Viscous Throughflow Modelling for Multi-Stage Compressor Design

Author(s):  
M. A. Howard ◽  
S. J. Gallimore

An existing throughflow method for axial compressors, which accounts for the effects of spanwise mixing using a turbulent diffusion model, has been extended to include the viscous shear force on the endwall. The use of a shear force, consistent with a no-slip condition, on the annulus walls in the throughflow calculations allows realistic predictions of the velocity and flow angle profiles near the endwalls. The annulus wall boundary layers are therefore incorporated directly in the throughflow prediction. This eliminates the need for empirical blockage factors or independent annulus boundary layer calculations. The axisymmetric prediction can be further refined by specifying realistic spanwise variations of loss coefficient and deviation to model the three-dimensional endwall effects. The resulting throughflow calculation gives realistic predictions of flow properties across the whole span of a compressor. This is confirmed by comparison with measured data from both low and high speed multi-stage machines. The viscous throughflow method has been incorporated into an axial compressor design system. The method predicts the meridional velocity defects in the endwall region and consequently blading can be designed which allows for the increased incidence, and low dynamic head, near to the annulus walls.

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Howard ◽  
S. J. Gallimore

An existing throughflow method for axial compressors, which accounts for the effects of spanwise mixing using a turbulent diffusion model, has been extended to include the viscous shear force on the endwall. The use of a shear force, consistent with a no-slip condition, on the annulus walls in the throughflow calculations allows realistic predictions of the velocity and flow angle profiles near the endwalls. The annulus wall boundary layers are therefore incorporated directly into the throughflow prediction. This eliminates the need for empirical blockage factors or independent annulus boundary layer calculations. The axisymmetric prediction can be further refined by specifying realistic spanwise variations of loss coefficient and deviation to model the three-dimensional endwall effects. The resulting throughflow calculation gives realistic predictions of flow properties across the whole span of a compressor. This is confirmed by comparison with measured data from both low and high-speed multistage machines. The viscous throughflow method has been incorporated into an axial compressor design system. The method predicts the meridional velocity defects in the endwall region and consequently blading can be designed that allows for the increased incidence, and low dynamic head, near the annulus walls.


Author(s):  
Daniel J. Dorney ◽  
Om P. Sharma ◽  
Karen L. Gundy-Burlet

Axial compressors have inherently unsteady flow fields because of relative motion between rotor and stator airfoils. This relative motion leads to viscous and inviscid (potential) interactions between blade rows. As the number of stages increases in a turbomachine, the buildup of convected wakes can lead to progressively more complex wake/wake and wake/airfoil interactions. Variations in the relative circumferential positions of stators or rotors can change these interactions, leading to different unsteady forcing functions on airfoils and different compressor efficiencies. In addition, as the Mach number increases the interaction between blade rows can be intensified due to potential effects. In the current study an unsteady, quasi-three-dimensional Navier-Stokes analysis has been used to investigate the unsteady aerodynamics of stator clocking in a 1-1/2 stage compressor, typical of back stages used in high-pressure compressors of advanced commercial jet engines. The effects of turbulence have been modeled with both algebraic and two-equation models. The results presented include steady and unsteady surface pressures, efficiencies, boundary layer quantities and turbulence quantities. The main contribution of the current work has been to show that airfoil clocking can produce significant performance variations at the Mach numbers associated with an engine operating environment. In addition, the growth of turbulence has been quantified to aid in the development of models for the multi-stage steady analyses used in design systems.


Author(s):  
Simon Coldrick ◽  
Paul Ivey ◽  
Roger Wells

This paper describes preparatory work towards three dimensional flowfield measurements downstream of the rotor in an industrial, multistage, axial compressor, using a pneumatic pressure probe. The probe is of the steady state four hole cobra probe type. The design manufacture and calibration of the probe is described. CFD calculations have been undertaken in order to assess the feasability of using such a probe in the high speed compressor environment where space is limited. This includes effects of mounting the probe in close proximity to the downstream stator blades and whether it is necessary to adjust the calibration data to compensate for these effects.


Author(s):  
Fahua Gu ◽  
Mark R. Anderson

Throughflow analysis is a critical component for the multi-stage axial turbomachine design. The Euler throughflow approach has been developed over the last couple of decades, but has been less successful than its early peer, the streamline curvature approach. In this paper an Euler throughflow approach is described for engineering applications. It includes the steps needed to construct the stream surface, such as modifications for the incidence and deviation, and the throat area correction. The flow angle difference at the trailing edge and in the downstream non-bladed gap stations is resolved, and the numerical loss from solving the Euler equation is removed as well. This solver has been integrated into a comprehensive turbomachinery design system. It creates and modifies the machine geometries and predicts the machine performance at different levels of approximation, including one-dimensional design and analysis, quasi-three-dimensional methods (blade-to-blade and throughflow) and full-three-dimensional steady-state CFD analysis. The flow injection and extraction functions are described, as is the implementation of the radial mass distribution. Some discussion is dedicated to the shock calculation. Finally, examples are provided to demonstrate the pros and cons of the Euler throughflow approach and also to demonstrate the potential to solve for a wider range of flow conditions, particularly choked and transonic flows that limit stream function based solvers.


Author(s):  
Young Seok Kang ◽  
Tae Choon Park ◽  
Oh Sik Hwang ◽  
Soo Seok Yang

Recently, needs for Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and small aircraft are increasing and demands for small turbo jet or turbo fan engines are also increasing. Then, size and weight are the two main restrictions in UAV or small aircraft propulsion system applications. One method for resolving such a problem is to increase the pressure rise per stage and to reduce the number of stages. Nowadays, matured compressor aerodynamic design techniques enable us to design highly loaded axial compressors. This paper covers from the design step of a highly loaded transonic axial compressor to the performance test result and its analysis. At the fore part of the paper, aerodynamic process of a multi stage axial compressor is introduced. To satisfy both of the mass flow and pressure rise, the compressor should rotate at a high rotational speed. Therefore the transonic flow field forms in the rotor stages and it is designed with a relatively high pressure rise per stage to satisfy its design target. Basically, one dimensional and quasi three dimensional compressor design were carried with compressor design codes. The compressor stage consists of 3 stages, and the bulk pressure ratio is 2.5. The first stage is burdened with the highest pressure ratio and less pressure rises occur in the following stages. Also it is designed that tip Mach number of the first rotor row does not exceed 1.3. The final design was confirmed by iterating three dimensional CFD calculations to satisfy design target and some design intentions. In the latter part of the paper, its performance test processes are briefly introduced. The performance test result showed that the overall compressor performance targets; pressure ratio and efficiency are well achieved. From the test results, we found some clues for further improvement and optimization of the compressor aerodynamic performance.


Author(s):  
G. Woollatt ◽  
D. Lippett ◽  
P. C. Ivey ◽  
P. Timmis ◽  
B. A. Charnley

The focus of this paper is to report on measurements from and simulation of Cranfield University’s 3-stage high-speed axial compressor test rig. This newly built rig is supported by European Commission funding and has tested a set of conventionally stacked 2D rotor and stator blades (Reference 1). The results were used to evaluate and to assess the performance of several commercially available CFD codes leading to the collaborative design of an advanced three-dimensional blade set. The philosophy behind the advanced design is described. The datum test results show that the state of the art, highly loaded, datum compressor is well matched with limited potential for loss reduction. A comparison is made between the measured results and a series of numerical analyses using the various CFD codes. Although the codes showed reasonable qualitative agreement with each other and the measured data, there were significant differences in the predicted performance of the datum build. Further the codes were unable to grade candidate redesigns consistently on a quantitative basis and therefore increased the difficulty of selecting suitable ‘3d’ features. Generic studies involving sweep, lean and recambering are used to evolve a design philosophy for the advanced three-dimensional design. Over cambering of the end-wall sections, coupled with a suitable stack of the blades, enables the blade count to be reduced. In the presence of a clearance combinations of sweep and lean are used to modify the loading in the clearance gap, thereby influencing the associated losses. The application of three-dimensional features redistributes the flow. The opportunity is therefore taken to rematch the sections based on the predicted results of the CFD codes. The above philosophy is used in the redesign of the datum compressor. Overall characteristics and exit traverse results from the test of the advanced build are compared to those from the datum build.


Author(s):  
Christian Janke ◽  
Markus Goller ◽  
Ivo Martin ◽  
Lilia Gaun ◽  
Dieter Bestle

Compressor maps of aero engines show the relation between corrected mass flow, corrected shaft speed, pressure ratio, and efficiency, where different operating conditions of the compressor are represented by different speed lines. These speed lines are an important information for the compressor design process, since they show important operation bounds like surge and choke. Typically, 3D CFD compressor maps are computed with the so called hot geometry given by the aerodynamic design point. But in reality aerofoil shapes change depending on engine speeds and gas loads resulting in twist of the blades and changes of tip clearance. In order to obtain a higher quality compressor map, all these effects must be taken into account. Therefore, a process is utilized which uses coupled CFD and FE analyses to account for load adjusted geometries aside the design point. For transformation of FE results into the CFD model a cold-to-hot blade morphing technique is used. The studies are performed for a 4.5 stage high speed axial compressor, where effects of varying tip clearance and geometry deformation are considered separately from each other. Finally, their combined effects are studied.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Coldrick ◽  
Paul Ivey ◽  
Roger Wells

This paper describes preparatory work towards three-dimensional flowfield measurements downstream of the rotor in an industrial, multistage, axial compressor, using a pneumatic pressure probe. The probe is of the steady-state four-hole cobra probe type. The design manufacture and calibration of the probe is described. CFD calculations have been undertaken in order to assess the feasibility of using such a probe in the high-speed compressor environment where space is limited. This includes effects of mounting the probe in close proximity to the downstream stator blades and whether it is necessary to adjust the calibration data to compensate for these effects.


1987 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Dong ◽  
S. J. Gallimore ◽  
H. P. Hodson

Measurements have been performed in a low-speed high-reaction single-stage axial compressor. Data obtained within and downstream of the rotor, when correlated with the results of other investigations, provide a link between the existence of suction surface–hub corner separations, their associated loss mechanisms, and blade loading. Within the stator, it has been shown that introducing a small clearance between the stator blade and the stationary hub increases the efficiency of the stator compared to the case with no clearance. Oil flow visualizaton indicated that the leakage reduced the extensive suction surface–hub corner separation that would otherwise exist. A tracer gas experiment showed that the large radial shifts of the surface streamlines indicated by the oil flow technique were only present close to the blade. The investigation demonstrates the possible advantages of including hub clearance in axial flow compressor stator blade rows.


Author(s):  
James H. Page ◽  
Paul Hield ◽  
Paul G. Tucker

Semi-inverse design is the automatic re-cambering of an aerofoil, during a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculation, in order to achieve a target lift distribution while maintaining thickness, hence “semi-inverse”. In this design method, the streamwise distribution of curvature is replaced by a stream-wise distribution of lift. The authors have developed an inverse design code based on the method of Hield (2008) which can rapidly design three-dimensional fan blades in a multi-stage environment. The algorithm uses an inner loop to design to radially varying target lift distributions, an outer loop to achieve radial distributions of stage pressure ratio and exit flow angle, and a choked nozzle to set design mass flow. The code is easily wrapped around any CFD solver. In this paper, we describe a novel algorithm for designing simultaneously for specified performance at full speed and peak efficiency at part speed, without trade-offs between the targets at each of the two operating points. We also introduce a novel adaptive target lift distribution which automatically develops discontinuous changes of calculated magnitude, based on the passage shock, eliminating erroneous lift demands in the shock vicinity and maintaining a smooth aerofoil.


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