Investigation of Non-Axisymmetric Endwall Contouring and 3D Airfoil Design in a 1.5 Stage Axial Turbine: Part I — Design and Novel Numerical Analysis Method

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Poehler ◽  
Jens Niewoehner ◽  
Peter Jeschke ◽  
Yavuz Guendogdu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Target Function ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Unexpected Result ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Endwall Contouring ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Stage Efficiency

This paper presents the results of the analysis of different 3D designs for the first stator and the rotor of a 1.5-stage turbine test rig. A tangential endwall contouring for the hub and the shroud, a bowed profile stacking, and a combination of those have been designed for the first stator. In addition a tangential endwall contouring has been designed for the hub of the unshrouded rotor. Part I of this two-part paper deals with the design process and the numerical analysis of the results. All designs have been optimized with the stage efficiency as the target function. For the design of the 3D stator vanes, the optimization led to an unexpected result: The secondary flow vortex strength increased. However, the secondary flow pattern has been rearranged and the exit flow angle has been homogenized. Although the stator losses increased, the stage efficiency also increased. Thus, a reduction of the rotor losses overcompensated the higher stator losses. In order to understand how the 3D vanes affect the stator secondary flow pattern, a detailed analysis of vortex stretching and vortex dissipation is presented here. With this approach, the various impacts of the 3D designs on the secondary flow vortices’ strength can be quantified. In addition, the potential theory effect of the self-induced velocity is introduced here in order to explain the effects of a tangential endwall contouring on the trajectory of the pressure side leg of the horseshoe vortex. At the authors’ knowledge, both approaches are new for the analysis of turbine secondary flows. The impact of the stronger but rearranged stator secondary flow on the rotor secondary loss development is analyzed by means of unsteady simulations. The results show that the rotor secondary flow can be effectively reduced through a proper stator secondary flow pattern. In part II of this paper, the analysis of extensive experimental results validates and supplements the numerical analysis.

Investigation of Nonaxisymmetric Endwall Contouring and Three-Dimensional Airfoil Design in a 1.5-Stage Axial Turbine—Part I: Design and Novel Numerical Analysis Method

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Poehler ◽  
Jens Niewoehner ◽  
Peter Jeschke ◽  
Yavuz Guendogdu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Target Function ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Unexpected Result ◽  
Angle Distribution ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Endwall Contouring ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents the results of the analysis of different 3D designs for the first stator and the rotor of a 1.5-stage turbine test rig. A tangential endwall contouring for the hub and the shroud, a bowed profile stacking, and a combination of those have been designed for the first stator. In addition, a tangential endwall contouring has been designed for the hub of the unshrouded rotor. Part I of this two-part paper deals with the design process and the numerical analysis of the results. All designs have been optimized using the stage efficiency as target function. For the design of the 3D stator vanes, the optimization led to an unexpected result: The secondary flow vortex strength increased. However, the secondary flow pattern is rearranged by the 3D-designing, leading to a smoother radial exit flow angle distribution. A subsequent reduction of the rotor losses overcompensates the higher stator losses. In order to understand how the 3D vanes affect the stator secondary flow pattern, a detailed analysis of vortex stretching and vortex dissipation is presented in this paper. With this approach, the various impacts of the 3D designs on the secondary flow vortices' strength can be quantified. In addition, the potential theory effect of the self-induced velocity is introduced here in order to explain the effects of a tangential endwall contouring on the trajectory of the pressure side leg of the horseshoe vortex (HVps). To the best of our knowledge, both approaches are new for the analysis of turbine secondary flows. The impact of the stronger but rearranged stator secondary flow on the rotor secondary loss development is analyzed by means of unsteady simulations. The results show that the rotor secondary flow can be effectively reduced through a proper stator secondary flow pattern. In Part II of this paper, the analysis of extensive experimental results validates and supplements the numerical analysis.

Investigation of a Novel Secondary Flow Feature in a Turbine Cascade With End Wall Profiling

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Ingram ◽  
David Gregory-Smith ◽  
Neil Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Pressure Probe ◽  
Unexpected Result ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Flow Feature ◽  
New Feature ◽  
End Wall

A novel secondary flow feature, previously unreported for turbine blading as far as the authors are aware, has been discovered. It has been found that it is possible to separate part of the inlet boundary layer on the blade row end wall as it is being over-turned and rolled up into the passage vortex. This flow feature has been discovered during a continuing investigation into the aerodynamic effects of non-axisymmetric end wall profiling. Previous work, using the low speed linear cascade at Durham University, has shown the potential of end wall profiling for reducing secondary losses. The latest study, the results of which are described here, was undertaken to determine the limits of what end wall profiling can achieve. The flow has been investigated in detail with pressure probe traversing and surface flow visualization. This has found that the inlet boundary locally separates, on the early suction side of the passage, generating significant extra loss which feeds directly into the core of the passage vortex. The presence of this new feature gives rise to the unexpected result that the secondary flow, as determined by the exit flow angle deviations and levels of secondary kinetic energy, can be reduced while at the same time the loss is increased. CFD was found to calculate the secondary flows moderately well compared with measurements. However, CFD did not predict this new feature, nor the increase in loss it caused. It is concluded that the application of non-axisymmetric end wall profiling, although it has been shown to be highly beneficial, can give rise to adverse features that current CFD tools are unable to predict. Improvements to CFD capability are required in order to be able to avoid such features, and obtain the full potential of end wall profiling.

Investigation of a Novel Secondary Flow Feature in a Turbine Cascade With End Wall Profiling

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Ingram ◽  
David Gregory-Smith ◽  
Neil Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Pressure Probe ◽  
Unexpected Result ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Flow Feature ◽  
New Feature ◽  
End Wall

A novel secondary flow feature, previously unreported for turbine blading as far as the authors are aware, has been discovered. It has been found that it is possible to separate part of the inlet boundary layer on the blade row end wall as it is being over-turned and rolled up into the passage vortex. This flow feature has been discovered during a continuing investigation into the aerodynamic effects of non-axisymmetric end wall profiling. Previous work, using the low speed linear cascade at Durham University, has shown the potential of end wall profiling for reducing secondary losses. The latest study, the results of which are described here, was undertaken to determine the limits of what end wall profiling can achieve. The flow has been investigated in detail with pressure probe traversing and surface flow visualization. This has found that the inlet boundary locally separates, on the early suction side of the passage, generating significant extra loss which feeds directly into the core of the passage vortex. The presence of this new feature gives rise to the unexpected result that the secondary flow, as determined by the exit flow angle deviations and levels of secondary kinetic energy, can be reduced while at the same time the loss is increased. CFD was found to calculate the secondary flows moderately well compared with measurements. However, CFD did not predict this new feature, nor the increase in loss it caused. It is concluded that the application of non-axisymmetric end wall profiling, although it has been shown to be highly beneficial, can give rise to adverse features that current CFD tools are unable to predict. Improvements to CFD capability are required in order to be able to avoid such features, and obtain the full potential of end wall profiling.

scholarly journals The Secondary Flow Field of a Turbine Cascade With 3D Airfoil Design and Endwall Contouring at Off-Design Incidence

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arno Duden ◽  
Leonhard Fottner
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Radial Extent ◽  
Endwall Contouring ◽  
End Wall ◽  
Secondary Flow Field

A highly loaded turbine cascade with prismatic airfoils and straight endwalls was redesigned with the objective of reducing the secondary flow by applying end wall contouring and 3D airfoil design in the endwall regions. When tested at design conditions the flow field showed distinct improvements. The radial extent of the secondary flows was reduced and a decrease in secondary losses was observed (Duden et al., 1998). As an extension of this investigation, the effects of positive and negative incidence on the performance of the redesigned cascade have been evaluated and compared to the original cascade. The investigations were carried out in a high speed cascade wind tunnel. At negative incidence the redesigned cascade was observed to reduce the radial variation of the circumferential exit flow angle but to increase the magnitude of the secondary losses. At positive incidence, in comparison to the flowfield in the reference cascade, the radial extent of the secondary flows and the magnitude of the secondary losses were greatly reduced. The benefits provided by the 3D airfoil design and endwall contouring were even more obvious at positive incidence than at the design conditions.

scholarly journals LES and RANS Analysis of the End-Wall Flow in a Linear LPT Cascade: Part I — Flow and Secondary Vorticity Fields Under Varying Inlet Condition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pichler ◽  
Yaomin Zhao ◽  
R. D. Sandberg ◽  
V. Michelassi ◽  
R. Pacciani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Flow Region ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Wall Boundary Layer ◽  
Wall Boundary ◽  
Wall Flow ◽  
End Wall ◽  
The Impact

In low-pressure-turbines (LPT) around 60–70% of losses are generated away from end-walls, while the remaining 30–40% is controlled by the interaction of the blade profile with the end-wall boundary layer. Experimental and numerical studies have shown how the strength and penetration of the secondary flow depends on the characteristics of the incoming end-wall boundary layer. Experimental techniques did shed light on the mechanism that controls the growth of the secondary vortices, and scale-resolving CFD allowed to dive deep into the details of the vorticity generation. Along these lines, this paper discusses the end-wall flow characteristics of the T106 LPT profile at Re = 120K and M = 0.59 by benchmarking with experiments and investigating the impact of the incoming boundary layer state. The simulations are carried out with proven Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and large-eddy simulation (LES) solvers to determine if Reynolds Averaged models can capture the relevant flow details with enough accuracy to drive the design of this flow region. Part I of the paper focuses on the critical grid needs to ensure accurate LES, and on the analysis of the overall time averaged flow field and comparison between RANS, LES and measurements when available. In particular, the growth of secondary flow features, the trace and strength of the secondary vortex system, its impact on the blade load variation along the span and end-wall flow visualizations are analysed. The ability of LES and RANS to accurately predict the secondary flows is discussed together with the implications this has on design.

Production and Development of Secondary Flows and Losses in Two Types of Straight Turbine Cascades: Part 1—A Stator Case

1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Experimental Information ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Accumulation Process ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Turning Angle ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Flow Vectors ◽  
Turbine Cascades

The present study intends to give some experimental information on secondary flows and on the associated total pressure losses occurring within turbine cascades. Part 1 of the paper describes the mechanism of production and development of the loss caused by secondary flows in a straight stator cascade with a turning angle of about 65 deg. A full representation of superimposed secondary flow vectors and loss contours is given at fourteen serial traverse planes located throughout the cascade. The presentation shows the mechanism clearly. Distributions of static pressures and of the loss on various planes close to blade surfaces and close to an endwall surface are given to show the loss accumulation process over the surfaces of the cascade passage. Variation of mass-averaged flow angle, velocity and loss through the cascade, and evolution of overall loss from upstream to downstream of the cascade are also given. Part 2 of the paper describes the mechanism in a straight rotor cascade with a turning angle of about 102 deg.

Axisymmetric Endwall Contouring in a Four-Stage Turbine: Comparison of Experimental and Numerical Results

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter E. Bohn ◽  
Norbert Su¨rken ◽  
Qing Yu ◽  
Franz Kreitmeier
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Endwall Contouring ◽  
Aerodynamic Losses

Secondary flows and leakage flows lead to complex vortex structures in the 3-D flow field of a turbine blading. Aerodynamic losses are the consequence. Reducing these aerodynamic losses by axisymmetric endwall contouring is the subject of a current experimental and numerical investigation of the flow field in a 4-stage test turbine with repeating stages. Numerical 4-stage simulations for the reconstructed turbine with an axisymmetric off-set arc endwall contour at the casing have been performed and compared to corresponding numerical investigations of the original machine without endwall modifications. The 3-D flow fields have been calculated by application of a steady 3-D Navier-Stokes code. Based on these results the experimental setup is modified to the off-set arc endwall design. The characteristics of the reconstructed machine are measured and compared to the original test rig. Special emphasis is put on the determination of the aerodynamic efficiencies over the four stages. For a detailed assessment of the radial and spanwise flow field properties inside the blading, 5-hole pressure probes are used for steady flow measurements in the narrow axial gaps before and after the 3rd stage. Finally, the measured radial distributions of the flow field properties and the machine characteristics are compared to the corresponding numerical predictions. All results show a significant positive influence of the endwall contouring on the radial distribution of the flow angle, the pressure field and the aerodynamic efficiency.

Endwall Contouring Using Continuous Diffusion: A Breakthrough Method and its Application to a Three-Stage High Pressure Turbine

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Schobeiri ◽  
K. Lu
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Drag Forces ◽  
Numerical Result ◽  
Endwall Contouring

Blades of high pressure turbines have a relatively small aspect ratio that produce major secondary flow regions close to the hub and tip. The secondary flows caused by a system of hub and tip vortices induce drag forces resulting in an increase of secondary flow losses and thus a reduction of stage efficiency. Given the high level of technological maturity and the current state of turbine aerodynamic efficiency, major efficiency improvement, if any, can be achieved only by significant R&D effort. In contrast, moderate increase in aerodynamic efficiency is attainable by reducing the effect of parasitic vortices such as those mentioned above. Introducing an appropriate non-axisymmetric endwall contouring reduces the secondary flow effect caused by the pressure difference between pressure and suction surfaces. Likewise, attaching leading edge fillets reduces the strength of horse shoe vortices. While an appropriate endwall contouring design requires special care, the design of the leading edge fillet is straight forward. In this paper we present a physics based method which enables researchers and engineers to design endwall contours for any arbitrary blade type regardless of the blade loading, degree of reaction, stage load and flow coefficients. A thorough step-by-step design instruction is followed by its application to the second rotor of the three-stage research turbine of Turbomchinery Performance and Flow Research Laboratory (TPFL) of Texas A&M University. Comprehensive numerical calculations of the flow field including the secondary flow show the positive impact of an appropriately designed endwall contouring on the efficiency. The results also show, how an inappropriately designed contour can be detrimental to turbine efficiency. The numerical result of the efficiency calculations is compared with the experimentally obtained efficiency for the reference non-contoured turbine.

scholarly journals Reducing Secondary Flow Losses in Low-Pressure Turbines: The “Snaked” Blade

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Matteo Giovannini ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Francesco Bertini
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Wall Region ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Pressure Loss Coefficient ◽  
Flow Losses ◽  
Parametric Description ◽  
Stator Blade ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents an innovative design for reducing the impact of secondary flows on the aerodynamics of low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages. Starting from a state-of-the-art LPT stage, a local reshaping of the stator blade was introduced in the end-wall region in order to oppose the flow turning deviation. This resulted in an optimal stator shape, able to provide a more uniform exit flow angle. The detailed comparison between the baseline stator and the redesigned one allowed for pointing out that the rotor row performance increased thanks to the more uniform inlet flow, while the stator losses were not significantly affected. Moreover, it was possible to derive some design rules and to devise a general blade shape, named ‘snaked’, able to ensure such results. This generalization translated in an effective parametric description of the ‘snaked’ shape, in which few parameters are sufficient to describe the optimal shape modification starting from a conventional design. The “snaked” blade concept and its design have been patented by Avio Aero. The stator redesign was then applied to a whole LPT module in order to evaluate the potential benefit of the ‘snaked’ design on the overall turbine performance. Finally, the design was validated by means of an experimental campaign concerning the stator blade. The spanwise distributions of the flow angle and pressure loss coefficient at the stator exit proved the effectiveness of the redesign in providing a more uniform flow to the successive row, while preserving the original stator losses.

Approximate Estimation of the Passage Vorticity in the Secondary Flow Behind A Cascade

1960 ◽  
Vol 64 (598) ◽  
pp. 635-638
Author(s):  
S. Soundranayagam
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Spanwise Direction ◽  
Lower Side ◽  
Simple Derivation ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Approximate Estimation ◽  
Outlet Flow ◽  
Image Position

Expressions for the secondary circulation behind a cascade are derived in Ref. 1. A simple derivation of the same results is given in Ref. 2. The secondary flows within the blade passages and their extensions downstream are determined by the “secondary passage circulation”, Г, given byfor a diffusing cascade, andfor an accelerating cascade,where Ul inlet velocity to cascadez distance in spanwise directions blade pitchαl, inlet flow angleα2 outlet flow angleLl, distance along lower side of aerofoilL2 distance along upper side of aerofoilq1 velocity along lower side of aerofoilqu velocity along upper side of aerofoil.

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