Complex Flow Generation and Development in a Full-Scale Turbofan Inlet

Author(s):  
Tamara Guimarães ◽  
K. Todd Lowe ◽  
Walter F. O’Brien

The future of aviation relies on the integration of airframe and propulsion systems to increase fuel efficiency and improve the aerodynamic performance of aircraft. This need brings design challenges, such as the ingestion of non-uniform flows by turbofan engines. In this work, we seek to understand the behavior of a complex distorted inflow in a full-scale engine rig. A 21-inch diameter distortion screen previously designed is used to mimic the behavior of an adverse inlet flow encountered by a hybrid wing body type of aircraft. Three measurement planes along the inlet of the research engine are selected for the acquisition of data using particle image velocimetry at a duct diameter Reynolds number of 2.6 million. The resulting mean velocity profiles, velocity gradients and turbulent stresses are analyzed in order to describe the evolution of the flow along the inlet of the turbofan engine and as it approaches the fan face. As flow develops downstream, the vortex present in the profile migrates clockwise, opposite to the rotation of the fan, and towards the spinner of the engine. The turbulent stresses indicate that the center of the vortex meanders around a preferred location, and that location tightens as flow gets closer to the fan, yielding a smaller radius mean vortex near the fan. An analysis of velocity gradients shows the influence of the distortion screen in the flow, mainly in the streamwise direction, where signature features of the distortion device are observed, as an effect from the wakes of the vanes. The results obtained shed light onto the aerodynamics of swirling flows representative of distorted turbofan inlets, while further advancing the understanding of the complex vane technology presented herein for advanced ground testing of swirling inflows.

Author(s):  
Tamara Guimarães ◽  
K. Todd Lowe ◽  
Walter F. O'Brien

The future of aviation relies on the integration of airframe and propulsion systems to improve aerodynamic performance and efficiency of aircraft, bringing design challenges, such as the ingestion of nonuniform flows by turbofan engines. In this work, we describe the behavior of a complex distorted inflow in a full-scale engine rig. The distortion, as in engines on a hybrid wing body (HWB) type of aircraft, is generated by a 21-in diameter StreamVane, an array of vanes that produce prescribed secondary flow distributions. Data are acquired using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (PIV) at three measurement planes along the inlet of the research engine (Reynolds number of 2.4 × 106). A vortex dynamics-based model, named StreamFlow, is used to predict the mean secondary flow development based on the experimental data. The mean velocity profiles show that, as flow develops axially, the vortex present in the profile migrates clockwise, opposite to the rotation of the fan, and toward the spinner of the engine. The turbulent stresses indicate that the center of the vortex meanders around a preferred location, which tightens as flow gets closer to the fan, yielding a smaller radius mean vortex near the fan. Signature features of the distortion device are observed in the velocity gradients, showing the wakes generated by the distortion screen vanes in the flow. The results obtained shed light onto the aerodynamics of swirling flows representative of distorted turbofan inlets, while further advancing the understanding of the complex vane technology presented herein for advanced ground testing.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
N.-S. Park ◽  
H. Park

Recognizing the significance of factual velocity fields in a rapid mixer, this study focuses on analyzing local velocity gradients in various mixer geometries with particle image velocimetry (PIV) and comparing the results of the analysis with the conventional G-value, for reviewing the roles of G-value in the current design and operation practices. The results of this study clearly show that many arguments and doubts are possible about the scientific correctness of G-value, and its current use. This is because the G-value attempts to represent the turbulent and complicated factual velocity field in a jar. Also, the results suggest that it is still a good index for representing some aspects of mixing condition, at least, mixing intensity. However, it cannot represent the distribution of velocity gradients in a jar, which is an important factor for mixing. This study as a result suggests developing another index for representing the distribution to be used with the G-value.


Author(s):  
Y Wu ◽  
X Zhu ◽  
Z Du

A developed plate stator model with and without trailing edge blowing (TEB) is studied using experimental methods. Wake characteristics of flow over the stator in the three-dimensional wake regimes are studied using hot-wire anemometry (HWA) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques. First, the mean velocity profiles have been measured in the wake of the stator using HWA. Four wake characteristics have been obtained through momentum thickness judgments: pure wake, weak wake, momentumless wake, and jet. These velocity profiles show some differences in momentum deficit for the four cases. Then, the velocity spectra of the pure wake and momentumless wake obtained through the HWA measurements showed that TEB can eliminate the shedding vortex of the stator. Characteristic length scales based on the wake turbulent intensity profiles showed that the momentumless wake can reduce the wake width and depth. PIV measurement is carried out to measure the flow field of the four wakes. Finally, the application of TEB approaching momentumless wake status is used on an industrial ventilation low-pressure axial fan to assess noise reduction. The results show that TEB can make the outlet of the stator uniform, reduce velocity fluctuation, destroy the vorticity structure downstream of the stator, and reduce interaction noise level of the stator and rotor.


1998 ◽  
Vol 353 (1369) ◽  
pp. 691-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca A. van Duren ◽  
Eize J. Stamhuis ◽  
John J. Videler

Females of the calanoid copepod Temora longicornis react to chemical exudates of male conspecifics with little hops, quite distinct from their normal smooth uniform swimming motion. These hops possibly serve to create a hydrodynamical signal in the surrounding water, to increase encounter probability with potential mates. Laser sheet particle image velocimetry was used to investigate the flow fields associated with these hops and to compare them to the flow of the feeding current of an adult female. During, and immediately after a hop, the flow field around the copepod showed a marked difference from that of a foraging animal. During foraging, the highest velocity gradients were located around the feeding appendages of the copepod. During a hop, high velocity gradients are located behind the animal. About 0.5 seconds after the start of swimming leg movement, effects of the hop had virtually dissipated and the flow field resembled that around a foraging animal. The estimated volume of influence (i.e. the volume around the copepod where the animal has a significant influence on the water) increased about 12–fold during the hop compared with the situation around a foraging animal. Furthermore, the rate of viscous energy dissipation within the copepods' volume of influence increased nearly 80–fold. Hops may serve to increase encounter probability, but due to the short duration of the effect and the high energetic costs they would only be adaptive when other cues have indicated that suitable sexual partners are in the vicinity.


Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3330
Author(s):  
Milan Sedlář ◽  
Pavel Procházka ◽  
Martin Komárek ◽  
Václav Uruba ◽  
Vladislav Skála

This article presents results of the experimental research and numerical simulations of the flow in a pumping system’s discharge object with the welded siphon. The laboratory simplified model was used in the study. Two stationary flow regimes characterized by different volume flow rates and water level heights have been chosen. The study concentrates mainly on the regions below and behind the siphon outlet. The mathematical modelling using advanced turbulence models has been performed. The free-surface flow has been carried out by means of the volume-of-fluid method. The experimental results obtained by the particle image velocimetry method have been used for the mathematical model validation. The evolution and interactions of main flow structures are analyzed using visualizations and the spectral analysis. The presented results show a good agreement of the measured and calculated complex flow topology and give a deep insight into the flow structures below and behind the siphon outlet. The presented methodology and results can increase the applicability and reliability of the numerical tools used for the design of the pump and turbine stations and their optimization with respect to the efficiency, lifetime and environmental demands.


2019 ◽  
Vol 866 ◽  
pp. 5-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhu ◽  
C. Cambon ◽  
F. S. Godeferd ◽  
A. Salhi

We propose a statistical model for homogeneous turbulence undergoing distortions, which improves and extends the MCS model by Mons, Cambon & Sagaut (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 788, 2016, 147–182). The spectral tensor of two-point second-order velocity correlations is predicted in the presence of arbitrary mean-velocity gradients and in a rotating frame. For this, we numerically solve coupled equations for the angle-dependent energy spectrum${\mathcal{E}}(\boldsymbol{k},t)$that includes directional anisotropy, and for the deviatoric pseudo-scalar $Z(\boldsymbol{k},t)$, that underlies polarization anisotropy ($\boldsymbol{k}$ is the wavevector,$t$the time). These equations include two parts: (i) exact linear terms representing the viscous spectral linear theory (SLT) when considered alone; (ii) generalized transfer terms mediated by two-point third-order correlations. In contrast with MCS, our model retains the complete angular dependence of the linear terms, whereas the nonlinear transfer terms are closed by a reduced anisotropic eddy damped quasi-normal Markovian (EDQNM) technique similar to MCS, based on truncated angular harmonics expansions. And in contrast with most spectral approaches based on characteristic methods to represent mean-velocity gradient terms, we use high-order finite-difference schemes (FDSs). The resulting model is applied to homogeneous rotating turbulent shear flow with several Coriolis parameters and constant mean shear rate. First, we assess the validity of the model in the linear limit. We observe satisfactory agreement with existing numerical SLT results and with theoretical results for flows without rotation. Second, fully nonlinear results are obtained, which compare well to existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) results. In both regimes, the new model improves significantly the MCS model predictions. However, in the non-rotating shear case, the expected exponential growth of turbulent kinetic energy is found only with a hybrid model for nonlinear terms combining the anisotropic EDQNM closure and Weinstock’s return-to-isotropy model.


1983 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 470-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Cornwell ◽  
Mark M. Bishop

Author(s):  
Nasiruddin Shaikh ◽  
Kamran Siddiqui

An experimental study conducted to investigate the airside flow behavior within the crest-trough region over wind generated water waves is reported. Two-dimensional velocity field in a plane perpendicular to the surface was measured using particle image velocimetry (PIV) at wind speeds ranging from 1.5 m s−1 to 4.4 m s−1. The results show a reduction in the mean velocity magnitude when gravity waves appear on the surface. A sequence of consecutive velocity fields has shown the bursting and sweeping processes and the flow separation above the waves. The results also indicate that the flow dynamics in the crest-trough region are significantly different than that at greater heights. High level of turbulence was observed in this region which could not be predicted from the measurements at greater heights. Thus, it is concluded that the quantitative investigation of the flow in the immediate vicinity of the interface is vital for an improved understanding of the heat, mass and momentum exchange between air and water.


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