Flow Measurements in a Nozzle Guide Vane Passage With a Low Aspect Ratio and Endwall Contouring

Author(s):  
Steven W. Burd ◽  
Terrence W. Simon

The vast number of turbine cascade studies in the literature has been performed in straight-endwall, high-aspect-ratio, linear cascades. As a result, there has been little appreciation for the role of, and added complexity imposed by, reduced aspect ratios. There also has been little documentation of endwall profiling at these reduced spans. To examine the role of these factors on cascade hydrodynamics, a large-scale nozzle guide vane simulator was constructed at the Heat Transfer Laboratory of the University of Minnesota. This cascade is comprised of three airfoils between one contoured and one flat endwall. The geometries of the airfoils and endwalls, as well as the experimental conditions in the simulator, are representative of those in commercial operation. Measurements with hot-wire anemometry were taken to characterize the flow approaching the cascade. These measurements show that the flow field in this cascade is highly elliptic and influenced by pressure gradients that are established within the cascade. Exit flow field measurements with triple-sensor anemometry and pressure measurements within the cascade indicate that the acceleration imposed by endwall contouring and airfoil turning is able to suppress the size and strength of key secondary flow features. In addition, the flow field near the contoured endwall differs significantly from that adjacent to the straight endwall.

2000 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 659-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Burd ◽  
Terrence W. Simon

Most turbine cascade studies in the literature have been performed in straight-endwall, high-aspect-ratio, linear cascades. As a result, there has been little appreciation for the role of, and added complexity imposed by, reduced aspect ratios. There also has been little documentation of endwall profiling with these reduced spans. To examine the role of these factors on cascade hydrodynamics, a large-scale nozzle guide vane simulator was constructed at the Heat Transfer Laboratory of the University of Minnesota. This cascade is comprised of three airfoils between one contoured and one flat endwall. The geometries of the airfoils and endwalls, as well as the experimental conditions in the simulator, are representative of those in commercial operation. Measurements with hot-wire anemometry were taken to characterize the flow approaching the cascade. These measurements show that the flow field in this cascade is highly elliptic and influenced by pressure gradients that are established within the cascade. Exit flow field measurements with triple-sensor anemometry and pressure measurements within the cascade indicate that the acceleration imposed by endwall contouring and airfoil turning is able to suppress the size and strength of key secondary flow features. In addition, the flow field near the contoured endwall differs significantly from that adjacent to the straight endwall. [S0889-504X(00)01104-1]


Author(s):  
Tony Arts

This paper describes the numerical investigation of the three dimensional flow through a low speed, low aspect ratio, high turning annular turbine nozzle guide vane with meridional tip endwall contouring. This rotational flow field has been simulated using a finite volume discretization and a time marching technique to solve the three dimensional, time dependent Euler equations expressed in a cylindrical coordinates system. The results are presented under the form of contour plots, spanwise pitch-averaged distributions and blade static pressure distributions. Detailed comparisons with the measurements described in part I of the paper are also provided.


1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 983-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Boletis

Tip endwall contouring is one of the most effective methods to improve the performance of low aspect ratio turbine vanes [1]. In view of the wide variety of geometric parameters, it appears that only the physical understanding of the three-dimensional flow field will allow us to evaluate the probable benefits of a particular endwall contouring. The paper describes the experimental investigation of the three-dimensional flow through a low-speed, low aspect ratio, high-turning annular turbine nozzle guide vane with meridional tip endwall contouring. The full impact of the effects of tip contouring is evaluated by comparison with the results of a previous study in an annular turbine nozzle guide vane of the same blade and cascade geometry with cylindrical endwalls [12]. In parallel, the present experimental study provides a fully three-dimensional test case for comparison with advanced theoretical calculation methods [15]. The flow is explored by means of double-head, four-hole pressure probes in five axial planes from far upstream to downstream of the blade row. The results are presented in the form of contour plots and spanwise pitch-averaged distributions.


Author(s):  
M. Funes-Gallanzi ◽  
P. J. Bryanston-Cross ◽  
K. S. Chana

The quantitative whole field flow visualization technique of PIV has over the last few years been successfully demonstrated for transonic flow applications. A series of such measurements has been made at DRA Pyestock. Several of the development stages critical to a full engine application of the work have now been achieved using the Isentropic Light Piston Cascade (ILPC) test facility operating with high inlet turbulence levels: • A method of seeding the flow with 0.5μm diameter styrene particles has provided an even coverage of the flow field. • A method of projecting a 1 mm thick high power Nd/YAG laser light sheet within the turbine stator cascade. This has enabled a complete instantaneous intra-blade velocity mapping of the flow field to be visualized, by a specially developed diffraction-limited optics arrangement. • Software has been developed to automatically analyze the data. Due to the sparse nature of the data obtained, a spatial approach to the extraction of the velocity vector data was employed. • Finally, a comparison of the experimental results with those obtained from a three-dimensional viscous flow program of Dawes; using the Baldwin-Lomax model for eddy viscosity and assuming fully turbulent flow. The measurements provide an instantaneous quantitative whole field visualization of a high-speed unsteady region of flow in a highly three-dimensional nozzle guide vane; which has been successfully compared with a full viscous calculation. This work represents the first such measurements to be made in a full-size transonic annular cascade at engine representative conditions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Schneider ◽  
D. Schrack ◽  
M. Kuerner ◽  
M. G. Rose ◽  
S. Staudacher ◽  
...  

This paper addresses the unsteady formation of secondary flow structures inside a turbine rotor passage. The first stage of a two-stage, low-pressure turbine is investigated at a Reynolds Number of 75,000. The design represents the third and the fourth stages of an engine-representative, low-pressure turbine. The flow field inside the rotor passage is discussed in the relative frame of reference using the streamwise vorticity. A multistage unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) prediction provides the time-resolved data set required. It is supported by steady and unsteady area traverse data acquired with five-hole probes and dual-film probes at rotor inlet and exit. The unsteady analysis reveals a nonclassical secondary flow field inside the rotor passage of this turbine. The secondary flow field is dominated by flow structures related to the upstream nozzle guide vane. The interaction processes at hub and casing appear to be mirror images and have characteristic forms in time and space. Distinct loss zones are identified, which are associated with vane-rotor interaction processes. The distribution of the measured isentropic stage efficiency at rotor exit is shown, which is reduced significantly by the secondary flow structures discussed. Their impacts on the steady as well as on the unsteady angle characteristics at rotor exit are presented to address the influences on the inlet conditions of the downstream nozzle guide vane. It is concluded that URANS should improve the optimization of rotor geometry and rotor loss can be controlled, to a degree, by nozzle guide vane (NGV) design.


Author(s):  
E. Boletis ◽  
C. H. Sieverding

Measurements of the three dimensional flow field in annular turbine nozzle guide vanes present an important step in the simulation of the real flow conditions in turbomachinery bladings. This paper seeks to determine whether the installation of a rotor closely behind a high hub-to-tip ratio cascade (DH/DT=0.8) is indispensable for establishing correct flow conditions at the cascade exit or whether the use of an axial diffuser of a certain length is sufficient. Also, an attempt is made to separate the possible effects of the rotor blades from that of the rotating rotor disc. The tests are carried out on a low speed, low aspect ratio, high turning nozzle guide vane. The flow is explored by means of a double head four-hole pressure probe and the results are presented in the form of contour plots and spanwise pitch-averaged distributions of losses, flow angles and static pressure.


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