Modelling of the Tip Clearance Losses in Axial Flow Machines

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Nikolos ◽  
D. I. Douvikas ◽  
K. D. Papailiou
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Meridional Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Calculation Procedure ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Flow Compressor ◽  
Induced Velocity

The possibility of predicting the total pressure loss radial distribution, due to the tip clearance presence, is examined in this paper. Models advanced for the diffusion of a line vortex are used for the simulation of the leakage vortex induced velocity and pressure fields, with sufficient success. The leakage vortex strength seems to control directly only a small part of the total pressure loss distribution, the one connected with the pressure deficit and the rotating flow. The remaining profiles result as functions of a free parameter — the constant of integration — and an assumption is needed to close the problem. The widely proposed observation for lost secondary jet kinetic energy is considered as a method of predicting the total amount of tip clearance loss in successive planes inside and downstream the blade passage. A calculation procedure for predicting the tip clearance effects in the flow field inside and downstream the tip clearance, has been developed. The method, being compatible with a meridional flow calculation procedure, accounts for the calculation of the peripherally mean deficit profiles of the various flow quantities. The predictive capability of the calculation procedure is established in a wide range of test cases, including axial flow compressor cascades, isolated rotors and multi-row machines. The radial variation of tip clearance pressure loss is calculated with sufficient accuracy for engineering purposes.

Non-Axisymmetric Endwall Contouring in a Compressor Cascade With Tip Gap

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh K. Varpe ◽  
A. M. Pradeep
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Flow Solver ◽  
Pressure Loss Coefficient ◽  
Flow Compressor

This paper describes the design of a non-axisymmetric hub contouring in a shroudless axial flow compressor cascade operating at near stall condition. Although, an optimum tip clearance reduces the total pressure loss, further minimization of the losses using hub contouring was achieved. The design methodology presented here combines an evolutionary principle with a three-dimensional CFD flow solver to generate different geometric profiles of the hub systematically. The total pressure loss coefficient was used as a single objective function to guide the search process for the optimum hub geometry. The resulting three dimensionally complex hub promises considerable benefits discussed in detail in this paper. A reduction of 15.2% and 16.23% in the total pressure loss and secondary kinetic energy, respectively, was achieved in the wake. The blade loading was observed to improve by about 4.53%. Other complementary benefits are also listed in the paper. The results confirm that non-axisymmetric contouring is an effective method for reducing the losses and thereby improving the performance of the cascade.

Benefits of Nonaxisymmetric Endwall Contouring in a Compressor Cascade With a Tip Clearance

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh K. Varpe ◽  
A. M. Pradeep
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Pressure Loss Coefficient ◽  
Flow Compressor

This paper describes the design of a nonaxisymmetric hub contouring in a shroudless axial flow compressor cascade operating at near stall condition. Although an optimum tip clearance (TC) reduces the total pressure loss, further reduction in the loss was achieved using hub contouring. The design methodology presented here combines an evolutionary principle with a three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) flow solver to generate different geometric profiles of the hub systematically. The resulting configurations were preprocessed by GAMBIT© and subsequently analyzed computationally using ANSYSFluent©. The total pressure loss coefficient was used as a single objective function to guide the search process for the optimum hub geometry. The resulting three dimensionally complex hub promises considerable benefits discussed in detail in this paper. A reduction of 15.2% and 16.23% in the total pressure loss and secondary kinetic energy (SKE), respectively, is achieved in the wake region. An improvement of 4.53% in the blade loading is observed. Other complimentary benefits are also listed in the paper. The majority of the benefits are obtained away from the hub region. The contoured hub not only alters the pitchwise static pressure gradient but also acts as a vortex generator in an effort to alleviate the total pressure loss. The results confirm that nonaxisymmetric contouring is an effective method for reducing the losses and thereby improving the performance of the cascade.

The Prediction of the Tip Clearance Vortex Circulation and its Induced Flow Field in Axial Flow Machines

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Nikolos ◽  
D. I. Douvikas ◽  
K. D. Papailiou
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Meridional Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Calculation Procedure ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Radial Profiles ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Effects ◽  
Induced Velocity

A model for the prediction of the leakage vortex circulation was developed, based on the assumption that the leakage jet flow enters as a whole the vortex core, increasing its radius and its moment of momentum in the direction of the vortex axis. Using the assumption that the leakage vortex has a solid body rotation, an expression was derived for the vortex circulation, which demonstrates that this circulation is proportional to the square root of the corresponding tip clearance height. This theoretical result is supported by the available experimental data for both compressors and turbines. A simple model was developed, which demonstrates the ability of the proposed theory to calculate the leakage vortex circulation, provided that the vortex trace is known. A method for predicting the tip clearance effects in the flow field inside and downstream the blade passage, compatible with a meridional flow calculation procedure, has been developed by the authors. The method uses incompressible considerations and accounts for the calculation of the circumferentially mean deficit radial profiles of the various flow quantities. In the calculation procedure the tip clearance flow effects are considered as a modification to the basic flow, existing in the absence of tip clearance. The complete calculation procedure was used in order to calculate the leakage vortex circulation and the induced velocity field in various axial flow cases, with satisfactory results.

scholarly journals Experimental Investigation of Rotor-Stator Interaction in Axial-Flow Turbines and Compressors

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-231
Author(s):  
Heinz E. Gallus
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Vector Fields ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Inlet Guide Vane ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Rotor Stator Interaction ◽  
Flow Compressor

Detailed results of unsteady flow measurements in a stator-rotor-stator assembly of an axial-flow turbine as well as an inlet guide vane-rotor-stator formation of an axial-flow compressor are presented in this paper.The measurements include the time-dependent 3-D velocity vector fields in the axial gaps between the blade rows by means of triple-hot wire-technique, furthermore the total pressure field downstream of the blade rows by means of semiconductor total pressure probes and the unsteady flow field determination in the rotor passages by LDV-technique. Special semiconductor pressure measurements along the casing all over the rotor tip clearance permit detailed discussion of the rotor tip clearance flows.The conclusion of the measured data provides a new and very instructive view of the physics of the unsteady blade-row interaction in axial-flow turbines and compressors.

Aerodynamic optimisation of a winglet-cavity tip in a high-pressure axial turbine cascade

2016 ◽  
Vol 232 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhihua Zhou ◽  
Shaowen Chen ◽  
Songtao Wang
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Clearance Flow

Tip clearance flow between rotating blades and the stationary casing in high-pressure turbines is very complex and is one of the most important factors influencing turbine performance. The rotor with a winglet-cavity tip is often used as an effective method to improve the loss resulting from the tip clearance flow. In this study, an aerodynamic geometric optimisation of a winglet-cavity tip was carried out in a linear unshrouded high-pressure axial turbine cascade. For the purpose of shaping the efficient winglet geometry of the rotor tip, a novel parameterisation method has been introduced in the optimisation procedure based on the computational fluid dynamics simulation and analysis. The reliability of a commercial computational fluid dynamics code with different turbulence models was first validated by contrasting with the experimental results, and the numerical total pressure loss and flow angle using the Baseline k-omega Model (BSL κ-ω model) shows a better agreement with the test data. Geometric parameterisation of blade tips along the pressure side and suction side was adopted to optimise the tip clearance flow, and an optimal winglet-cavity tip was proven to achieve lower tip leakage mass flow rate and total pressure loss than the flat tip and cavity tip. Compared to the numerical results of flat tip and cavity tip, the optimised winglet-cavity design, with the winglet along the pressure side and suction side, had lower tip leakage mass flow rate and total pressure loss. It offered a 35.7% reduction in the change ratio [Formula: see text]. In addition, the optimised winglet along pressure side and suction side, respectively, by using the parameterisation method was studied for investigating the individual effect of the pressure-side winglet and suction-side winglet on the tip clearance flow. It was found that the suction-side extension of the optimal winglet resulted in a greater reduction of aerodynamic loss and leakage mass flow than the pressure-side extension of the optimal winglet. Moreover, with the analysis based on the tip flow pattern, the numerical results show that the pressure-side winglet reduced the contraction coefficient, and the suction-side winglet reduced the aerodynamic loss effectively by decreasing the driving pressure difference near the blade tips, the leakage flow velocity, and the interaction between the leakage flow and the main flow. Overall, a better aerodynamic performance can be obtained by adopting the pressure-side and suction-side winglet-cavity simultaneously.

scholarly journals The Influence of Downstream Passage on the Flow Within an Annular S-Shaped Duct

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toyotaka Sonoda ◽  
Toshiyuki Arima ◽  
Mineyasu Oana
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Meridional Flow ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Compressor Performance

Experimental and numerical investigations were carried out to gain a better understanding or the flow characteristics within an annular S-shaped duct, including the influence of the shape of the downstream passage located at the exit of the duct on the flow. A duct with six struts and the same geometry as that used to connect the compressor spools on our new experimental small two-spool turbofan engine was investigated. Two types of downstream passage were used. One type had a straight annular passage and the other a curved annular passage with a similar meridional flow path geometry to that of the centrifugal compressor. Results showed that the total pressure loss near the hub is large due to instability of the flow, as compared with that near the casing. Also, a vortex related to the horseshoe vortex was observed near the casing, in the case of the curved annular passage, the total pressure loss near the hub was greatly increased compared with the case of the straight annular passage, and the spatial position of the above vortex depends on the passage core pressure gradient. Furthermore, results of calculation using an in-house-developed three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code with a low Reynolds number k-ε turbulence model were in good qualitative agreement with experimental results. According to the simulation results, a region of very high pressure loss is observed near the hub at the duct exit with the increase of inlet boundary layer thickness. Such regions of high pressure loss may act on the downstream compressor as a large inlet distortion, and strongly affect downstream compressor performance.

Optimal Design of the Volute for a Turbocharger Radial Flow Compressor

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mojaddam ◽  
Ali Hajilouy-Benisi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Movahhedy
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Radial Flow ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Radial Force ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Effective Parameters ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Design Point ◽  
Flow Compressor

In this research the design methods of radial flow compressor volutes are reviewed and the main criterions in volute primary designs are recognized and most effective ones are selected. The effective parameters i.e. spiral cross section area, circumferential area distribution, exit cone and tongue area of the compressor volute are parametrically studied to identifythe optimum values. A numerical model is prepared and verified through experimental data which are obtained from the designed turbocharger test rig. Different volutes are modeled and numerically evaluated using the same impeller and vane-less diffuser. For each model, the volute total pressure ratio, static pressure recovery and total pressure loss coefficients and the radial force on the impeller are calculated for different mass flow rates at design point and off-design conditions. The volute which shows better performanceand causes lower the net radial force on the impeller, at desiredmass flow rates is selected as an optimal one. The results show the volute design approach differences at the design point and off-design conditions. Improving the pressure ratio and reducing total pressure loss at design point, may result inthe worse conditions at off-design conditions as well as increasing radial force on the impeller.

The Influence of Downstream Passage on the Flow Within an Annular S-Shaped Duct

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 714-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Sonoda ◽  
T. Arima ◽  
M. Oana
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Flow Characteristics ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Meridional Flow ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Compressor Performance

Experimental and numerical investigations were carried out to gain a better understanding of the flow characteristics within an annular S-shaped duct, including the influence of the shape of the downstream passage located at the exit of the duct on the flow. A duct with six struts and the same geometry as that used to connect the compressor spools on our new experimental small two-spool turbofan engine was investigated. Two types of downstream passage were used. One type had a straight annular passage and the other a curved annular passage with a meridional flow path geometry similar to that of the centrifugal compressor. Results showed that the total pressure loss near the hub is large due to instability of the flow, as compared with that near the casing. Also, a vortex related to the horseshoe vortex was observed near the casing. In the case of the curved annular passage, the total pressure loss near the hub was greatly increased compared with the case of the straight annular passage, and the spatial position of this vortex depends on the passage core pressure gradient. Furthermore, results of calculation using an in-house-developed three-dimensional Navier–Stokes code with a low-Reynolds-number k–ε turbulence model were in good qualitative agreement with experimental results. According to the simulation results, a region of very high pressure loss is observed near the hub at the duct exit with the increase of inlet boundary layer thickness. Such regions of high pressure loss may act on the downstream compressor as a large inlet distortion, and strongly affect downstream compressor performance.

Design and Numerical Investigation of Advanced Radial Inlet for a Centrifugal Compressor Stage

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunbae Kim ◽  
Jay Koch
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor Stage ◽  
Initial Design ◽  
Wide Range

The performance of a centrifugal compressor stage can be seriously affected by inlet flow distortions due to an unsatisfactory inlet configuration and the resulting flow structure. In this study, two radial inlets were designed for a centrifugal compressor stage and investigated numerically using a commercially available 3D viscous Navier-Stokes code. The intent of the design was to minimize the total pressure loss across the inlet while distributing the flow as equally and uniformly as possible to the impeller inlet. For each inlet model, the aerodynamic performance was calculated from the simulation results and then the results from both models were evaluated and compared. The second radial inlet design outperformed the initial design in terms of total pressure loss, flow distortion and uniformity at the impeller inlet. Furthermore, the aerodynamic performance of the second radial inlet was insensitive to a wide range of mass flow rates compared to the initial design due to the distinctive geometric features implemented for the second inlet design.

Flowfield Investigation of a Compressor Cascade at High Incidence—Part 1: Pneumatic Probe Measurements

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavlos K. Zachos ◽  
Vassilios Pachidis ◽  
Bernard Charnley ◽  
Pericles Pilidis
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Quantitative Measure ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Total Pressure Loss ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Pressure Surface

The performance prediction of axial flow compressors and turbines still relies on the stationary testing of blade cascades. Most of the blade testing studies are done for operating conditions close to the design point or in off-design areas not too far from it. However, blade performance remains unexplored at very far off-design conditions, such as windmilling, characterised by operation under extremely low mass flows and rotational speeds which, in turn, imply highly negative incidence angle values. In this paper, the flow field generated by a 3-dimensional linear compressor cascade at a highly negative incidence angle and zero rotational speed is experimentally investigated using a pneumatic miniature cobra probe. The main objective of the study is to derive the total pressure loss through the blades at such a highly negative incidence angle. An overview of the blade geometry as well as of the experimental facility is given whereas the measurement strategy and the data acquisition technique are also presented. An uncertainty study taking into account the most significant factors affecting the quality of the results has been carried out. As shown by the measurements taken at specific positions downstream of the blades, the flowfield is dominated by highly separated flows on the pressure surface, which contribute to the increased values of the total pressure loss coefficient which seems to be weakly dependent on the inlet Mach number. The quantitative measure of the pressure losses at the extremely negative incidence angle examined can be considered to be a validation platform for correspondent numerical studies of similar flow conditions. Additionally, the experimental results obtained can be used to extend the applicability of the current pressure loss models, increasing the predictive capability of the through flow numerical approaches towards far off-design areas of component or whole engine operation.

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