Flow Control in an Aggressive Inter-Turbine Duct Using Low Profile Vortex Generators

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanfeng Zhang ◽  
Shuzhen Hu ◽  
Xue Feng Zhang ◽  
Michael Benner ◽  
Edward Vlasic
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Radial Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Streamwise Vortices ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Flow Mechanisms

This paper presents the experimental investigation of the flow in an aggressive inter-turbine duct (AITD). The goal is to improve the understanding of the flow mechanisms within the AITD and of the underlying physics of low-profile vortex generators (LPVGs). The flow structures in the AITD are dominated by counter-rotating vortices and boundary layer separations in both the casing and hub regions. At the first bend of the AITD, the casing boundary layer separates in a 3D mode because of the upstream wakes; this is followed by a massive 2D boundary layer separation. Due to the effect of the radial pressure gradient at the first bend, the streamwise vorticity generated by the casing 3D separation stays close to the casing endwall, and later mixes with the casing counter-rotating vortices formed at the second bend. By using LPVGs with different configurations installed on the casing, the casing boundary layer separation is significantly reduced. The streamwise vortices generated by the LPVGs have the potential to generate another pair of counter-rotating vortices at the AITD second bend, which help to delay/prevent the boundary layer separation. Therefore, the total pressure loss in the AITD was significantly reduced.

Flow Control in an Aggressive Interturbine Transition Duct Using Low Profile Vortex Generators

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanfeng Zhang ◽  
Shuzhen Hu ◽  
Xue-Feng Zhang ◽  
Michael Benner ◽  
Ali Mahallati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flow Control ◽  
Separated Flow ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Flow Mechanisms

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the flow mechanisms in an aggressive interturbine transition duct with and without low-profile vortex generators flow control. The interturbine duct had an area ratio of 1.53 and a mean rise angle of 35 deg. Measurements were made inside the annulus at a Reynolds number of 150,000. At the duct inlet, the background turbulence intensity was raised to 2.3% and a uniform swirl angle of 20 deg was established with a 48-airfoil vane ring. Results for the baseline case (no vortex generators) showed the flow structures within the duct were dominated by counter-rotating vortices and boundary layer separation in both the casing and hub regions. The combination of the adverse pressure gradient at the casing's first bend and upstream low momentum wakes caused the boundary layer to separate on the casing. The separated flow on the casing appears to reattach at the second bend. Counter-rotating and corotating vortex generators were installed on the casing. While both vortex generators significantly decreased the casing boundary layer separation with consequential reduction of overall pressure losses, the corotating configuration was found to be more effective.

scholarly journals The Effect of Vortex Generators on Shock-Induced Boundary Layer Separation in a Transonic Convex-Corner Flow

Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Kung-Ming Chung ◽  
Kao-Chun Su ◽  
Keh-Chin Chang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Convex Corner ◽  
Corner Flow ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Control Surfaces

Deflected control surfaces can be used as variable camber control in different flight conditions, and a convex corner resembles a simplified configuration for the upper surface. This experimental study determines the presence of passive vortex generators, VGs (counter-rotating vane type), on shock-induced boundary layer separation for transonic convex-corner flow. The mean surface pressure distributions in the presence of VGs for h/δ = 0.2 and 0.5 are similar to those for no flow control. If h/δ = 1.0 and 1.5, there is an increase in the amplitude of the mean surface pressure upstream of the corner’s apex, which corresponds to greater device drag and less downstream expansion. There is a decrease in peak pressure fluctuations as the value of h/δ increases, because there is a decrease in separation length and the frequency of shock oscillation. The effectiveness of VGs also depends on the freestream Mach number. For M = 0.89, there is an extension in the low-pressure region downstream of a convex corner, because there is greater convection and induced streamwise vorticity. VGs with h/δ ≤ 0.5 are preferred if deflected control surfaces are used to produce lift.

Turbulent boundary layer separation control and loss evaluation of low profile vortex generators

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 1505-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Lengani ◽  
Daniele Simoni ◽  
Marina Ubaldi ◽  
Pietro Zunino ◽  
Francesco Bertini
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Low Profile

Boundary Layer Separation Control on a Flat Plate With Adverse Pressure Gradients Using Vortex Generators

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward Canepa ◽  
Davide Lengani ◽  
Francesca Satta ◽  
Ennio Spano ◽  
Marina Ubaldi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Particle Image Velocimetry ◽  
Flat Plate ◽  
Particle Image ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Pressure Gradients ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Image Velocimetry

The continuous tendency in modern aeroengine gas turbines towards reduction of blade count and ducts length may lead to aerodynamic loading increase beyond the limit of boundary layer separation. For this reason boundary layer separation control methods, up to now mostly employed in external aerodynamics, begin to be experimented in internal flows applications. The present paper reports the results of a detailed experimental study on low profile vortex generators used to control boundary layer separation on a large-scale flat plate with prescribed adverse pressure gradients. Inlet turbulent boundary layer conditions and pressure gradients are representative of aggressive turbine intermediate ducts. This activity is part of a joint European research program on Aggressive Intermediate Duct Aerodynamics (AIDA). The pressure gradients on the flat plate are generated by increasing the aperture angle of a movable wall opposite to the flat plate. To avoid separation on the movable wall, boundary layer suction is applied on it. Complementary measurements (surface static pressure distributions, surface flow visualizations by means of wall mounted tufts, instantaneous and time-averaged velocity fields in the meridional and cross-stream planes by means of Particle Image Velocimetry) have been used to survey the flow with and without vortex generators. Three different pressure gradients, which induce turbulent separation in absence of boundary layer control, were tested. Vortex generators height and location effects on separation reduction and pressure recovery increase were investigated. For the most effective VGs configurations detailed analyses of the flow field were performed, that demonstrate the effectiveness of this passive control device to control separation in diffusing ducts. Particle Image Velocimetry vector and vorticity plots illustrate the mechanisms by which the vortex generators transfer momentum towards the surface, re-energizing the near-wall flow and preserving the boundary layer from separation.

Influences of Inlet Swirl Distributions on an Inter-Turbine Duct: Part I—Casing Swirl Variation

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuzhen Hu ◽  
Yanfeng Zhang ◽  
Xue Feng Zhang ◽  
Edward Vlasic
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Radial Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Wake Flow ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Swirl Angle ◽  
Inlet Swirl ◽  
Radial Pressure Gradient

The inter-turbine transition duct (ITD) of a gas turbine engine has significant potential for engine weight reduction and/or aerodynamic performance improvement. This potential arises because very little is understood of the flow behavior in the duct in relation to the hub and casing shapes and the flow entering the duct (e.g., swirl angle, turbulence intensity, periodic unsteadiness and blade tip vortices from upstream HP turbine blade rows). In this study, the flow development in an ITD with different inlet swirl distributions was investigated experimentally and numerically. The current paper, which is the first part of a two-part paper, presents the investigations of the influences of the casing swirl variations on the flow physics in the ITD. The results show a fair agreement between the predicted and experimental data. The radial pressure gradient at the first bend of ITD drives the low momentum hub boundary layer and wake flow radially, which results in a pair of hub counter-rotating vortices. Furthermore, the radially moving low momentum wake flow feeds into the casing region and causes 3D casing boundary layer. At the second bend, the reversed radial pressure gradient together with the 3D casing boundary layer generates a pair of casing counter-rotating vortices. Due to the local adverse pressure gradient, 3D boundary layer separation occurs on both the casing and hub at the second bend and the exit of the ITD, respectively. The casing 3D separation enhances the 3D features of the casing boundary layer as well as the existing casing counter-rotating vortices. With increasing casing swirl angle, the casing 3D boundary layer separation is delayed and the casing counter-rotating vortices are weakened. On the other hand, although the hub swirls are kept constant, the hub counter-rotating vortices get stronger with the increasing inlet swirl gradient. The total pressure coefficients within the ITD are significantly redistributed by the casing and hub counter-rotating vortices.

Study on Vortex Generators for Control of Attached Cavitation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bangxiang Che ◽  
Dazhuan Wu
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Streamwise Vortices ◽  
Fluid Machinery ◽  
Cavitation Inception ◽  
Sheet Cavitation ◽  
Cavitation Phenomenon

Attached cavitation is a type of common cavitation phenomenon in fluid machinery. It is important to develop methods to control its generation. From the view of cavitation inception, the generation of attached cavitation is greatly influenced by the separated boundary layer upstream of cavitation detachment. In this research, a row of microscopic delta-shaped counter-rotating vortex generators (VGs) was applied on the leading edge of the NACA0015 hydrofoil in order to suppress the boundary layer separation and then suppress the generation of attached cavitation. The application of VGs fixed the position of cavitation inception on hydrofoil thus the sheet cavitation became more stable and the cloud cavity shed from hydrofoil with trim trailing edge more regularly. It was found that cavitation inception always appeared adjacent to VGs due to the low pressure in the corner of streamwise vortices induced by VGs. Hydrofoil with VGs showed an entirely different cavitation morphology on the leading edge. A row of separate microscopic vortex cavitation was induced by the counter-rotating vortices firstly. With the lower the height of VGs, the longer the length of these vortex cavitation due to the weaker interaction between vortices and main flow. Following the vortex cavitation, the attached cavitation was developing, but without typical “finger” structure anymore.

Supersonic boundary-layer interactions with various micro-vortex generator geometries

2009 ◽  
Vol 113 (1149) ◽  
pp. 683-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lee ◽  
E. Loth
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Supersonic Boundary Layer ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Streamwise Vortices ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Displacement Thickness ◽  
Mach 3

Abstract Various types of micro-vortex generators (μVGs) are investigated for control of a supersonic turbulent boundary layer subject to an oblique shock impingement, which causes flow separation. The micro-vortex generators are embedded in the boundary layer to avoid excessive wave drag while still creating strong streamwise vortices to energise the boundary layer. Several different types of µVGs were considered including micro-ramps and micro-vanes. These were investigated computationally in a supersonic boundary layer at Mach 3 using monotone integrated large eddy simulations (MILES). The results showed that vortices generated from μVGs can partially eliminate shock induced flow separation and can continue to entrain high momentum flux for boundary-layer recovery downstream. The micro-ramps resulted in thinner downstream displacement thickness in comparison to the micro-vanes. However, the strength of the streamwise vorticity for the micro-ramps decayed faster due to dissipation especially after the shock interaction. In addition, the close spanwise distance between each vortex for the ramp geometry causes the vortex cores to move upwards from the wall due to induced upwash effects. Micro-vanes, on the other hand, yielded an increased spanwise spacing of the streamwise vortices at the point of formation. This resulted in streamwise vortices staying closer to the floor with less circulation decay, and the reduction in overall flow separation is attributed to these effects. Two hybrid concepts, named ‘thick-vane’ and ‘split-ramp’, were also studied where the former is a vane with side supports and the latter has a uniform spacing along the centreline of the baseline ramp. These geometries behaved similar to the micro-vanes in terms of the streamwise vorticity and the ability to reduce flow separation, but are more physically robust than the thin vanes.

An Experimental Study on the Influence of Vortex Generators on the Shock-Induced Boundary Layer Separation at M=1.4

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zare Shahneh ◽  
F. Motallebi
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Vortex Generators ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Streamwise Location ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Pressure Profiles ◽  
Displacement Thickness ◽  
Result Analysis

The results of an investigation into the effects that sub-boundary layer vortex generators (SBVGs) have on reducing normal shock-induced turbulent boundary layer separation are presented. The freestream Mach number and Reynolds number were M=1.45 and R=15.9×106/m, respectively. Total pressure profiles, static pressure distributions, surface total pressure (Preston pressure) distributions, oil flow visualization, and Schlieren photographs were used in the result analysis. The effects of SBVG height and the location upstream of the shock were investigated. A novel tetrahedron shape SBVG with different lengths (30 mm and 60 mm) was used for these experiments. The effect of streamwise location of the longer SBVG on the interaction was also investigated. The location of the shock wave was controlled by an adjustable choke mechanism located downstream of the working section. The results show that an increase in the distance for the longer SBVG from 17.4δR to 25.5δR did not remove the separation entirely, but the shorter SBVG provided higher total pressure distribution within the boundary layer in the recovery region. This also provided a healthier boundary layer profile downstream of the interaction region with lower displacement thickness and shape factor.

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