scholarly journals TRANSONIC RELIEF IN FANS AND COMPRESSORS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Demetrios Lefas ◽  
Robert Miller
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Strong Shock ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Will Self ◽  
Optimal Area ◽  
Transonic Fan

Abstract Every supersonic fan/compressor blade row has a streamtube, the ‘sonic streamtube’, which operates with a blade relative inlet Mach number of one. A key parameter in the design of the ‘sonic streamtube’ is the area ratio between the blade throat area and upstream passage area, Athroat/Ainlet. In this paper, it is shown that one unique value exists for this area ratio. If the area ratio differs, even slightly, from this unique value then the blade either chokes or has its suction surface boundary layer separated due to a strong shock. It is therefore surprising that in practice designers have relatively little problem designing blade sections with an inlet relative Mach number close to unity. This paper shows that this occurs due to a physical mechanism known as ‘transonic relief’. If a designer makes a mistake and designs a blade with a ‘sonic streamtube’ which has the wrong area ratio, then ‘transonic relief’, will self-adjust the spanwise streamtube height automatically moving it towards the unique optimal area ratio, correcting for the designer's error. Furthermore, as the blade incidence changes, the spanwise streamtube height self-adjusts, moving the area ratio towards its unique optimal value. Without ‘transonic relief’, supersonic or transonic fan/compressor design would be impossible. The paper develops a simple model which allows ‘transonic relief’ to be decoupled from other mechanisms, and to be systematically studied. The physical mechanism on which it is based is thus determined and its implications for blade design and manufacturing discussed.

Transonic Relief in Fans and Compressors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demetrios Lefas ◽  
Robert J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Physical Mechanism ◽  
Strong Shock ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Will Self ◽  
Optimal Area ◽  
Transonic Fan

Abstract Every supersonic fan or compressor blade row has a streamtube, the ‘sonic streamtube’, which operates with a blade relative inlet Mach number of one. A key parameter in the design of the ‘sonic streamtube’ is the area ratio between the blade throat area and upstream passage area, Athroat/Ainlet. In this paper, it is shown that one unique value exists for this area ratio. If the area ratio differs, even slightly, from this unique value then the blade either chokes or has its suction surface boundary layer separated due to a strong shock. It is therefore surprising that in practice designers have relatively little problem designing blade sections with an inlet relative Mach number close to unity. This paper shows that this occurs due to a physical mechanism known as ‘transonic relief’. If a designer makes a mistake, and designs a blade with a ‘sonic streamtube’ which has the wrong area ratio, then ‘transonic relief’, will self-adjust the spanwise streamtube height automatically moving it towards the unique optimal area ratio, correcting for the designer’s error. Furthermore, as the blade incidence changes, the spanwise streamtube height self-adjusts, moving the area ratio towards its unique optimal value. Without ‘transonic relief’, supersonic and transonic fan and compressor design would be impossible. The paper develops a simple model which allows ‘transonic relief’ to be decoupled from other mechanisms, and to be systematically studied. The physical mechanism on which it is based is thus determined and its implications for blade design and manufacturing discussed.

Development of Controlled Diffusion Airfoils for Multistage Compressor Application

1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Hobbs ◽  
H. D. Weingold
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Standard Series ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Controlled Diffusion ◽  
Multistage Compressor ◽  
Inlet Conditions

A series of Controlled Diffusion Airfoils has been developed for multistage compressor application. These airfoils are designed analytically to be shock free at transonic Mach number and to avoid suction surface boundary layer separation for a range of inlet conditions necessary for stable compressor operation. They have demonstrated, in cascade testing, higher critical Mach number, higher incidence range, and higher loading capability than standard series airfoils designed for equivalent aerodynamic requirements. These airfoils have been shown, in single and multistage rig testing, to provide high efficiency, high loading capability, and ease of stage matching, leading to reduced development costs and improved surge margin. The Controlled Diffusion Airfoil profile shapes tend to have thicker leading and trailing edges than their standard series counterparts, leading to improved compressor durability.

Boundary Layer Development in the BR710 and BR715 LP Turbines—The Implementation of High-Lift and Ultra-High-Lift Concepts

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Howell ◽  
H. P. Hodson ◽  
V. Schulte ◽  
R. D. Stieger ◽  
Heinz-Peter Schiffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Unsteady Boundary Layer ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Cold Flow ◽  
Layer Behavior ◽  
Lp Turbine

This paper describes a detailed study into the unsteady boundary layer behavior in two high-lift and one ultra-high-lift Rolls-Royce Deutschland LP turbines. The objectives of the paper are to show that high-lift and ultra-high-lift concepts have been successfully incorporated into the design of these new LP turbine profiles. Measurements from surface mounted hot film sensors were made in full size, cold flow test rigs at the altitude test facility at Stuttgart University. The LP turbine blade profiles are thought to be state of the art in terms of their lift and design philosophy. The two high-lift profiles represent slightly different styles of velocity distribution. The first high-lift profile comes from a two-stage LP turbine (the BR710 cold-flow, high-lift demonstrator rig). The second high-lift profile tested is from a three-stage machine (the BR715 LPT rig). The ultra-high-lift profile measurements come from a redesign of the BR715 LP turbine: this is designated the BR715UHL LP turbine. This ultra-high-lift profile represents a 12 percent reduction in blade numbers compared to the original BR715 turbine. The results from NGV2 on all of the turbines show “classical” unsteady boundary layer behavior. The measurements from NGV3 (of both the BR715 and BR715UHL turbines) are more complicated, but can still be broken down into classical regions of wake-induced transition, natural transition and calming. The wakes from both upstream rotors and NGVs interact in a complicated manner, affecting the suction surface boundary layer of NGV3. This has important implications for the prediction of the flows on blade rows in multistage environments.

Physical Explanations of Tip Leakage Flow Field in an Axial Compressor Rotor

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masahiro Inoue ◽  
Masato Furukawa ◽  
Kazuhisa Saiki ◽  
Kazutoyo Yamada
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vortex Core ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Vortex Lines

Structure of a tip leakage flow field in an axial compressor rotor has been investigated by detailed numerical simulations and appropriate post-processing. Physical explanations of the structure are made in terms of vortex-core identification, normalized helicity, vortex-lines, limiting streamlines, etc. The onset of the discrete tip leakage vortex is located on the suction surface at some distance from the leading edge. The vortex core with high vorticity is generated from a shear layer between the leakage jet flow and the main flow. The streamlines in the leakage flow are coiling around the vortex core. All the vortex-lines in the tip leakage vortex core link to ones in the suction surface boundary layer. The other vortex-lines in the suction surface boundary layer link to the vortex-lines in the pressure surface boundary layer and in the casing wall boundary layer. There are two mechanisms to reduce intensity of the tip leakage vortex: one is reduction of discharged vorticity caused by the linkage of vortex-lines between the suction surface and casing wall boundary layers, and another is diffusion of vorticity from the tip leakage vortex. Relative motion of the endwall has a substantial influence on the structure of the leakage flow field. In the case of a compressor rotor, it intensifies streamwise vorticity of the leakage vortex but reduces leakage flow loss.

Predicting the Profile Loss of High-Lift Low Pressure Turbines

2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Coull ◽  
Howard P. Hodson
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Velocity Distribution ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Profile Loss

The overall efficiency of low pressure turbines is largely determined by the two-dimensional profile loss, which is dominated by the contribution of the suction surface boundary layer. This boundary layer typically features a laminar separation bubble and is subjected to an inherently unsteady disturbance environment. The complexity of the flow behavior makes it difficult to numerically predict the profile loss. To address this problem, an empirical method is proposed for predicting the boundary layer integral parameters at the suction surface trailing edge, allowing the profile loss to be estimated. Extensive measurements have been conducted on a flat plate simulation of the suction surface boundary layer. The disturbance environment of real machines was modeled using a moving bar wake generator and a turbulence grid. From this data set, empirically based methods have been formulated using physical principles for the prediction of the momentum thickness and shape factor at the suction surface trailing edge. The predictions of these methods may be used to estimate the profile loss of a given cascade, which achieves reasonable agreement with the available data. By parameterizing the shape of the suction surface velocity distribution, the method is recast as a preliminary design tool. Powerfully, this may be used to guide the selection of the key design parameters (such as the blade loading and velocity distribution shape) and enables a reasonable estimation of the unsteady profile loss to be made at a very early stage of design. To illustrate the capabilities of the preliminary design tool, different styles of velocity distribution are evaluated for fixed blade loading and flow angles. The predictions suggest that relatively “flat-top” designs will have the lowest profile loss but good performance can also be achieved with front-loaded “peaky” distributions. The latter designs are more likely to have acceptable incidence tolerance.

Development of Controlled Diffusion Airfoils for Multistage Compressor Application

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Hobbs ◽  
H. D. Weingold
Keyword(s):  
High Efficiency ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Standard Series ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Controlled Diffusion ◽  
Multistage Compressor ◽  
Mach Numbers ◽  
Inlet Conditions

A series of Controlled Diffusion Airfoils has been developed for multistage compressor application. These airfoils are designed analytically to be shock-free at transonic Mach numbers and to avoid suction surface boundary layer separation for a range of inlet conditions necessary for stable compressor operation. They have demonstrated, in cascade testing, higher critical Mach numbers, higher incidence range, and higher loading capability than standard series airfoils designed for equivalent aerodynamic requirements. These airfoils have been shown, in single and multistage rig testing, to provide high efficiency, high loading capability, and ease of stage matching, leading to reduced development costs and improved surge margin. The Controlled Diffusion Airfoil profile shapes tend to have thicker leading and trailing edges than their standard series counterparts, which lead to improved compressor durability.

scholarly journals Direct numerical simulations of transition in a compressor cascade: the influence of free-stream turbulence

2010 ◽  
Vol 665 ◽  
pp. 57-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAMER A. ZAKI ◽  
JAN G. WISSINK ◽  
WOLFGANG RODI ◽  
PAUL A. DURBIN
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Pressure Gradient ◽  
Free Stream ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Bypass Transition ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence

The flow through a compressor passage without and with incoming free-stream grid turbulence is simulated. At moderate Reynolds number, laminar-to-turbulence transition can take place on both sides of the aerofoil, but proceeds in distinctly different manners. The direct numerical simulations (DNS) of this flow reveal the mechanics of breakdown to turbulence on both surfaces of the blade. The pressure surface boundary layer undergoes laminar separation in the absence of free-stream disturbances. When exposed to free-stream forcing, the boundary layer remains attached due to transition to turbulence upstream of the laminar separation point. Three types of breakdowns are observed; they combine characteristics of natural and bypass transition. In particular, instability waves, which trace back to discrete modes of the base flow, can be observed, but their development is not independent of the Klebanoff distortions that are caused by free-stream turbulent forcing. At a higher turbulence intensity, the transition mechanism shifts to a purely bypass scenario. Unlike the pressure side, the suction surface boundary layer separates independent of the free-stream condition, be it laminar or a moderate free-stream turbulence of intensityTu~ 3%. Upstream of the separation, the amplification of the Klebanoff distortions is suppressed in the favourable pressure gradient (FPG) region. This suppression is in agreement with simulations of constant pressure gradient boundary layers. FPG is normally stabilizing with respect to bypass transition to turbulence, but is, thereby, unfavourable with respect to separation. Downstream of the FPG section, a strong adverse pressure gradient (APG) on the suction surface of the blade causes the laminar boundary layer to separate. The separation surface is modulated in the instantaneous fields of the Klebanoff distortion inside the shear layer, which consists of forward and backward jet-like perturbations. Separation is followed by breakdown to turbulence and reattachment. As the free-stream turbulence intensity is increased,Tu~ 6.5%, transitional turbulent patches are initiated, and interact with the downstream separated flow, causing local attachment. The calming effect, or delayed re-establishment of the boundary layer separation, is observed in the wake of the turbulent events.

scholarly journals The Effect of Nonequilibrium Boundary Layers on Compressor Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew P. S. Wheeler ◽  
Anthony M. J. Dickens ◽  
Robert J. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Compressor Blade ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Order Model ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Reduced Order ◽  
Compressor Performance ◽  
Profile Loss ◽  
Made In

The paper investigates the effect of nonequilibrium behavior of boundary layers on the profile loss of a compressor. The investigation is undertaken using both high fidelity simulations of a midheight section of a compressor blade and a reduced order model, MISES. The solutions are validated using experimental measurements made in the embedded stage of a multistage low speed compressor. The paper shows that up to 35% of the suction surface boundary layer of the compressor blade exhibits nonequilibrium behavior. The size of this region reduces as the Reynolds number is increased. The nonequilibrium behavior was found to reduce profile loss in cases of attached transition and raise loss where transition occurs through separation.

Control of separations in a highly loaded diffusion cascade by tailored boundary layer suction

2013 ◽  
Vol 228 (8) ◽  
pp. 1363-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Cao ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Ting Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Separated Flows ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layer Suction ◽  
Highly Loaded

In order to explore the control mechanism of boundary layer suction on the separated flows of highly loaded diffusion cascades, a linear compressor cascade, which has separated flows on the whole span and three-dimensional separations over the suction surface/endwall corner, was investigated by tailored boundary layer suction. Three suction surface-slotted schemes and two combined suction surface/endwall-slotted schemes were designed. The original cascade and the cascade with part blade span suction were experimentally investigated on a high-subsonic cascade wind tunnel. In addition, numerical simulation was employed to study the flow fields of different suction schemes in detail. The results shows that while tailored boundary layer suction at part blade span can effectively remove the separations at the suction span, the flow fields of other spans deteriorated. The reasons are the ‘C’ shape or reverse ‘C’ shape spanwise distribution of static pressure after part blade span boundary layer suction. Suction surface boundary layer suction over the whole span can obviously eliminate the separation at the suction surface. However, because of the endwall boundary layer, suction surface boundary layer suction cannot effectively remove the corner three-dimensional separation. The separation over the whole span and the three-dimensional separation at the corner are completely eliminated by combined suction surface/endwall boundary layer suction. After combined boundary layer suction, the static pressure distribution over the blade span just like the shape of ‘C’ is good for the transport of the low-energy fluid near the endwall to the midspan.

Measurements and Prediction of the Effects of Surface Roughness on Profile Losses and Deviation in a Turbine Cascade

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Kind ◽  
Peter J. Serjak ◽  
Michael W. P. Abbott
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Roughness Height ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Roughness Effects ◽  
Surface Boundary Layer ◽  
Profile Losses

Measurements of pressure distributions, profile losses and flow deviation were carried out on a planar turbine cascade in incompressible flow to assess the effects of partial roughness coverage of the blade surfaces. Spanwise oriented bands of roughness were placed at various locations on the suction and pressure surfaces of the blades. Roughness height, spacing between roughness elements, and band width were varied. A computational method based on the inviscid/viscous interaction approach was also developed; its predictions were in good agreement with the experimental results. This indicates that good predictions can be expected for a variety of cascade and roughness configurations from any 2-dimensional analysis which couples an inviscid method with a suitable rough surface boundary-layer analysis. The work also suggests that incorporation of the rough wall skin-friction law into a 3-D Navier-Stokes code would enable good predictions of roughness effects in 3-dimensional situations. Roughness was found to have little effect on static pressure distribution around the blades and on deviation angle, provided that it does not precipitate substantial flow separation. Roughness on the suction surface can cause large increases in profile losses; roughness height and location of the leading edge of the roughness band are particularly important. Loss increments due to pressure-surface roughness are much smaller than those due to similar roughness on the suction surface.

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