Wittgenstein's aeronautical investigation

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Lemco
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Royal Society ◽  
Physical Sciences ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
German Education ◽  
Aero Engine ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Aeronautical Engineering ◽  
Flow Compression

After a rigorous German education in the physical sciences, young Ludwig Wittgenstein entered Manchester University as an aeronautical engineering research student. There he devised and patented a novel aero-engine employing an airscrew propeller driven by blade tip-jets. Within the context of the growth of English aviation during the first half of the twentieth century (including the contributions of many Fellows of the Royal Society) and taking into account related aspects of his life, this paper examines an unfulfilled engineering aspiration. In enlarging upon what Wittgenstein might have accomplished during his stay at Manchester, it contrasts his invention with later comparable proven designs, albeit applied to hybrid rotorcraft. His engine employed centrifugal flow compression and arguably was a precursor of Sir Frank Whittle's gas turbine. In conclusion, reasons are given for Wittgenstein's departure from Manchester.

Wittgenstein's combustion chamber

2009 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Cater ◽  
Ian Lemco
Keyword(s):  
Combustion Chamber ◽  
Ludwig Wittgenstein ◽  
Western World ◽  
Propeller Blade ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Probable Function ◽  
Variable Volume ◽  
Aero Engine ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Aeronautical Engineering

Ludwig Wittgenstein, destined to be one of the most influential philosophers of the western world, entered Manchester University in 1908 as an aeronautical engineering research student. At Manchester he devised and patented a novel aero-engine that employed propeller-blade tip-jets. As a first practical step to the realization of this device, Wittgenstein constructed a variable-volume combustion chamber, but on departing for Cambridge he abandoned all further work on the project. The plans of this chamber survived and are presented in this paper. This article includes a detailed description of the drawings and an analysis of the probable function of the system.

Numerical Modeling of Heat Transfer and Pressure Losses for Uncooled Gas Turbine Blade Tip: Effect of Tip Clearance and Tip Geometry

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamyaa A. El-Gabry
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Exit Mach Number

A computational study has been performed to predict the heat transfer distribution on the blade tip surface for a representative gas turbine first stage blade. CFD predictions of blade tip heat transfer are compared to test measurements taken in a linear cascade, when available. The blade geometry has an inlet Mach number of 0.3 and an exit Mach number of 0.75, pressure ratio of 1.5, exit Reynolds number based on axial chord of 2.57×106, and total turning of 110 deg. Three blade tip configurations were considered; they are flat tip, a full perimeter squealer, and an offset squealer where the rim is offset to the interior of the tip perimeter. These three tip geometries were modeled at three tip clearances of 1.25, 2.0, and 2.75% of blade span. The tip heat transfer results of the numerical models agree fairly well with the data and are comparable to other CFD predictions in the open literature.

Film Cooling and Aerodynamic Performance on Multi-Cavity Squealer Tip of a Turbine Blade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Li ◽  
Zhao Liu ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Cooling Performance ◽  
Pressure Loss Coefficient ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Total Pressure Loss Coefficient

Abstract The blade tip region of the shroud-less high-pressure gas turbine is exposed to an extremely operating condition with combined high temperature and high heat transfer coefficient. It is critical to design new tip structures and apply effective cooling method to protect the blade tip. Multi-cavity squealer tip has the potential to reduce the huge thermal loads and improve the aerodynamic performance of the blade tip region. In this paper, numerical simulations were performed to predict the aerothermal performance of the multi-cavity squealer tip in a heavy-duty gas turbine cascade. Different turbulence models were validated by comparing to the experimental data. It was found that results predicted by the shear-stress transport with the γ-Reθ transition model have the best precision. Then, the film cooling performance, the flow field in the tip gap and the leakage losses were presented with several different multi-cavity squealer tip structures, under various coolant to mainstream mass flow ratios (MFR) from 0.05% to 0.15%. The results show that the ribs in the multi-cavity squealer tip could change the flow structure in the tip gap for that they would block the coolant and the leakage flow. In this study, the case with one-cavity (1C) achieves the best film cooling performance under a lower MFR. However, the cases with multi-cavity (2C, 3C, 4C) show higher film cooling effectiveness under a higher MFR of 0.15%, which are 32.6%%, 34.2%% and 41.0% higher than that of the 1C case. For the aerodynamic performance, the case with single-cavity has the largest total pressure loss coefficient in all MFR studied, whereas the case with two-cavity obtains the smallest total pressure loss coefficient, which is 7.6% lower than that of the 1C case.

scholarly journals Heat Transfer and Flow on the Squealer Tip of a Gas Turbine Blade

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gm S. Azad ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Robert J. Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Cavity Surface ◽  
Edge Region ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
The Heat Transfer Coefficient

Experimental investigations are performed to measure the detailed heat transfer coefficient and static pressure distributions on the squealer tip of a gas turbine blade in a five-bladed stationary linear cascade. The blade is a 2-dimensional model of a modern first stage gas turbine rotor blade with a blade tip profile of a GE-E3 aircraft gas turbine engine rotor blade. A squealer (recessed) tip with a 3.77% recess is considered here. The data on the squealer tip are also compared with a flat tip case. All measurements are made at three different tip gap clearances of about 1%, 1.5%, and 2.5% of the blade span. Two different turbulence intensities of 6.1% and 9.7% at the cascade inlet are also considered for heat transfer measurements. Static pressure measurements are made in the mid-span and near-tip regions, as well as on the shroud surface opposite to the blade tip surface. The flow condition in the test cascade corresponds to an overall pressure ratio of 1.32 and an exit Reynolds number based on the axial chord of 1.1×106. A transient liquid crystal technique is used to measure the heat transfer coefficients. Results show that the heat transfer coefficient on the cavity surface and rim increases with an increase in tip clearance. The heat transfer coefficient on the rim is higher than the cavity surface. The cavity surface has a higher heat transfer coefficient near the leading edge region than the trailing edge region. The heat transfer coefficient on the pressure side rim and trailing edge region is higher at a higher turbulence intensity level of 9.7% over 6.1% case. However, no significant difference in local heat transfer coefficient is observed inside the cavity and the suction side rim for the two turbulence intensities. The squealer tip blade provides a lower overall heat transfer coefficient when compared to the flat tip blade.

Towards Improved Prediction of Aero-Engine Combustor Performance Using Large Eddy Simulations

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. James ◽  
M. S. Anand ◽  
B. Sekar
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Radial Profile ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Systematic Assessment ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Eddy ◽  
Aero Engine

The paper presents an assessment of large eddy simulation (LES) and conventional Reynolds averaged methods (RANS) for predicting aero-engine gas turbine combustor performance. The performance characteristic that is examined in detail is the radial burner outlet temperature (BOT) or fuel-air ratio profile. Several different combustor configurations, with variations in airflows, geometries, hole patterns and operating conditions are analyzed with both LES and RANS methods. It is seen that LES consistently produces a better match to radial profile as compared to RANS. To assess the predictive capability of LES as a design tool, pretest predictions of radial profile for a combustor configuration are also presented. Overall, the work presented indicates that LES is a more accurate tool and can be used with confidence to guide combustor design. This work is the first systematic assessment of LES versus RANS on industry-relevant aero-engine gas turbine combustors.

Instruments of Science or Conquest? Neocolonialism and Modern American Astronomy

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandra Swanner
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Indigenous Rights ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Physical Sciences ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Native Communities ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
Indigenous Groups ◽  
Sacred Lands

This essay is indebted to Mary Jo Nye’s scholarship spanning the history and philosophy of the modern physical sciences, particularly her efforts to situate scientists within their social, political, and cultural contexts. Beginning in the second half of the twentieth century, members of the Hawai‘i astronomy community found themselves grappling with opposition to new telescope projects stemming from the rise of environmental and indigenous rights movements. I argue that the debate over the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) can best be understood as an exemplar of “neocolonialist science.” For indigenous groups who object to science on sacred lands, science has effectively become an agent of colonization. As the TMT controversy illustrates, practicing neocolonialist science—even unknowingly—comes at a high cost for all parties involved. Although scientists are understandably reluctant to equate their professional activities with cultural annihilation, dismissing this unflattering neocolonialist image of modern science has both ethical and practical consequences: Native communities continue to report feeling victimized while scientists’ efforts to expand their research programs suffer social, legal, and economic setbacks. This essay is part of a special issue entitled THE BONDS OF HISTORY edited by Anita Guerrini.

An Assessment on the Benefits of Additive Manufacturing Regarding New Swirler Geometries for Gas Turbine Burners

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Giuliani ◽  
Nina Paulitsch ◽  
Daniele Cozzi ◽  
Michael Görtler ◽  
Lukas Andracher
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Inconel 718 ◽  
Advanced Materials ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Engineering Research ◽  
Know How ◽  
Current State ◽  
Research And Education ◽  
Near Future

In the near future, combustion engineers will shape the burner according to the flame, and not the opposite way anymore. In this contribution, this idea is explored with the help of additive manufacturing (AM). The focus is put on the design and the production of swirlers using advanced materials with the least possible efforts in terms of manufacturing. The material chosen for this study is Inconel 718. There are three motivations to this project. The first one is to design new shapes and assess these in comparison to conventional ones. The second motivation is to be able to manufacture them using additive manufacturing, and to gather know-how on selective laser melting. The third motivation is to elaborate a methodology involving engineering, research and education to promote — only if and when this is desirable — the production of series of premium parts such as high-end components of gas turbine combustor using AM. First-of-a-kind swirler shapes are explained and designed. These are unlikely to be produced using conventional manufacturing. They are then successfully produced in Inconel 718 using AM. The raw parts are directly submitted for testing with no surface post-processing. The paper states why at current state-of-the-art the raw surface quality still needs improvement, and highlights the benefits of the new swirler shape versus conventional.

Back Flow in Turbines of Nuclear Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine Plants in Case of Circuit Pipe Rupture

1975 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bammert ◽  
P. Zehner
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Back Flow ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Stator Blade ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
High Temperature Reactor ◽  
Turbine Cascades ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Safety Considerations

For operation of a gas turbine in single-cycle arrangement with a high-temperature reactor, rupture of a main circuit pipe has to be included in the safety considerations. In the event of such an accident there may be a back flow through the turbo machines or a forward flow up to the choking limit. This paper is a report on tests carried out in a two-dimensional cascade wind tunnel on turbine cascades under back flow conditions. By the example of three selected representative cascades the characteristic features in turbine cascades with back flow are discussed. These cascades are a rotor blade tip section with aerofoil-like profiles and a wide pitch, a stator blade or rotor blade mean section with an usual deflection and a rotor blade root section with a narrow pitch and a large deflection.

A Method for Correlating the Influence of External Crossflow on the Discharge Coefficients of Film Cooling Holes

2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 258-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Rowbury ◽  
M. L. G. Oldfield ◽  
G. D. Lock
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Discharge Coefficient ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Discharge Coefficients ◽  
Nozzle Guide Vane ◽  
Aero Engine ◽  
Nozzle Guide ◽  
Film Cooling Holes ◽  
Asme Paper

An empirical means of predicting the discharge coefficients of film cooling holes in an operating engine has been developed. The method quantifies the influence of the major dimensionless parameters, namely hole geometry, pressure ratio across the hole, coolant Reynolds number, and the freestream Mach number. The method utilizes discharge coefficient data measured on both a first-stage high-pressure nozzle guide vane from a modern aero-engine and a scale (1.4 times) replica of the vane. The vane has over 300 film cooling holes, arranged in 14 rows. Data was collected for both vanes in the absence of external flow. These noncrossflow experiments were conducted in a pressurized vessel in order to cover the wide range of pressure ratios and coolant Reynolds numbers found in the engine. Regrettably, the proprietary nature of the data collected on the engine vane prevents its publication, although its input to the derived correlation is discussed. Experiments were also conducted using the replica vanes in an annular blowdown cascade which models the external flow patterns found in the engine. The coolant system used a heavy foreign gas (SF6 /Ar mixture) at ambient temperatures which allowed the coolant-to-mainstream density ratio and blowing parameters to be matched to engine values. These experiments matched the mainstream Reynolds and Mach numbers and the coolant Mach number to engine values, but the coolant Reynolds number was not engine representative (Rowbury, D. A., Oldfield, M. L. G., and Lock, G. D., 1997, “Engine-Representative Discharge Coefficients Measured in an Annular Nozzle Guide Vane Cascade,” ASME Paper No. 97-GT-99, International Gas Turbine and Aero-Engine Congress & Exhibition, Orlando, Florida, June 1997; Rowbury, D. A., Oldfield, M. L. G., Lock, G. D., and Dancer, S. N., 1998, “Scaling of Film Cooling Discharge Coefficient Measurements to Engine Conditions,” ASME Paper No. 98-GT-79, International Gas Turbine and Aero-Engine Congress & Exhibition, Stockholm, Sweden, June 1998). A correlation for discharge coefficients in the absence of external crossflow has been derived from this data and other published data. An additive loss coefficient method is subsequently applied to the cascade data in order to assess the effect of the external crossflow. The correlation is used successfully to reconstruct the experimental data. It is further validated by successfully predicting data published by other researchers. The work presented is of considerable value to gas turbine design engineers as it provides an improved means of predicting the discharge coefficients of engine film cooling holes.

scholarly journals Heat Transfer and Pressure Distributions on a Gas Turbine Blade Tip

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gm. S. Azad ◽  
Je-Chin Han ◽  
Shuye Teng ◽  
Robert J. Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Blade Tip

Heat transfer coefficient and static pressure distributions are experimentally investigated on a gas turbine blade tip in a five-bladed stationary linear cascade. The blade is a two-dimensional model of a first-stage gas turbine rotor blade with a blade tip profile of a GE-E3 aircraft gas turbine engine rotor blade. The flow condition in the test cascade corresponds to an overall pressure ratio of 1.32 and exit Reynolds number based on axial chord of 1.1×106. The middle 3-blade has a variable tip gap clearance. All measurements are made at three different tip gap clearances of about 1, 1.5, and 2.5 percent of the blade span. Heat transfer measurements are also made at two different turbulence intensity levels of 6.1 and 9.7 percent at the cascade inlet. Static pressure measurements are made in the midspan and the near-tip regions as well as on the shroud surface, opposite the blade tip surface. Detailed heat transfer coefficient distributions on the plane tip surface are measured using a transient liquid crystal technique. Results show various regions of high and low heat transfer coefficient on the tip surface. Tip clearance has a significant influence on local tip heat transfer coefficient distribution. Heat transfer coefficient also increases about 15–20 percent along the leakage flow path at higher turbulence intensity level of 9.7 over 6.1 percent. [S0889-504X(00)00404-9]

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