Separation Control on a Low-Pressure Turbine Blade using Microjets

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 867-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Fernandez ◽  
Rajan Kumar ◽  
Farrukh Alvi
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

Numerical Investigations of Flow Separation Control for a Low Pressure Turbine Blade Using Steady and Pulsed Vortex Generator Jets

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomin Liu ◽  
Haiyang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Flow Separation Control ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Vortex Generator Jets

This paper investigated numerically the application of Vortex Generator Jets (VGJs) to control flow separation on the suction side of a low pressure turbine blade. Firstly, numerical simulations of flow separation for a LPT blade, which based on Menter’s SST k-ω turbulence model coupled with Langtry-Menter transition model, were performed for different Reynolds numbers Re∼100,000, 75,000, 50,000 and 25,000, for three freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI) of 0.08%, 2.35% and 6.0%. The pressure distributions around the turbine blade and streamline plots showing the flow separation were presented in this paper. Good agreement of the numerical and experimental results also showed the validity of the numerical scheme for simulating the flow separation occurring on a low pressure turbine blade. And then, steady Vortex Generator Jets (steady VGJs) having pitch angle of 30°, skew angle of 90°, blowing ratio of 2.0 were used to control the flow separation in the suction side of the low pressure turbine blade. Although steady VGJs have been illustrated to be extremely robust at suppressing low Reynolds number separation, the practical application of VGJs in the low pressure turbine engine is in the pulsed mode. The injection mass flow requirements of pulsed Vortex Generator Jets (pulsed VGJs) can be reduced drastically when similar flow control effect is obtained using steady VGJs. For pulsed VGJs, the pulse frequency has been found to be an important control parameter for the flow separation control. In this paper, cases with the duty cycle of 0.5 were studied for the pulse frequency ranging from 2.5Hz to 10Hz at Re = 25,000 and freestream turbulence level of 0.08%. The numerical results showed that pulsed VGJs can effectively reduce and even eliminate the flow separation on the blade suction surface while there is an optimal pulse frequency. The flow control mechanism of VGJs on LPT blade was also revealed.

An Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Freestream Turbulence on the Wake of a Separated Low-Pressure Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. G. Murawski ◽  
K. Vafai
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Flow Reynolds Number

An experimental study was conducted in a two-dimensional linear cascade, focusing on the suction surface of a low pressure turbine blade. Flow Reynolds numbers, based on exit velocity and suction length, have been varied from 50,000 to 300,000. The freestream turbulence intensity was varied from 1.1 to 8.1 percent. Separation was observed at all test Reynolds numbers. Increasing the flow Reynolds number, without changing freestream turbulence, resulted in a rearward movement of the onset of separation and shrinkage of the separation zone. Increasing the freestream turbulence intensity, without changing Reynolds number, resulted in shrinkage of the separation region on the suction surface. The influences on the blade’s wake from altering freestream turbulence and Reynolds number are also documented. It is shown that width of the wake and velocity defect rise with a decrease in either turbulence level or chord Reynolds number. [S0098-2202(00)00202-9]

Using Turbulence Intensity and Reynolds Number to Predict Flow Separation on a Highly Loaded, Low-Pressure Gas Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Van Treuren ◽  
Tyler Pharris ◽  
Olivia Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
High Altitudes ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

The low-pressure turbine has become more important in the last few decades because of the increased emphasis on higher overall pressure and bypass ratios. The desire is to increase blade loading to reduce blade counts and stages in the low-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine. Increased turbine inlet temperatures for newer cycles results in higher temperatures in the low-pressure turbine, especially the latter stages, where cooling technologies are not used. These higher temperatures lead to higher work from the turbine and this, combined with the high loadings, can lead to flow separation. Separation is more likely in engines operating at high altitudes and reduced throttle setting. At the high Reynolds numbers found at takeoff, the flow over a low-pressure turbine blade tends to stay attached. At lower blade Reynolds numbers (25,000 to 200,000), found during cruise at high altitudes, the flow on the suction surface of the low-pressure turbine blades is inclined to separate. This paper is a study on the flow characteristics of the L1A turbine blade at three low Reynolds numbers (60,000, 108,000, and 165,000) and 15 turbulence intensities (1.89% to 19.87%) in a steady flow cascade wind tunnel. With this data, it is possible to examine the impact of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity on the location of the initiation of flow separation, the flow separation zone, and the reattachment location. Quantifying the change in separated flow as a result of varying Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities will help to characterize the low momentum flow environments in which the low-pressure turbine must operate and how this might impact the operation of the engine. Based on the data presented, it is possible to predict the location and size of the separation as a function of both the Reynolds number and upstream freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI). Being able to predict this flow behavior can lead to more effective blade designs using either passive or active flow control to reduce or eliminate flow separation.

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