Abstract
This work presents a 2D optimization of a multi-body turbine vane frame (TVF), a particular configuration that can lead to considerable shortening of the aero-engine shaft as well as weight reduction. Traditionally, the turbine vane frame is used to guide the flow from the high pressure (HP) turbine to the low pressure (LP) turbine. Current designs have a mid turbine frame equipped with non lifting bodies that have structural and servicing functions, while multi-body configurations are characterized by the fact that, in order to shorten the duct length, the mid turbine struts are merged with the LP stator vanes, traditionally located downstream. This design architecture consists therefore of a multi-body vane row, where lifting long-chord struts replace some of the low pressure vane airfoils. However, the bulky struts cause significant aerodynamics losses and penalize the aerodynamics of the small vanes. The objective of the present work is to numerically optimize a TVF geometry with multi-body architecture using a gradient based algorithm coupled with the adjoint approach, enabling the use of a rich design space. Steady-state CFD simulations have been used to this end. The aim of this study is to reduce the total pressure losses of the TVF, while imposing several aerodynamic and structural constraints. The parametrization of the TVF geometry represents the airfoil shapes and their relative pitch-wise positions. The outcome of the optimization is to evaluate the potential improvements introduced by the optimized TVF geometry and to quantify the influence of the different design parameters on the total pressure losses.
Sensitivity analysis and gradient-based optimisation of feed spacer shape in reverse osmosis membrane processes using discrete adjoint approach
