust diffusers in steam turbines, as well as to present the comparison between the numerical results and measured data in an actual real scale development steam turbine. This paper presents numerical investigation of three-dimensional wet steam flows in a down-flow-type exhaust diffuser that has non-uniform inlet flows from a typical last turbine stage. This stage has long transonic blades designed using recent aerodynamic and mechanical design technologies, including superimposed leakages and blade wakes from several upstream low pressure turbine stages. The present numerical flow analysis showed detail three-dimensional flow structures considering circumferential flow distributions caused by the down-flow exhaust hood geometry and the swirl velocity component from the last stage blades, including flow separations in the exhaust diffuser. The results were compared with experimental data measured in an actual development steam turbine. Consequently, the proposed aerodynamic evaluation method was proved to be sufficiently accurate for steam turbine exhaust diffuser aerodynamic designs.

2014 ◽  
Vol 670-671 ◽  
pp. 769-773
Author(s):  
Hong Yao ◽  
Wan Long Han ◽  
Shi Ming Pan ◽  
Zhong Qi Wang

The water droplet erosion protection of the rotor blades has been an important issue for a long time, regardless of the design. The aim of this paper is to present a aerodynamic design method for decrease risk of water droplet erosion in wet steam turbine, as well as to present the comparison between then five diffrent bow stator blades. This paper also presents numerical investigation of three dimensional wet steam flows in a stage. This stage has long transonic blades designed using recent aerodynamic and mechanical design methods. The results show that, the one of the five diffrent bow stator blades decrease rist of water droplet erosion of rotaional blades, and the change of the efficiency is small.


Author(s):  
Kevin Cremanns ◽  
Dirk Roos ◽  
Arne Graßmann

In order to meet the requirements of rising energy demand, one goal in the design process of modern steam turbines is to achieve high efficiencies. A major gain in efficiency is expected from the optimization of the last stage and the subsequent diffuser of a low pressure turbine (LP). The aim of such optimization is to minimize the losses due to separations or inefficient blade or diffuser design. In the usual design process, as is state of the art in the industry, the last stage of the LP and the diffuser is designed and optimized sequentially. The potential physical coupling effects are not considered. Therefore the aim of this paper is to perform both a sequential and coupled optimization of a low pressure steam turbine followed by an axial radial diffuser and subsequently to compare results. In addition to the flow simulation, mechanical and modal analysis is also carried out in order to satisfy the constraints regarding the natural frequencies and stresses. This permits the use of a meta-model, which allows very time efficient three dimensional (3D) calculations to account for all flow field effects.


Author(s):  
Tadashi Tanuma ◽  
Yasuhiro Sasao ◽  
Satoru Yamamoto ◽  
Yoshiki Niizeki ◽  
Naoki Shibukawa ◽  
...  

The purpose of this paper is to present the methodology for high accurate aerodynamic numerical analysis and its design application of steam turbine down-flow type exhaust diffusers including their three dimensional flow interaction effects on last stage efficiencies. Down-flow type exhaust diffusers are used in large scale steam turbines from 200MW to 1400MW class units for power generation plants mainly. The axial length of typical 1000MW class large scale steam turbines is about 30–40m and its four low pressure (LP) down-flow type exhaust diffusers occupy a large amount of space. The axial lengths and diameters of these exhaust diffusers contribute significantly to the size, weight, cost, and efficiency of the turbine system. The aerodynamic loss of exhaust hoods is nearly the same as that of stator and rotor blading in LP steam turbines, and there remains scope for further enhancement of steam turbine efficiency by improving the design of LP exhaust hoods. In the design process of last stages, the average static pressure in the last stage exit is introduced accurately using numerical analysis and experimental data of model steam turbines and model diffusers. However the radial and circumferential unsteady aerodynamic interaction effects between last stages and their exhaust diffusers are still need to be investigated to increase the accuracy of the interaction effect on the last stage efficiencies. This paper presents numerical investigation of three dimensional wet steam flows including three dimensional flow interaction effects on last stage efficiencies in a down-flow type exhaust diffuser with non-uniform inlet flow from a typical last stage with long transonic blades designed with recent aerodynamic and mechanical design technology.


Author(s):  
Satoshi Miyake ◽  
Hironori Miyazawa ◽  
Satoru Yamamoto ◽  
Yasuhiro Sasao ◽  
Kazuhiro Momma ◽  
...  

Unsteady three-dimensional wet-steam flows through stator–rotor blade rows in the final three stages of a low-pressure steam turbine, taking the blade number into consideration, are numerically investigated. In ASME Turbo Expo 2014, we presented the numerical results of the unsteady flow assuming the same blade number. Here, this previous study is extended to flow simulations using the real blade number. The flows under three flow conditions, with and without condensation and considering the same and real blade numbers are simulated, and the numerical results are compared with each other and with the experimental results. Finally, the effect of the blade number on unsteady wet-steam flows in real low-pressure steam turbines is discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 721 ◽  
pp. 78-81
Author(s):  
Zhao Jun Sha ◽  
Rong Xie ◽  
Xiao Fang Wang ◽  
Xu Dong Ding ◽  
Yong Feng Sui

Numerical investigation was conducted on the full-three-dimensional flow in the last three stages of steam turbine using by the commercial computational flow dynamics software CFX. And the equilibrium condensation model was adopted to describe the wet steam two phase flows. This article analyzes the internal flow of the turbine with tip clearance and the structure of the leakage flow.


Author(s):  
B. Reynolds ◽  
S. Etter ◽  
J. Torony ◽  
J. O’Connor

Textron Lycoming’s advanced compressor design system has been used to design and develop a three-stage axial compressor in the small flow class (less than 10 pps). New and innovative aerodynamic and mechanical design features identified in recent technology programs were used to optimize efficiency and range in the present design. Specific areas of technology development in this research program are: customized rotor airfoil shapes for minimum shock loss, airfoil endwall loading selected to reduce losses, variable geometry design for large range and high efficiency compressor operating requirements, variable stator hub contours and attachment design for minimum clearance loss, flowpath sealing for low leakage flow, and reduced frictional pumping losses. Performance objectives were experimentally verified with extensive prototype rig testing where sufficient instrumentation was installed to identify overall and individual stage operating charactertistics. A complete description of the axial compressor aerodynamic design is presented; executed using meanline, axisymmetric and three-dimensional flow analysis. Elements of the mechanical design that impact overall performance potential were controlled in the design and are described. Mechanical integrity for rig development and engine operation were verified for all components of the design and are reviewed.


Author(s):  
Juri Bellucci ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Andrea Arnone

This work aims at investigating the impact of partial admission on a steam turbine stage, focusing on the aerodynamic performance and the mechanical behavior. The partialized stage of a small steam turbine was chosen as test case. A block of nozzles was glued in a single “thick nozzle” in order to mimic the effect of a partial admission arc. Numerical analyses in full and in partial admission cases were carried out by means of three-dimensional, viscous, unsteady simulations. Several cases were tested by varying the admission rate, that is the length of the partial arc, and the number of active sectors of the wheel. The goal was to study the effect of partial admission conditions on the stage operation, and, in particular on the shape of stage performance curves as well as on the forces acting on bucket row. First of all, a comparison between the flow field of the full and the partial admission case is presented, in order to point out the main aspects related to the presence of a partial arc. Then, from an aerodynamic point of view, a detailed discussion of the modifications of unsteady rows interaction (potential, shock/wake), and how these ones propagate downstream, is provided. The attention is focused on the phenomena experienced in the filling/emptying region, which represent an important source of aerodynamic losses. The results try to deepen the understanding in the loss mechanisms involved in this type of stage. Finally, some mechanical aspects are addressed, and the effects on bucket loading and on aeromechanical forcing are investigated.


Author(s):  
Paul Hurd ◽  
Frank Truckenmueller ◽  
Norbert Thamm ◽  
Helmut Pollak ◽  
Matthias Neef ◽  
...  

Modern steam turbines of the author’s company are based on advanced technology such as high efficiency seals, 3D blading, single inner cylinders, and advanced materials. These technologies result in a compact opposed-flow HP/IP combined cylinder design with high long-term efficiency, reliability, and availability. This paper will illustrate the features, benefits, and operational experience of large steam turbines with advanced technologies using an opposed-flow HP/IP cylinder. The paper will also address the relative performance of this type of steam turbine against its predecessors. Specific examples will be examined: 350 MW fossil units in the Asian market, a typical 250 MW combined cycle steam turbine in the American market, a 700 MW three-cylinder class design for conventional steam plants developed for the global coal market, and a 600 MW steam turbine upgrade.


Author(s):  
M. Schatz ◽  
T. Eberle ◽  
M. Grübel ◽  
J. Starzmann ◽  
D. M. Vogt ◽  
...  

The correct computation of steam subcooling, subsequent formation of nuclei and finally droplet growth is the basic prerequisite for a quantitative assessment of the wetness losses incurred in steam turbines due to thermal and inertial relaxation. The same basically applies for the prediction of droplet deposition and the resulting threat of erosion. Despite the fact that there are many CFD-packages that can deal with real-gas effects in steam flows, the accurate and reliable prediction of subcooling, condensation and wet steam flow in steam turbines using CFD is still a demanding task. One reason for this is the lack of validation data for turbines that can be used to assess the physical models applied. Experimental data from nozzle and cascade tests can be found in the open literature; however, this data is only partly useful for validation purposes for a number of reasons. With regard to steam turbine test data, there are some publications, yet always without any information about the turbine stage geometries. This publication is part of a two-part paper; whereas part 1 focuses on the numerical validation of wet steam models by means of condensing nozzle and cascade flows, the focus in this part lies on the comparison of CFD results of the turbine flow to experimental data at various load conditions. In order to assess the validity and reliability of the experimental data, the method of measurement is presented in detail and discussed. The comparison of experimental and numerical results is used for a discussion about the challenges in both modeling and measuring steam turbine flows, presenting the current experience and knowledge at ITSM.


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