The Development of Fast Response Aerodynamic Probes for Flow Measurements in Turbomachinery

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Ainsworth ◽  
J. L. Allen ◽  
J. J. M. Batt
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Flow Measurements

The advent of a new generation of transient rotating turbine simulation facilities, where engine values of Reynolds and Mach number are matched simultaneously together with the relevant rotational parameters for dimensional similitude (Dunn et al., 1988; Epstein and Guenette, 1984; Ainsworth et al., 1988), has provided the stimulus for developing improved instrumentation for investigating the aerodynamic flows in these stages. Much useful work has been conducted in the past using hot-wire and laser anemometers. However, hot-wire anemometers are prone to breakage in the high-pressure flows required for correct Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, some laser techniques require a longer run-time than these transient facilities permit, and generally yield velocity information only, giving no data on loss production. Advances in semiconductor aerodynamic probes are beginning to fulfill this perceived need. This paper describes advances made in the design, construction, and testing of two and three-dimensional fast response aerodynamic probes, where semiconductor pressure sensors are mounted directly on the surface of the probes, using techniques that have previously been successfully used on the surface of rotor blades (Ainsworth et al., 1991). These are to be used to measure Mach number and flow direction in compressible unsteady flow regimes. In the first section, a brief review is made of the sensor and associated technology that has been developed to permit a flexible design of fast response aerodynamic probe. Following this, an extensive program of testing large-scale aerodynamic models of candidate geometries for suitable semiconductor scale probes is described, and the results of these discussed. The conclusions of these experiments, conducted for turbine representative mean and unsteady flows, yielded new information for optimizing the design of the small-scale semiconductor probes, in terms of probe geometry, sensor placement, and aerodynamic performance. Details are given of a range of wedge and pyramid semiconductor probes constructed, and the procedures used in calibrating and making measurements with them. Differences in performance are discussed, allowing the experimenter to choose an appropriate probe for the particular measurement required. Finally, the application of prototype semiconductor probes in a transient rotor experiment at HP turbine representative conditions is described, and the data so obtained are compared with CFD solutions of the unsteady viscous flow-field.

scholarly journals The Development of Fast Response Aerodynamic Probes for Flow Measurements in Turbomachinery

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Ainsworth ◽  
John L. Allen ◽  
J. Julian M. Batt
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Flow Measurements

The advent of a new generation of transient rotating turbine simulation facilities, where engine values of Reynolds and Mach number are matched simultaneously together with the relevant rotational parameters for dimensional similitude (Dunn et al [1988], Epstein et al [1984]. Ainsworth et al [1988]), has provided the stimulus for developing improved instrumentation for investigating the aerodynamic flows in these stages. Much useful work has been conducted in the past using hot-wire and laser anemometers. However, hot-wire anemometers are prone to breakage in the high pressure flows required for correct Reynolds numbers, Furthermore some laser techniques require a longer runtime than these transient facilites permit, and generally yield velocity information only, giving no data on loss production. Advances in semiconductor aerodynamic probes are beginning to fulfil this perceived need. This paper describes advances made in the design, construction, and testing of two and three dimensional fast response aerodynamic probes, where semiconductor pressure sensors are mounted directly on the surface of the probes, using techniques which have previously been successfully used on the surface of rotor blades (Ainsworth, Dietz and Nunn [1991]). These are to be used to measure Mach number and flow direction in compressible unsteady flow regimes. In the first section, a brief review is made of the sensor and associated technology which has been developed to permit a flexible design of fast response aerodynamic probe. Following this, an extensive programme of testing large scale aerodynamic models of candidate geometries for suitable semiconductor scale probes is described, and the results of these discussed. The conclusions of these experiments, conducted for turbine representative mean and unsteady flows, yielded new information for optimising the design of the small scale semiconductor probes, in terms of probe geometry, sensor placement, and aerodynamic performance. Details are given of a range of wedge and pyramid semiconductor probes constructed, and the procedures used in calibrating and making measurements with them. Differences in performance are discussed, allowing the experimenter to choose an appropriate probe for the particular measurement required. Finally, the application of prototype semiconductor probes in a transient rotor experiment at HP turbine representative conditions is described, and the data so obtained is compared with (PD solutions of the unsteady viscous flow-field.

Pitfalls of Hot-Wire Measurements Due to Transverse Wire Vibration

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris S. Anderson ◽  
O¨zden F. Turan ◽  
S. Eren Semercigil
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Verification ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Natural Frequencies ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Spectral Measurements ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Numerical Predictions ◽  
Wire Vibration

Following from numerical predictions and large scale experimental verification, flow measurements are presented to show the effect of transverse wire vibrations on spectral measurements. It has been shown previously that if the first and second natural frequencies of a probe wire are close, it is expected to have favorable dynamic characteristics in turbulent flow. This expectation is confirmed with flow measurements. Further, the traditional sensing length to diameter ratio is reexamined for small scale measurements.

Turbulent flow between counter-rotating concentric cylinders: a direct numerical simulation study

2008 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. 371-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. DONG
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Outer Cylinder ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Taylor Vortex ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Concentric Cylinders ◽  
High Reynolds

We report three-dimensional direct numerical simulations of the turbulent flow between counter-rotating concentric cylinders with a radius ratio 0.5. The inner- and outer-cylinder Reynolds numbers have the same magnitude, which ranges from 500 to 4000 in the simulations. We show that with the increase of Reynolds number, the prevailing structures in the flow are azimuthal vortices with scales much smaller than the cylinder gap. At high Reynolds numbers, while the instantaneous small-scale vortices permeate the entire domain, the large-scale Taylor vortex motions manifested by the time-averaged field do not penetrate a layer of fluid near the outer cylinder. Comparisons between the standard Taylor–Couette system (rotating inner cylinder, fixed outer cylinder) and the counter-rotating system demonstrate the profound effects of the Coriolis force on the mean flow and other statistical quantities. The dynamical and statistical features of the flow have been investigated in detail.

Large- and small-scale vortical motions in a shear layer perturbed by tabs

1999 ◽  
Vol 382 ◽  
pp. 307-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUDITH K. FOSS ◽  
K. B. M. Q. ZAMAN
Keyword(s):  
Shear Layer ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Streamwise Vortices ◽  
Streamwise Vorticity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Scale Population

The large- and small-scale vortical motions produced by ‘delta tabs’ in a two-stream shear layer have been studied experimentally. An increase in mixing was observed when the base of the triangular shaped tab was affixed to the trailing edge of the splitter plate and the apex was pitched at some angle with respect to the flow axis. Such an arrangement produced a pair of counter-rotating streamwise vortices. Hot-wire measurements detailed the velocity, time-averaged vorticity (Ωx) and small-scale turbulence features in the three-dimensional space downstream of the tabs. The small-scale structures, whose scale corresponds to that of the peak in the dissipation spectrum, were identified and counted using the peak-valley-counting technique. The optimal pitch angle, θ, for a single tab and the optimal spanwise spacing, S, for a multiple tab array were identified. Since the goal was to increase mixing, the optimal tab configuration was determined from two properties of the flow field: (i) the large-scale motions with the maximum Ωx, and (ii) the largest number of small-scale motions in a given time period. The peak streamwise vorticity magnitude [mid ]Ωx−max[mid ] was found to have a unique relationship with the tab pitch angle. Furthermore, for all cases examined, the overall small-scale population was found to correlate directly with [mid ]Ωx−max[mid ]. Both quantities peaked at θ≈±45°. It is interesting to note that the peak magnitude of the corresponding circulation in the cross-sectional plane occurred for θ≈±90°. For an array of tabs, the two quantities also depended on the tab spacing. An array of contiguous tabs acted as a solid deflector producing the weakest streamwise vortices and the least small-scale population. For the measurement range covered, the optimal spacing was found to be S≈1.5 tab widths.

scholarly journals A Multidimensional and Multiscale Model for Pressure Analysis in a Reservoir-Pipe-Valve System

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Jie Zheng ◽  
Fu Zheng Qu ◽  
Xue Guan Song
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Multiscale Model ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Proposed Model

Reservoir-pipe-valve (RPV) systems are widely used in many industrial process. The pressure in an RPV system plays an important role in the safe operation of the system, especially during the sudden operation such as rapid valve opening/closing. To investigate the pressure especially the pressure fluctuation in an RPV system, a multidimensional and multiscale model combining the method of characteristics (MOC) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is proposed. In the model, the reservoir is modeled by a zero-dimensional virtual point, the pipe is modeled by a one-dimensional MOC, and the valve is modeled by a three-dimensional CFD model. An interface model is used to connect the multidimensional and multiscale model. Based on the model, a transient simulation of the turbulent flow in an RPV system is conducted, in which not only the pressure fluctuation in the pipe but also the detailed pressure distribution in the valve are obtained. The results show that the proposed model is in good agreement with the full CFD model in both large-scale and small-scale spaces. Moreover, the proposed model is more computationally efficient than the CFD model, which provides a feasibility in the analysis of complex RPV system within an affordable computational time.

The structure of weakly compressible grid-generated turbulence

2001 ◽  
Vol 432 ◽  
pp. 219-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. BRIASSULIS ◽  
J. H. AGUI ◽  
Y. ANDREOPOULOS
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Amplitude ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Dynamical Flow ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Decay Exponent

A decaying compressible nearly homogeneous and nearly isotropic grid-generated turbulent flow has been set up in a large scale shock tube research facility. Experiments have been performed using instrumentation with spatial resolution of the order of 7 to 26 Kolmogorov viscous length scales. A variety of turbulence-generating grids provided a wide range of turbulence scales with bulk flow Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 and turbulent Reynolds numbers up to 700. The decay of Mach number fluctuations was found to follow a power law similar to that describing the decay of incompressible isotropic turbulence. It was also found that the decay coefficient and the decay exponent decrease with increasing Mach number while the virtual origin increases with increasing Mach number. A possible mechanism responsible for these effects appears to be the inherently low growth rate of compressible shear layers emanating from the cylindrical rods of the grid. Measurements of the time-dependent, three dimensional vorticity vectors were attempted for the first time with a 12-wire miniature probe. This also allowed estimates of dilatation, compressible dissipation and dilatational stretching to be obtained. It was found that the fluctuations of these quantities increase with increasing mean Mach number of the flow. The time-dependent signals of enstrophy, vortex stretching/tilting vector and dilatational stretching vector were found to exhibit a rather strong intermittent behaviour which is characterized by high-amplitude bursts with values up to 8 times their r.m.s. within periods of less violent and longer lived events. Several of these bursts are evident in all the signals, suggesting the existence of a dynamical flow phenomenon as a common cause.

scholarly journals A Multidimensional and Multiscale Model for Pressure Analysis in a Reservoir-Pipe-Valve System

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Jie Zheng ◽  
Chao Yong Zong ◽  
William Dempster ◽  
Fu Zheng Qu ◽  
Xue Guan Song
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Multiscale Model ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dimensional System ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Computationally Efficient ◽  
Proposed Model

Reservoir-pipe-valve (RPV) systems are widely used in many industrial processes. The pressure in an RPV system plays an important role in the safe operation of the system, especially during the sudden operations such as rapid valve opening or closing. To investigate the pressure response, with particular interest in the pressure fluctuations in an RPV system, a multidimensional and multiscale model combining the method of characteristics (MOC) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is proposed. In the model, the reservoir is modeled as a zero-dimensional virtual point, the pipe is modeled as a one-dimensional system using the MOC, and the valve is modeled using a three-dimensional CFD model. An interface model is used to connect the multidimensional and multiscale model. Based on the model, a transient simulation of the turbulent flow in an RPV system is conducted in which not only the pressure fluctuation in the pipe but also the detailed pressure distribution in the valve is obtained. The results show that the proposed model is in good agreement when compared with a high fidelity CFD model used to represent both large-scale and small-scale spaces. As expected, the proposed model is significantly more computationally efficient than the CFD model. This demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing complex RPV systems within an affordable computational time.

Flexible Non-Intrusive Heat Flux Instrumentation for the AFRL Research Turbine

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Anthony ◽  
John P. Clark ◽  
Stephen W. Kennedy ◽  
John M. Finnegan ◽  
Dean Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Thermal Loading ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamic ◽  
Analysis System

This paper describes a large scale heat flux instrumentation effort for the AFRL HIT Research Turbine. The work provides a unique amount of high frequency instrumentation to acquire fast response unsteady heat flux in a fully rotational, cooled turbine rig along with unsteady pressure data to investigate thermal loading and unsteady aerodynamic airfoil interactions. Over 1200 dynamic sensors are installed on the 1 & 1/2 stage turbine rig. Airfoils include 658 double-sided thin film gauges for heat flux, 289 fast-response Kulite pressure sensors for unsteady aerodynamic measurements, and over 40 thermocouples. An overview of the instrumentation is given with in-depth focus on the non-commercial thin film heat transfer sensors designed and produced in the Heat Flux Instrumentation Laboratory at WPAFB. The paper further describes the necessary upgrade of data acquisition systems and signal conditioning electronics to handle the increased channel requirements of the HIT Research Turbine. More modern, reliable, and efficient data processing and analysis code provides better handling of large data sets and allows easy integration with the turbine design and analysis system under development at AFRL. Example data from cooled transient blowdown tests in the TRF are included along with measurement uncertainty.

Utilization of Large-Scale Rolling-Wheel Tester to Investigate the Stress Reduction in Pavement Layers Due to the Use of Geosynthetic Materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (2) ◽  
pp. 445-455
Author(s):  
Jason Wright ◽  
S. Sonny Kim ◽  
Mi G. Chorzepa ◽  
Stephan A. Durham
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Optimum Moisture Content ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wheel Load ◽  
Subgrade Soils ◽  
Rolling Wheel ◽  
Aggregate Base ◽  
Pavement Foundation

In a geosynthetic-reinforced pavement system, the load-bearing capacity of subgrade soil is improved by the lateral distribution of vertical stresses at the reinforcing layer. Under small-scale triaxial testing, the tensile properties of the geosynthetic are difficult to measure. Therefore, it is desirable to conduct large-scale testing to accurately monitor the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced pavement foundations when subjected to rolling-wheel loadings. This study investigates the behavior of geosynthetic-reinforced pavement foundation systems through large-scale rolling-wheel tests performed with problematic subgrade soils found in north Georgia. Sixteen large-scale specimens were constructed of which twelve were reinforced with geosynthetic. Subgrade soils were compacted either at their optimum moisture content or at a higher than optimum moisture content to produce different California Bearing Ratios during specimen preparation. Both an extruded biaxial geogrid and woven geotextile were placed at various locations to investigate the optimal placement locations for different subgrade conditions. Pressure sensors were installed near the bottom of the aggregate base layer and near the top of the subgrade layer to monitor the variations in vertical stress within the pavement system under rolling-wheel load. Further, light weight deflectometer measurements were collected post-test to determine the effect of the geosynthetic on pavement foundation stiffness. The vertical pressure at the bottom of the aggregate base and top of subgrade decreased on average approximately 15.3% and 18.8%, respectively. The results indicate which type of geosynthetic and placement location provides the greatest reduction of pressure for each of the given subgrade conditions.

Mixing in Large Scale Tanks: Part I — Flow Modeling of Turbulent Mixing Jets

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Young Lee ◽  
Robert A. Dimenna ◽  
Richard A. Leishear ◽  
David B. Stefanko
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Liquid Level ◽  
Computational Results ◽  
Validation Data ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Three Dimensional Representation ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Tank Geometry

Flow evolution models were developed to evaluate the performance of the new advanced design mixer pump (ADMP) for sludge mixing and removal operations in one of the large-scale Savannah River Site (SRS) waste tanks, Tank 18. This paper is the first in a series of four that describe the computational model and its validation, the experiment facility and the flow measurements used to provide the validation data, the extension of the computational results to real tank conditions through the use of existing sludge suspension data, and finally, the sludge removal results from actual Tank 18 operations using the new ADMP. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was used to simulate the sludge removal operations. The models employed a three-dimensional representation of the tank with a two-equation turbulence model, since this approach was verified by both test and literature data. The discharge of the ADMP was modeled as oppositely directed hydraulic jets submerged at the center of the 85-ft diameter tank, with pump suction taken from below. The calculations were based on prototypic tank geometry and nominal operating conditions. In the analysis, the magnitude of the local velocity was used as a measure of slurrying and suspension capability. The computational results showed that normal operations in Tank 18 with the ADMP mixer and a 70-in liquid level would provide adequate sludge removal in most regions of the tank. The exception was the region within about 1.2 ft of the tank wall, based on an historical minimum velocity required to suspend sludge. Sensitivity results showed that a higher tank liquid level and a lower elevation of pump nozzle would result in better performance in suspending and removing the sludge. These results were consistent with experimental observations.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document