Flow in a “Cover-Plate” Preswirl Rotor–Stator System

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Karabay ◽  
J.-X. Chen ◽  
R. Pilbrow ◽  
M. Wilson ◽  
J. M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Flow ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Tangential Component ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Rotating Cavity ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Nondimensional Temperature

This paper describes a combined theoretical, computational, and experimental study of the flow in an adiabatic preswirl rotor–stator system. Preswirl cooling air, supplied through nozzles in the stator, flows radially outward, in the rotating cavity between the rotating disk and a cover-plate attached to it, leaving the system through blade-cooling holes in the disk. An axisymmetric elliptic solver, incorporating the Launder–Sharma low-Reynolds-number k–ε turbulence model, is used to compute the flow. An LDA system is used to measure the tangential component of velocity, Vφ, in the rotating cavity of a purpose-built rotating-disc rig. For rotational Reynolds numbers up to 1.2 × 106 and preswirl ratios up to 2.5, agreement between the computed and measured values of Vφ is mainly very good, and the results confirm that free-vortex flow occurs in most of the rotating cavity. Computed values of the preswirl effectiveness (or the nondimensional temperature difference between the preswirl and blade-cooling air) agree closely with theoretical values obtained from a thermodynamic analysis of an adiabatic system.

Flow in a “Cover-Plate” Pre-Swirl Rotor-Stator System

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Karabay ◽  
Jian-Xin Chen ◽  
Robert Pilbrow ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Vortex Flow ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Tangential Component ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Rotating Cavity ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Nondimensional Temperature

This paper describes a combined theoretical, computational and experimental study of the flow in an adiabatic pre-swirl rotor-stator system. Pre-swirl cooling air, supplied through nozzles in the stator, flows radially outward, in the rotating cavity between the rotating disc and a cover-plate attached to it, leaving the system through blade-cooling holes in the disc. An axisymmetric elliptic solver, incorporating the Launder-Sharma low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence model, is used to compute the flow. An LDA system is used to measure the tangential component of velocity, Vϕ, in the rotating cavity of a purpose-built rotating-disc rig. For rotational Reynolds numbers up to 1.2 × 106 and pre-swirl ratios up to 2.5, agreement between the computed and measured values of Vϕ is mainly very good, and the results confirm that free-vortex flow occurs throughout most of the rotating cavity. Computed values of the pre-swirl effectiveness (or the nondimensional temperature difference between the pre-swirl and blade-cooling air) agree closely with theoretical values obtained from a thermodynamic analysis of an adiabatic system.

Heat Transfer in a “Cover-Plate” Preswirl Rotating-Disk System

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pilbrow ◽  
H. Karabay ◽  
M. Wilson ◽  
J. M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Turbine Disk ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Nusselt Numbers ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Plate System

In most gas turbines, blade-cooling air is supplied from stationary preswirl nozzles that swirl the air in the direction of rotation of the turbine disk. In the “cover-plate” system, the preswirl nozzles are located radially inward of the blade-cooling holes in the disk, and the swirling airflows radially outward in the cavity between the disk and a cover-plate attached to it. In this combined computational and experimental paper, an axisymmetric elliptic solver, incorporating the Launder–Sharma and the Morse low-Reynolds-number k–ε turbulence models, is used to compute the flow and heat transfer. The computed Nusselt numbers for the heated “turbine disk” are compared with measured values obtained from a rotating-disk rig. Comparisons are presented, for a wide range of coolant flow rates, for rotational Reynolds numbers in the range 0.5 X 106 to 1.5 X 106, and for 0.9 < βp < 3.1, where βp is the preswirl ratio (or ratio of the tangential component of velocity of the cooling air at inlet to the system to that of the disk). Agreement between the computed and measured Nusselt numbers is reasonably good, particularly at the larger Reynolds numbers. A simplified numerical simulation is also conducted to show the effect of the swirl ratio and the other flow parameters on the flow and heat transfer in the cover-plate system.

Heat Transfer in a “Cover-Plate” Pre-Swirl Rotating-Disc System

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Pilbrow ◽  
Hasan Karabay ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Swirl Ratio ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Nusselt Numbers ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbine Disc ◽  
Cooling Air

In most gas turbines, blade-cooling air is supplied from stationary pre-swirl nozzles that swirl the air in the direction of rotation of the turbine disc. In the “cover-plate” system, the pre-swirl nozzles are located radially inward of the blade-cooling holes in the disc, and the swirling air flows radially outwards in the cavity between the disc and a cover-plate attached to it. In this combined computational and experimental paper, an axisymmetric elliptic solver, incorporating the Launder-Sharma and the Morse low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence models, is used to compute the flow and heat transfer. The computed Nusselt numbers for the heated “turbine disc” are compared with measured values obtained from a rotating-disc rig. Comparisons are presented, for a wide range of coolant flow rates, for rotational Reynolds numbers in the range 0.5 × 106 to 1.5 × 106, and for 0.9 < βp < 3.1, where βp is the pre-swirl ratio (or ratio of the tangential component of velocity of the cooling air at inlet to the system to that of the disc). Agreement between the computed and measured Nusselt numbers is reasonably good, particularly at the larger Reynolds numbers. A simplified numerical simulation is also conducted to show the effect of the swirl ratio and the other flow parameters on the flow and heat transfer in the cover-plate system.

Flow and Heat Transfer in a Rotating Cavity With a Stationary Stepped Casing

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul A. Jaafar ◽  
Fariborz Motallebi ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Laser Doppler Anemometry ◽  
Tangential Component ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Turbine Engine ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Rotating Cavity ◽  
Rotating Discs ◽  
Cooling Air

In this paper, new experimental results are presented for the flow in a co-rotating disc system with a rotating inner cylinder and a stationary stepped outer casing. The configuration is based on a turbine disc-cooling system used in a gas turbine engine. One of the rotating discs can be heated, and cooling air is introduced through discrete holes angled inward at the periphery of this disc. The cooling air leaves the system through axial clearances between the discs and the outer casing. Some features of computed flows, and both measured and computed heat transfer, were reported previously for this system. New velocity measurements, obtained using Laser Doppler Anemometry, are compared with results from axisymmetric, steady, turbulent flow computations obtained using a low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence model. The measurements and computations show that the tangential component of velocity is invariant with axial location in much of the cavity, and the data suggest that Rankine (combined free and forced) vortex flow occurs. The computations fail to reproduce this behaviour, and there are differences between measured and computed details of secondary flow recirculations. Possible reasons for these discrepancies, and their importance for the prediction of associated heat transfer, are discussed.

scholarly journals Performance of Pre-Swirl Rotating-Disc Systems

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Karabay ◽  
Robert Pilbrow ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Swirl Ratio ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper summarises and extends recent theoretical, computational and experimental research into the fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer characteristics of the so-called cover-plate pre-swirl system. Experiments were carried out in a purpose-built rotating-disc rig, and the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved using 2D (axisymmetric) and 3D computational codes, both of which incorporated low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence models. The free-vortex flow, which occurs inside the rotating cavity between the disc and cover-plate, is controlled principally by the pre-swirl ratio, βp: this is the ratio of the tangential velocity of the air leaving the nozzles to that of the rotating disc. Computed values of the tangential velocity are in good agreement with measurements, and computed distributions of pressure are in close agreement with those predicted by a one-dimensional theoretical model. It is shown theoretically and computationally that there is a critical pre-swirl ratio, βp,crit, for which the frictional moment on the rotating discs is zero, and there is an optimal pre-swirl ratio, βp,opt, where the average Nusselt number is a minimum. Computations show that, for βp < βp,opt, the temperature of the blade-cooling air decreases as βp increases; for βp > βp,opt, whether the temperature of the cooling air increases or decreases as βp increases depends on the flow conditions and on the temperature difference between the disc and the air. Owing to the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer near the blade-cooling holes, and to unquantifiable uncertainties in the experimental measurements, there were significant differences between the computed and measured temperatures of the blade-cooling air. In the main, the 3D computations produced smaller differences than the 2D computations.

Pre-Swirl Blade-Cooling Effectiveness in an Adiabatic Rotor-Stator System

1988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. B. El-Oun ◽  
J. M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Frictional Heating ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Reynolds Analogy ◽  
Cooling Effectiveness ◽  
Cooling Flows ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Experimental Errors ◽  
Radial Outflow ◽  
Cooling Air

Blade-cooling air for a high-pressure turbine is often supplied from pre-swirl nozzles attached to a stationary casing. By swirling the cooling air in the direction of rotation of the turbine disc, the temperature of the air relative to the blades can be reduced. The question addressed in this paper is: knowing the temperatures of the pre-swirl and disc-cooling flows, what is the temperature of the blade-cooling air? A simple theoretical model, based on the Reynolds analogy applied to an adiabatic rotor-stator system, is used to calculate the pre-swirl effectiveness (that is, the reduction in the temperature of the blade-cooling air as a result of pre-swirling the flow). A mixing model is used to account for the ‘contamination’ of the blade-coolant with disc-cooling air, and an approximate solution is used to estimate the effect of frictional heating on the disc-cooling air. Experiments were conducted in a rotor-stator rig which had pre-swirl nozzles in the stator and blade-cooling passages in the rotating disc. A radial outflow or inflow of disc-cooling air was also supplied, and measurements of the temperature difference between the pre-swirl and blade-cooling air were made for a range of flow rates and for rotational Reynolds numbers up to Reθ = 1.8 × 106. Considering the experimental errors in measuring the small temperature differences, good agreement between theory and experiment was achieved.

Pre-Swirl Cooling Air Delivery System Performance Study

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roman A. Didenko ◽  
Dmitry V. Karelin ◽  
Dmitry G. Ievlev ◽  
Yuri N. Shmotin ◽  
Georgy P. Nagoga
Keyword(s):  
Delivery System ◽  
System Performance ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Rotating Cavity ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Cavity Width

This paper reports the results from numerical simulations of the turbine blade cooling air delivery system performance using commercial CFD code Ansys CFX v11. Computations have been performed with variation of pre-swirl nozzle location radius, rotor-rotor rotating cavity width and the way of air transmission through the cover-plate. There are two ways of air transmission depending on the cover-plate design: through the CAO (circular array of orifices) or CAS (continuous annular slot). Computations are performed within the parameter range similar to gas-turbine engine operating conditions: 0.375<λT<0.98; 0.548<β0<2.5; 1.69·107<Reφ<2.33·107; 2.79·105<Cw<5.73·105. It has been shown that the selection of optimum radius of pre-swirl nozzle location is determined by different factors and depends on design and boundary conditions. The rotor-rotor rotating cavity width does not affect delivery system performances and is selected by a designer based on the constructional necessity, strength, weight and dynamic behavior of the turbine rotor. Rotating orifices reduce the swirl ratio βb before the blade cooling rim slot reduce adiabatic effectiveness Θ and increase loss coefficient ζ.

Preswirl Blade-Cooling Effectiveness in an Adiabatic Rotor–Stator System

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (4) ◽  
pp. 522-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. B. El-Oun ◽  
J. M. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Frictional Heating ◽  
Rotating Disk ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Reynolds Analogy ◽  
Cooling Effectiveness ◽  
Cooling Flows ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Experimental Errors ◽  
Radial Outflow ◽  
Cooling Air

Blade-cooling air for a high-pressure turbine is often supplied from preswirl nozzles attached to a stationary casing. By swirling the cooling air in the direction of rotation of the turbine disk, the temperature of the air relative to the blades can be reduced. The question addressed in this paper is: Knowing the temperatures of the preswirl and disk-cooling flows, what is the temperature of the blade-cooling air? A simple theoretical model, based on the Reynolds analogy applied to an adiabatic rotor–stator system, is used to calculate the preswirl effectiveness (that is, the reduction in the temperature of the blade-cooling air as a result of preswirling the flow). A mixing model is used to account for the “contamination” of the blade coolant with disk-cooling air, and an approximate solution is used to estimate the effect of frictional heating on the disk-cooling air. Experiments were conducted in a rotor–stator rig that had preswirl nozzles in the stator and blade-cooling passages in the rotating disk. A radial outflow or inflow of disk-cooling air was also supplied, and measurements of the temperature difference between the preswirl and blade-cooling air were made for a range of flow rates and for rotational Reynolds numbers up to Reθ = 1.8 × 106. Considering the experimental errors in measuring the small temperature differences, good agreement between theory and experiment was achieved.

Performance of Pre-Swirl Rotating-Disc Systems

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasan Karabay ◽  
Robert Pilbrow ◽  
Michael Wilson ◽  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Swirl Ratio ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
Blade Cooling ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper summarizes and extends recent theoretical, computational, and experimental research into the fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer characteristics of the so-called cover-plate pre-swirl system. Experiments were carried out in a purpose-built rotating-disc rig, and the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved using two-dimensional (axisymmetric) and three-dimensional computational codes, both of which incorporated low-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence models. The free-vortex flow, which occurs inside the rotating cavity between the disc and cover-plate, is controlled principally by the pre-swirl ratio, βp: this is the ratio of the tangential velocity of the air leaving the nozzles to that of the rotating disc. Computed values of the tangential velocity are in good agreement with measurements, and computed distributions of pressure are in close agreement with those predicted by a one-dimensional theoretical model. It is shown theoretically and computationally that there is a critical pre-swirl ratio, βp,crit, for which the frictional moment on the rotating discs is zero, and there is an optimal pre-swirl ratio, βp,opt, where the average Nusselt number is a minimum. Computations show that, for βp<βp,opt, the temperature of the blade-cooling air decreases as βp increases; for βp>βp,opt, whether the temperature of the cooling air increases or decreases as βp increases depends on the flow conditions and on the temperature difference between the disc and the air. Owing to the three-dimensional flow and heat transfer near the blade-cooling holes, and to unquantifiable uncertainties in the experimental measurements, there were significant differences between the computed and measured temperatures of the blade-cooling air. In the main, the three-dimensional computations produced smaller differences than the two-dimensional computations. [S0742-4795(00)01902-5]

scholarly journals Flow in a Rotating Cavity With a Peripheral Inlet and Outlet of Cooling Air

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Gan ◽  
Iraj Mirzaee ◽  
J. Michael Owen ◽  
D. Andrew S. Rees ◽  
Michael Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Turbulence Model ◽  
Laser Doppler Anemometry ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Recirculation Region ◽  
Rotating Disc ◽  
The Core ◽  
Radial Outflow ◽  
Cooling Air

In some engines, corotating gas–turbine discs are cooled by air introduced at the periphery of the system. The air enters through holes in a stationary peripheral casing and leaves through the rim seals between the casing and the discs. This paper describes a combined computational and experimental study of such a system for a range of flowrates and for rotational Reynolds numbers of up to Reϕ = 1.5 × 106. Computations are made using an axisymmetric elliptic solver, incorporating the Launder–Sharma low–Reynolds–number k–ε turbulence model, and velocity measurements are obtained using laser–Doppler anemometry. The stationary peripheral casing creates a recirculation region: there is radial outflow in boundary layers on the discs and inflow in the core between the boundary layers. The radial extent of the recirculation region increases as the flow rate increases and as the rotational speed decreases. In the core, the radial and tangential components of velocity, Vr and Vϕ, are invariant in the axial direction, and the measured values of Vϕ conform to a Rankine–vortex flow. The agreement between the computed and measured velocities is not as good as that found for other rotating–disc systems, and deficiencies in the turbulence model are believed to be responsible.

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