Effect of Tip Vortex Reduction on Air-Cooled Condenser Axial Flow Fan Performance: an Experimental Investigation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
J.P. Pretorius ◽  
Johan A Erasmus
Keyword(s):  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Fan Performance

Abstract Large diameter axial flow fans are used in Air-cooled Condenser (ACC) systems of modern power stations. Efficiency improvements on these fans can significantly reduce the ACC power consumption and increase the net sent-out power to the grid. This study targets fan performance enhancement through blade tip vortex reduction. Experimental investigations are performed on a representative ACC scale fan, where tests consider the effects of tip clearance and two new tip endplate designs on fan performance. Test results confirm the findings of previous studies, showing the negative effect of increasing tip clearance on performance. Despite testing limitations, results from tests incorporating endplates show fan static pressure coefficient and efficiency increases over large ranges of flow coefficient compared to the datum fan. These outcomes agree with observations from literature and warrants further exploration. Future work is recommended to provide confirmation on the presented trends.

Effect of Tip Vortex Reduction on Air-Cooled Condenser Axial Flow Fan Performance: An Experimental Investigation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Pretorius ◽  
J. A. Erasmus
Keyword(s):  
Performance Test ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Fan Performance

Abstract Large diameter axial flow fans are used in Air-cooled Condenser (ACC) systems of modern power stations. Efficiency improvements on these fans can significantly reduce the ACC power consumption and increase the net sent-out power to the grid. This study targets fan performance enhancement through blade tip vortex reduction. Experimental investigations are performed on a representative ACC scale fan, where tests consider the effects of tip clearance and two new tip endplate designs on fan performance. Test results confirm the findings of previous studies, showing the negative effect of increasing tip clearance on performance. Despite testing limitations, results from tests incorporating endplates show fan static pressure coefficient and efficiency increases over large ranges of flow coefficient compared to the datum fan. These outcomes agree with observations from literature and warrants further exploration. Future work is recommended to provide confirmation on the presented trends.

Aerodynamic Performance of an Axial Compressor Stage With Variable Rotor Blades and Variable Inlet Guide Vanes

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Václav Cyrus
Keyword(s):  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Rotating Stall ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Flow Stage

Experimental investigations of flow fields and losses in an axial flow compressor stage were carried out. The stage has hub/tip ratio of 0.7. The design values of flow coefficient and pressure coefficient are 0.6 and 0.81, respectively. Aerodynamic performance was investigated for two principal configurations: i) axial flow stage with variable rotor blades, ii) axial flow stage with variable inlet guide and stator vanes. The most efficient volume flow rate regulation of the stage was with the application of variable rotor blades. On the basis of experimental data an analysis of the origin of flow separation on the suction and pressure surfaces of rotor and stator blades was made with the use of simple design criteria. The unsteady flow of rotating stall type in the tested stage appeared after simultaneous occurence of large stall regions in both rotor and stator blade rows. The existence of large stall regions in the IGV did not affect the rotating stall onset. At high values of the IGV stagger angle change (50 deg) pressure pulsations appeared due to the occurence of stall.

scholarly journals Study of Sweep and Induced Dihedral Effects in Subsonic Axial Flow Compressor Passages—Part II: Detailed Study of the Effects on Tip Leakage Phenomena

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. V. Ramakrishna ◽  
M. Govardhan
Keyword(s):  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Flow Compressor

This article presents the detailed study of rotor tip leakage related phenomena in a low speed axial compressor rotor passages for three sweep configurations [Unswept (UNS), Tip Chordline Swept (TCS) and Axially Swept (AXS)]. Fifteen domains are numerically studied with 5 sweep configurations (0°, 20°TCS, 30°TCS, 20°AXS, and 30°AXS) and for 3 tip clearances (0.0%, 0.7% and 2.7% of the blade chord). Results were well validated with experimental data. Observations near the tip reveal that UNS rotor shows high sensitivity than the swept rotors in the blade pressure distribution with change in tip clearance. AXS rotor has high loading capability and less tip clearance effect on blade loading at the near stall mass flow. Downstream shift of the vortex rollup along the chord is observed with increased flow coefficient and increment in the tip gap height. In particular, the effect of flow coefficient is more predominant on this effect. Tip vortex-related flow blockage is less with the swept rotors. Among the rotors, the AXS rotor is found to incur low total pressure losses attributable to tip leakage. Effect of incidence is observed on the flow leakage direction.

Early Stall Warning Technique for Axial-Flow Compressors

2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuyuki Tahara ◽  
Masahiro Kurosaki ◽  
Yutaka Ohta ◽  
Eisuke Outa ◽  
Takurou Nakajima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Index ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Stall Margin ◽  
Stall Warning

This paper proposes a unique stall risk index based on pressure signals by high-response transducers on the casing wall at the rotor leading-edge location. The aim of the research is to explore the possibility of reducing current excessive stall margin requirement for compressor design based on the worst-case scenario. The index is generated by computing correlation degradation of pressure time histories of current and one revolution before over each blade pitch. Tests conducted on a single-stage low-speed compressor exhibits that the correlation diminishes significantly with proximity to stall, and the proposed technique might have the capability of generating a stall warning signal sufficiently in advance of spike inception. Extensive experiments on a research compressor show that the degree of the index degradation depends on various factors, such as flow coefficient, tip clearance, and rotor blade incidence. In order to obtain a reliable stall warning signal in practical use, these effects must be carefully examined.

Unsteady behaviour of the tip clearance vortex in a rotor equivalent compressor cascade

2009 ◽  
Vol 223 (6) ◽  
pp. 635-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Schrapp ◽  
U Stark ◽  
H Saathoff
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Stability Limit ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Measuring System ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Experimental Proof ◽  
Tip Clearance Vortex

From earlier experimental investigations in a single-stage axial-flow pump and different numerical calculations of the flow in single-stage axial-flow compressors, it is known that vortex breakdown of the tip clearance vortex can take place in turbomachines, although an experimental proof for subsonic compressors is lacking. Vortex breakdown, if existent, is a source of high instability in the sensitive tip region of axial-flow pumps and compressors and will also play an important role in the stall inception process. Therefore, the flow in a linear compressor cascade with a 3 per cent tip clearance to one side has been investigated at different flow angles from the design point up to the stability limit of the cascade. The cascade resembles the tip section of a single-stage, axial-flow, low-speed compressor that is also in use at the Technical University of Braunschweig. The measuring techniques used were (a) a commercial particle image velocimetry (PIV) system and (b) a pressure measuring system with several flush mounted high-response pressure transducers at selected locations where the vortex was expected. As the cascade approaches its stall limit, the analysis of the pressure signals in the frequency domain revealed a bump of increased amplitude at a certain non-dimensional frequency for some of the measuring positions. The measuring positions that exhibited the bump correlated very well with a paraboloid-shaped region of high standard deviation enveloping an area of very low momentum fluid. It is shown that the frequency of the striking bump corresponds to the rotational frequency of the vortex calculated from the PIV measurements.

Investigation of Tip Clearance Phenomena in an Axial Compressor Cascade Using Euler and Navier–Stokes Procedures

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Kunz ◽  
B. Lakshminarayana ◽  
A. H. Basson
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Physical Phenomena

Three-dimensional Euler and full Navier–Stokes computational procedures have been utilized to simulate the flow field in an axial compressor cascade with tip clearance. An embedded H-grid topology was utilized to resolve the flow physics in the tip gap region. The numerical procedure employed is a finite difference Runge-Kutta scheme. Available measurements of blade static pressure distributions along the blade span, dynamic pressure and flow angle in the cascade outlet region, and spanwise distributions of blade normal force coefficient and circumferentially averaged flow angle are used for comparison. Several parameters that were varied in the experimental investigations were also varied in the computational studies. Specifically, measurements were taken and computations were performed on the configuration with and without: tip clearance, the presence of an endwall, inlet endwall total pressure profiles and simulated relative casing rotation. Additionally, both Euler and Navier–Stokes computations were performed to investigate the relative performance of these approaches in reconciling the physical phenomena considered. Results indicate that the Navier–Stokes procedure, which utilizes a low Reynolds number k–ε model, captures a variety of important physical phenomena associated with tip clearance flows with good accuracy. These include tip vortex strength and trajectory, blade loading near the tip, the interaction of the tip clearance flow with passage secondary flow, and the effects of relative endwall motion. The Euler computation provides good but somewhat diminished accuracy in resolution of some of these clearance phenomena. It is concluded that the level of modeling embodied in the present approach is sufficient to extract much of the tip region flow field information useful to designers of turbomachinery.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Aerodynamic Impact of Circumferentially Grooved Fan Casing Treatments With Integrated Acoustic Liners on a Turbofan Rotor

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Bozak ◽  
Gary G. Podboy
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Fan Noise ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Fan Performance ◽  
Acoustic Liners ◽  
Rotor Stator Interaction ◽  
Real Gas Effects

Abstract NASA is investigating the potential of integrating acoustic liners into fan cases to reduce fan noise, while maintaining the fans aerodynamic performance. An experiment was conducted to quantify the aerodynamic impact of circumferentially grooved fan cases with integrated acoustic liners on a 1.5 pressure ratio turbofan rotor. In order to improve the ability to measure small performance changes, fan performance calculations were updated to include real gas effects including the effect of humidity. For all fan cases tested, the measured difference in fan isentropic efficiency was found to be less than the measurement repeatability for a torque-based efficiency calculation (≈ 0.2%), however, an unintended tip clearance difference between configurations makes it difficult to determine if circumferentially grooved fan cases degraded fan performance. Fan exit turbulence measurements showed a 1.5% reduction in total turbulence intensity between hardwall and circumferentially grooved fan cases in the tip vortex region, which is attributed to a disruption in the formation of the tip leakage vortex. This decrease in fan exit turbulence could potentially lead to a 1–2dB reduction in broadband rotor-stator interaction noise. Reduced aerodynamic performance losses associated with over-the-rotor liners could enable further fan noise reduction.

Performance Improvement on Axial-Flow Fan by Imposing Proper Frame Ribs

2014 ◽  
Vol 598 ◽  
pp. 129-134
Author(s):  
Sheam Chyun Lin ◽  
Fu Yin Wang ◽  
Cheng Ju Chang ◽  
Hung Cheng Yen ◽  
Yung Jen Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Axial Flow Fan ◽  
Design Guideline ◽  
Fan Performance ◽  
Air Passage

Generally, most research attempts on the axial-flow fan focus on optimizing rotor blade and tip clearance to enhance its aerodynamic and acoustic performances. Few efforts aim at finding out the appropriate frame rib, which is a supporting and vital part within the air passage and thus has significant influence on the turbulent flow near the blade trailing edge. Therefore, this study intends to investigate the geometrical parameters of the frame rib systematically by using an integrated scheme, which consists of numerical simulation, mockup fabrication, and experimental verification. At first, a high-performance fan (90×90×38 mm3) is constructed to serve as the sample fan for this investigation. Then three geometrical sections (triangle, cylinder, and arc) of frame rib are examined systematically to provide a design guideline on utilizing the appropriate frame rib for enhancing the fan performance.

Tip Clearance and Tip Vortex Cavitation in an Axial Flow Pump

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 680-685 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Laborde ◽  
P. Chantrel ◽  
M. Mory
Keyword(s):  
Axial Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Tip Vortex Cavitation ◽  
Cavitation Inception ◽  
Rotating Machine ◽  
Axial Flow Pump ◽  
Gap Height ◽  
Flow Pump

A combined study of tip clearance and tip vortex cavitations in a pump-type rotating machine is presented. Cavitation patterns are observed and cavitation inception is determined for various gap heights, clearance and blade geometries, and rotor operating conditions. An optimum clearance geometry is seen to eliminate clearance cavitation when the clearance edge is rounded on the blade pressure side. The gap height has a strong effect on clearance cavitation inception, but the trends vary considerably when other parameters are also modified. The gap height and clearance geometry have less influence on tip vortex cavitation but forward and backward blade skew is observed to reduce and increase tip vortex cavitation, respectively, as compared to a blade with no skew.

Wake–Boundary Layer Interactions in an Axial Flow Turbine Rotor at Off-Design Conditions

1989 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. P. Hodson ◽  
J. S. Addison
Keyword(s):  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Flow Coefficient ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Edge Separation

A series of experimental investigations has been undertaken in a single-stage low-speed turbine. The measurements involved rotor blade surface flow visualization, surface-mounted hot-film anemometry, and exit pitot traverses. The effects of varying the flow coefficient and Reynolds number upon the performance of the rotor blade at midspan are described. At the design flow coefficient (φ = 0.495), the rotor pressure surface flow may be regarded as laminar, while on the suction surface, laminar flow gives way to unsteady stator wake-induced transition and then to turbulent flow. Over the range of Reynolds numbers investigated (1.8×105–3.3×105), the rotor midspan performance is dominated by the suction surface transition process; suction surface separation is prevented and the rotor midspan loss coefficient remains approximately constant throughout the range. At positive incidence, suction surface leading edge separation and transition are caused by a velocity overspeed. Reattachment occurs as the flow begins to accelerate toward the throat. The loss associated with the separation becomes significant with increasing incidence. At negative incidence, a velocity overspeed causes leading edge separation of the pressure side boundary layers. Reattachment generally occurs without full transition. The suction surface flow is virtually unaffected. Therefore, the rotor midspan profile loss remains unchanged from the zero incidence value until pressure side stall occurs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document