Three-Dimensional Unsteady Flow for an Oscillating Turbine Blade and the Influence of Tip Leakage

1998 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Bell ◽  
L. He
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Computational Results ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Unsteady Pressure ◽  
Reduced Frequency

The results of two investigations, concerning the aerodynamic response of a turbine blade oscillating in a three-dimensional bending mode, are presented in this paper. The first is an experimental and computational study, designed to produce detailed three-dimensional test cases for aeroelastic applications and examine the ability of a three-dimensional time-marching Euler method to predict the relevant unsteady aerodynamics. Extensive blade surface unsteady pressure measurements were obtained over a range of reduced frequency from a test facility with clearly defined boundary conditions (Bell and He, 1997, ASME Paper No. 97-GT-105). The test data indicate a significant three-dimensional effect, whereby the amplitude of the unsteady pressure response at different spanwise locations is largely insensitive to the local bending amplitude. The computational results, which are the first to be supported by detailed three-dimensional test data, demonstrate the ability of the inviscid method to capture the three-dimensional behavior exhibited by the experimental measurements and a good level of quantitative agreement is achieved throughout the range of reduced frequency. Additional computational solutions, obtained through application of the strip methodology, reveal inadequacies in the conventional quasi-three-dimensional approach to the prediction of oscillating blade flows. The issue of linearity is also considered, and both experimental and computational results indicate a linear behavior of the unsteady aerodynamics. The second, an experimental investigation, addresses the influence of tip leakage upon the unsteady aerodynamic response of an oscillating turbine blade. Results are provided for three settings of tip clearance. The steady flow measurements show marked increases in the size and strength of the tip leakage vortex for the larger settings of tip clearance and deviations are present in the blade loading toward the tip section. The changes in tip clearance also caused distinct trends in the amplitude of the unsteady pressure at 90 percent span, which are observed to correspond with localized regions where the tip leakage flow had a discernible impact on the steady flow blade loading characteristic. The existence of these trends in the unsteady pressure response warrants further investigation into the influence of tip leakage on the local unsteady flow and aerodynamic damping. [S0889-504X(00)01101-6]

scholarly journals Three Dimensional Unsteady Flow for an Oscillating Turbine Blade and the Influence of Tip Leakage

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Bell ◽  
L. He
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Steady Flow ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Unsteady Pressure ◽  
Reduced Frequency

The results of two investigations, conducted on the aerodynamic response of a turbine blade oscillating in a three dimensional bending mode, are presented in this paper. The first is an experimental and computational study, designed to produce detailed three dimensional test cases for aeroelastic applications and examine the ability of a 3D time-marching Euler method to predict the relevant unsteady aerodynamics. Extensive blade surface unsteady pressure measurements were obtained for a range of reduced frequency, from a test facility with clearly defined boundary conditions, Bell & He (1997). The test data exhibits a significant three dimensional effect, whereby the amplitude of the unsteady pressure response at different spanwise positions is largely insensitive to the local bending amplitude. The inviscid numerical scheme successfully captured this behaviour, and a good qualitative and quantitative agreement with the test data was achieved for the full range of reduced frequency. In addition, the issue of linearity is addressed and both experimental and numerical tests demonstrate a linear behaviour of the unsteady aerodynamics. The second, an experimental investigation, considers the influence of tip leakage on the unsteady pressure response of an oscillating turbine blade. Results are provided for three tip clearances. The steady flow measurements show marked increases in the size and strength of the tip leakage vortex for the larger tip gaps and deviations in the blade loading towards the tip section. The changes in tip gap also caused distinct trends in the amplitude of the unsteady pressure at 90% span, which were consistent with those observed for steady flow blade loading. It is the authors opinion, that the existence of these trends in unsteady pressure warrants further investigation into the influence of tip leakage upon the local unsteady flow and aerodynamic damping.

Influences of Tip Leakage Flows Discharged From Main and Splitter Blades on Flow Field in Transonic Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanao Kaneko ◽  
Hoshio Tsujita
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
Transonic Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Tip Leakage Flows

A transonic centrifugal compressor impeller is generally composed of the main and the splitter blades which are different in chord length. As a result, the tip leakage flows from the main and the splitter blades interact with each other and then complicate the flow field in the compressor. In this study, in order to clarify the individual influences of these leakage flows on the flow field in the transonic centrifugal compressor stage at near-choke to near-stall condition, the flows in the compressor at four conditions prescribed by the presence and the absence of the tip clearances were analyzed numerically. The computed results clarified the following noticeable phenomena. The tip clearance of the main blade induces the tip leakage vortex from the leading edge of the main blade. This vortex decreases the blade loading of the main blade to the negative value by the increase of the flow acceleration along the suction surface of the splitter blade, and consequently induces the tip leakage vortex caused by the negative blade loading of the main blade at any operating points. These phenomena decline the impeller efficiency. On the other hand, the tip clearance of the splitter blade decreases the afore mentioned acceleration by the formation of the tip leakage vortex from the leading edge of the splitter blade and the decrease of the incidence angle for the splitter blade caused by the suction of the flow into the tip clearance. These phenomena reduce the loss generated by the negative blade loading of the main blade and consequently reduce the decline of the impeller efficiency. Moreover, the tip clearances enlarge the flow separation around the diffuser inlet and then decline the diffuser performance independently of the operating points.

Three-Dimensional Navier-Stokes Analysis of Turbine Rotor and Tip-Leakage Flowfield

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Luo ◽  
B. Lakshminarayana
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip

The 3-D viscous flowfield in the rotor passage of a single-stage turbine, including the tip-leakage flow, is computed using a Navier-Stokes procedure. A grid-generation code has been developed to obtain embedded H grids inside the rotor tip gap. The blade tip geometry is accurately modeled without any “pinching”. Chien’s low-Reynolds-number k-ε model is employed for turbulence closure. Both the mean-flow and turbulence transport equations are integrated in time using a four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme. The computational results for the entire turbine rotor flow, particularly the tip-leakage flow and the secondary flows, are interpreted and compared with available data. The predictions for major features of the flowfield are found to be in good agreement with the data. Complicated interactions between the tip-clearance flows and the secondary flows are examined in detail. The effects of endwall rotation on the development and interaction of secondary and tip-leakage vortices are also analyzed.

Effect of Turbine Blade Tip Cooling Configuration on Tip Leakage Flow and Heat Transfer

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergen Sakaoglu ◽  
Harika S. Kahveci
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Thermal Response ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip

Abstract The pressure difference between suction and pressure sides of a turbine blade leads to tip leakage flow, which adversely affects the first-stage high-pressure (HP) turbine blade tip aerodynamics. In modern gas turbines, HP turbine blade tips are exposed to extreme thermal conditions requiring cooling. If the coolant jet directed into the blade tip gap cannot counter the leakage flow, it will simply add up to the pressure losses due to leakage. Therefore, the compromise between the aerodynamic loss and the gain in tip-cooling effectiveness must be optimized. In this paper, the effect of tip-cooling configuration on the turbine blade tip is investigated numerically from both aerodynamics and thermal aspects to determine the optimum configuration. Computations are performed using the tip cross section of GE-E3 HP turbine first-stage blade for squealer and flat tips, where the number, location, and diameter of holes are varied. The study presents a discussion on the overall loss coefficient, total pressure loss across the tip clearance, and variation in heat transfer on the blade tip. Increasing the coolant mass flow rate using more holes or by increasing the hole diameter results in a decrease in the area-averaged Nusselt number on the tip floor. Both aerodynamic and thermal response of squealer tips to the implementation of cooling holes is superior to their flat counterparts. Among the studied configurations, the squealer tip with a larger number of cooling holes located toward the pressure side is highlighted to have the best cooling performance.

Experimental Investigation of a Single Stage Axial Flow Compressor With Controlled Diffusion Airfoils

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Pieper ◽  
J. Schulte ◽  
A. Hoynacki ◽  
H. E. Gallus
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Field ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Average Technique ◽  
Unsteady Pressure ◽  
Controlled Diffusion

In order to verify an inverse design concept for modern compressor bladings, a subsonic compressor front stage with IGV was investigated. One objective of the design was to survey the flow field in detail, with emphasis on 3D viscous and unsteady aspects of the flow. Therefore, the compressor was equipped with various steady and unsteady measurement techniques. Additionally, a compressor design was chosen that allows an extension up to three stages with regard to the investigation of multistage axial compressor flow behavior. Test results of the steady measurements are discussed for IGV, rotor, and stator flow at design conditions as well as the overall stage performance. The measurements of the steady flow behavior confirm the expected design performance and show the high potential of the controlled diffusion airfoil concept. Only at the side walls near hub and casing there are some differences between design and measurement due to the complex three dimensional flow. For the study of unsteady effects, detailed measurements using hot-wire probes, glue-on hot-films, and semiconductor pressure transducers were performed. All measurements are evaluated using the ensemble-average technique. The results show how the boundary layers of the inlet guide vanes and stator blades develop in a flow that is periodically disturbed by the rotor. Time-dependent pressure distributions at midspan of both stators are described. In addition, the unsteady pressure field at the casing above the rotor was investigated. The minimum wall pressure is located away from the blade suction surface. The effects of tip clearance flow on the performance are presented. The radial extent covers 15% span from the tip. At rotor exit, the unsteady pressure field and the time-dependent three-dimensional velocity vectors illustrate the salient features of the viscous flow associated with the rotor.

The Low Reduced Frequency Limit of Vibrating Airfoils: Part II — Numerical Experiments

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almudena Vega ◽  
Roque Corral
Keyword(s):  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Unsteady Aerodynamics ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Influence Coefficient ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Unsteady Pressure ◽  
Reduced Frequency ◽  
Influence Coefficients ◽  
Frequency Regime

This paper studies the unsteady aerodynamics of vibrating airfoils in the low reduced frequency regime with special emphasis in its impact on the scaling of the work per cycle curves using an asymptotic approach (Part I) and numerical simulations. A perturbation analysis of the linearized Navier-Stokes equations at low reduced frequency is presented and some conclusions are drawn (Part I of the corresponding paper). The first important result is that the loading of the airfoil plays an essential role in the trends of the phase and modulus of the unsteady pressure field caused by the vibration of the airfoil. For lightly loaded airfoils the unsteady pressure and the influence coefficients scale linearly with the reduced frequency whereas the phase departs from π/2 and changes linearly with the reduced frequency. As a consequence the work-per-cycle is proportional to the reduced frequency for any inter-blade phase angle and it is independent of its sign. For highly loaded airfoils the unsteady pressure modulus is fairly constant exhibiting only a small correction with the reduced frequency, while the phase departs from zero varies linearly with it. In this case only the mean value of the work-per-cycle scales linearly with the reduced frequency. This behavior is independent of the geometry of the airfoil and in first approximation of the mode-shape. For symmetric cascades the work-per-cycle scales linearly with the reduced frequency irrespectively of whether the airfoil is loaded or not. Simulations using a frequency domain linearized Navier-Stokes solver have been carried out on a low-pressure turbine airfoil section, the NACA0012 and NACA65 profiles and a flat plate operating at different flow conditions to show the generality and correctness of the analytical conclusions. Both the traveling-wave and influence coefficient formulations of the problem are used in combination to increase the understanding and explore the nature of the unsteady pressure perturbations.

Effects of Tip Clearance on Unsteady Flow Characteristics in an Axial Turbine Stage

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Sun ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Zhenping Feng
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip

The clearance between the rotor blade tip and casing wall in turbomachinery passages induces leakage flow loss and thus degrades aerodynamic performance of the machine. The flow field in turbomachinery is significantly influenced by the rotor blade tip clearance size. To investigate the effects of tip clearance size on the rotor-stator interaction, the turbine stage profile from Matsunuma’s experimental tests was adopted, and the unsteady flow fields with two tip clearance sizes of 0.67% and 2.00% of blade span was numerical simulated based on Harmonic method using NUMECA software. By comparing with the domain scaling method, the accuracy of the harmonic method was verified. The interaction mechanism between the stator wake and the leakage flow was investigated. It is found that the recirculation induced by the stator wake is separated by a significant “interaction line” from the flow field close to the suction side in the clearance region. The trend of the pressure fluctuation is contrary on both sides of the line. When the stator wakes pass by the suction side, the pressure field fluctuates and the intensity of the tip leakage flow varies. With the clearance size increasing, the “interaction line” is more far away from the suction side and the intensity of tip leakage flow also fluctuates more strongly.

Tip-Clearance and Secondary Flows in a Transonic Compressor Rotor

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (4) ◽  
pp. 751-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Gerolymos ◽  
I. Vallet
Keyword(s):  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Computational Method ◽  
Tip Vortex ◽  
Computational Results ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
Compressor Rotor

The purpose of this paper is to investigate tip-clearance and secondary flows numerically in a transonic compressor rotor. The computational method used is based on the numerical integration of the Favre-Reynolds-averaged three-dimensional compressible Navier–Stokes equations, using the Launder–Sharma near-wall k–ε turbulence closure. In order to describe the flowfield through the tip and its interaction with the main flow accurately, a fine O-grid is used to discretize the tip-clearance gap. A patched O-grid is used to discretize locally the mixing-layer region created between the jetlike flow through the gap and the main flow. An H–O–H grid is used for the computation of the main flow. In order to substantiate the validity of the results, comparisons with experimental measurements are presented for the NASA_37 rotor near peak efficiency using three grids (of 106, 2 X 106, and 3 X 106 points, with 21, 31, and 41 radial stations within the gap, respectively). The Launder–Sharma k–ε model underestimates the hub corner stall present in this configuration. The computational results are then used to analyze the interblade-passage secondary flows, the flow within the tip-clearance gap, and the mixing downstream of the rotor. The computational results indicate the presence of an important leakage-interaction region where the leakage-vortex after crossing the passage shock-wave mixes with the pressure-side secondary flows. A second trailing-edge tip vortex is also clearly visible.

Time Accurate Euler Simulation of Interaction of Nozzle Wake and Secondary Flow With Rotor Blade in an Axial Turbine Stage Using Nonreflecting Boundary Conditions

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fan ◽  
B. Lakshminarayana
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Axial Turbine ◽  
Unsteady Pressure

The objective of this paper is to investigate the three dimensional unsteady flow interactions in a turbomachine stage. A three-dimensional time accurate Euler code has been developed using an explicit four-stage Runge-Kutta scheme. Three-dimensional unsteady non-reflecting boundary conditions are formulated at the inlet and at the outlet of the computational domain to remove the spurious numerical reflections. The three-dimensional code is first validated for 2-D and 3-D cascades with harmonic vortical inlet distortions. The effectiveness of non reflecting boundary conditions is demonstrated. The unsteady Euler solver is then used to simulate the propagation of nozzle wake and secondary flow through rotor and the resulting unsteady pressure field in an axial turbine stage. The three dimensional and time dependent propagation of nozzle wakes in the rotor blade row and the effects of nozzle secondary flow on the rotor unsteady surface pressure and passage flow field are studied. It was found that the unsteady flow field in the rotor is highly three-dimensional and the nozzle secondary flow has significant contribution to the unsteady pressure on the blade surfaces. Even though the steady flow at the midspan is nearly two-dimensional, the unsteady flow is 3-D and the unsteady pressure distribution can not by predicted by a 2-D analysis.

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