scholarly journals Influence of Rim Seal Geometry on Hot Gas Ingestion Into the Upstream Cavity of an Axial Turbine Stage

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Bohn ◽  
Bernd Rudzinski ◽  
Norbert Sürken ◽  
Wolfgang Gärtner
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Gas ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbines ◽  
Rotor Disk

The ingestion of hot gas at the rim seal of a turbine has been investigated for a complete stage with nozzle guide vanes and rotor blades for two types of geometry: 1. the simple axial gap between a flat rotor disk and a flat stator disk, commonly used for industrial gas turbines and 2. an axial lip of the rim seal on the stator combined with a flat rotor disk, often found in aero engine applications. The clearance of the axial gap has been varied for the second type. The efficiency of the rim seal has been examined for different seal flow rates, rotational Reynolds numbers and Mach numbers in the main flow. For the determination of the sealing effectiveness carbon dioxide gas concentration measurements have been carried out in the wheelspace. The distribution of the static pressure in the vicinity of the seal and inside the wheelspace has been measured by means of pressure taps at the stator disk. It is shown that the external flow Mach number in the main flow has a significant effect on the sealing efficiency. As Mach number increases sealing efficiency goes down. The rotational Reynolds number has a distinct effect on the rim seal efficiency depending on the examined configuration. Even for high seal flow rates the ingestion of hot gas can not be fully avoided. The experimental results were the motivation for a three-dimensional CFD approach neglecting the influence of the rotor blades. The results give further insight into aerodynamic features of the ingestion phenomenon.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Influence of Rotor Blades on Hot Gas Ingestion Into the Upstream Cavity of an Axial Turbine Stage

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Bohn ◽  
Bernd Rudzinski ◽  
Norbert Sürken ◽  
Wolfgang Gärtner
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Gas Concentration ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Gas ◽  
Static Pressure Distribution ◽  
Nozzle Guide

The phenomenon of hot gas ingestion through turbine rim seals is experimentally and numerically investigated for a complete stage with nozzle guide vanes and uncooled helicopter turbine rotor blades. In the experimental part, two different geometrical rim seal configurations are examined: 1. a simple axial gap between rotor and stator disk and 2. an axial gap between the rotor disk and a rim seal lip at the periphery of the stator disk. The results obtained are compared to experiments carried out for the same geometry but without rotor blades. The influence of the presence of rotor blades on hot gas ingestion is examined for different parameters such as nondimensional seal flow rate, Reynolds number in the turbine annulus and rotational speed. For the determination of the sealing efficiency measurements of carbon dioxide gas concentration are carried out in the wheelspace. The static pressure distribution in the cavity is measured by means of pressure taps at the stator disk. It is shown that for configuration 1 the presence of rotor blades causes a considerable drop in sealing efficiency whereas for configuration 2 the sealing efficiency increases significantly. In the numerical part results of three-dimensional unsteady CFD calculations for configuration 2 are compared to steady calculations for the same configuration without blades. Predictions of hot gas ingestion and carbon dioxide gas concentration in the hub region and inside the cavity are presented. Special emphasis is put on unsteady effects arising from rotor movement. A local ingestion zone rotating at approximately half rotor speed is numerically predicted. As indicated by the experimental results the rotor blades have a positive influence on the predicted sealing efficiency.

Influence of an Axial and Radial Rim Seal Geometry on Hot Gas Ingestion Into the Upstream Cavity of a 1.5-Stage Turbine

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter E. Bohn ◽  
Achim Decker ◽  
Nils Ohlendorf ◽  
Ralf Jakoby
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Gas Concentration ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Gas ◽  
Flow Parameters ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Rotor Disk

In gas turbines hot gas ingestion into the cavities between rotor and stator disks has to be avoided almost completely in order to ensure that the guaranteed lifetime of the turbine rotor disk will be reached. The influence of an axial and radial rim seal configuration geometry on the phenomenon of hot gas ingestion into the rim seal section and inside the front cavity of a 1.5-stage axial turbine is experimentally investigated. The results obtained for the reference axial configuration are compared to those for the radial configuration in the upstream cavity of the turbine. The hot gas ingestion phenomenon is examined for different flow parameters such as non-dimensional seal flow rate, Reynolds number in the main annulus and rotational speed. The sealing efficiency is determined by measurements of the carbon dioxide gas concentration in the cavity. Static pressure distributions are measured using pressure taps at the stator disk and rim seal lip. It will be shown for the axial rim seal geometry that the guide vanes mainly influence the flow field in the rim seal gap and inside the cavity whereas for the radial rim seal geometry such an influence is limited almost exclusively to the rim seal gap. For the radial rim seal a higher sealing efficiency was detected, mainly due to the different type of the rim seal.

Impingement Starting and Power Boosting of Small Gas Turbines

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Reverse Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Turbine Efficiency ◽  
Turbine Component ◽  
Velocity Coefficient ◽  
Radial Outflow

The technology of high-pressure air or hot-gas impingement from stationary shroud supplementary nozzles onto radial outflow compressors and radial inflow turbines to permit rapid gas turbine starting or power boosting is discussed. Data are presented on the equivalent turbine component performance for convergent/divergent shroud impingement nozzles, which reveal the sensitivity of nozzle velocity coefficient with Mach number and turbine efficiency with impingement nozzle admission arc. Compressor and turbine matching is addressed in the transient turbine start mode with the possibility of operating these components in braking or reverse flow regimes when impingement flow rates exceed design.

Ingestion Into the Upstream Wheelspace of an Axial Turbine Stage

1994 ◽  
Vol 116 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Green ◽  
A. B. Turner
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Rotor Speed ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Static Pressure Distribution ◽  
Axial Clearance

The upstream wheelspace of an axial air turbine stage complete with nozzle guide vanes (NGVs) and rotor blades (430 mm mean diameter) has been tested with the objective of examining the combined effect of NGVs and rotor blades on the level of mainstream ingestion for different seal flow rates. A simple axial clearance seal was used with the rotor spun up to 6650 rpm by drawing air through it from atmospheric pressure with a large centrifugal compressor. The effect of rotational speed was examined for several constant mainstream flow rates by controlling the rotor speed with an air brake. The circumferential variation in hub static pressure was measured at the trailing edge of the NGVs upstream of the seal gap and was found to affect ingestion significantly. The hub static pressure distribution on the rotor blade leading edges was rotor speed dependent and could not be measured in the experiments. The Denton three-dimensional C.F.D. computer code was used to predict the smoothed time-dependent pressure field for the rotor together with the pressure distribution downstream of the NGVs. The level and distribution of mainstream ingestion, and thus the seal effectiveness, was determined from nitrous oxide gas concentration measurements and related to static pressure measurements made throughout the wheelspace. With the axial clearance rim seal close to the rotor the presence of the blades had a complex effect. Rotor blades in connection with NGVs were found to reduce mainstream ingestion seal flow rates significantly, but a small level of ingestion existed even for very high levels of seal flow rate.

Effect of Outer Fin Axial Gap on the Sealing Effectiveness and Fluid Dynamics of Radial Rim Seal

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhigang Li ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Liming Song ◽  
Qing Gao ◽  
Xin Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Numerical Approach ◽  
Coolant Flow ◽  
Coolant Flow Rate ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Hot Gas

The modern gas turbine is widely applied in the aviation propulsion and power generation. The rim seal is usually designed at the periphery of the wheel-space and prevented the hot gas ingestion in modern gas turbines. The high sealing effectiveness of rim seal can improve the aerodynamic performance of gas turbines and avoid of the disc overheating. Effect of outer fin axial gap of radial rim seal on the sealing effectiveness and fluid dynamics was numerically investigated in this work. The sealing effectiveness and fluid dynamics of radial rim seal with three different outer fin axial gaps was conducted at different coolant flow rates using three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and SST turbulent model solutions. The accuracy of the presented numerical approach for the prediction of the sealing performance of the turbine rim seal was demonstrated. The obtained results show that the sealing effectiveness of radial rim seal increases with increase of coolant flow rate at the fixed axial outer fin gap. The sealing effectiveness increases with decrease of the axial outer fin gap at the fixed coolant flow rate. Furthermore, at the fixed coolant flow rate, the hot gas ingestion increases with the increase of the axial outer fin gap. This flow behavior intensifies the interaction between the hot gas and coolant flow at the clearance of radial rim seal. The preswirl coefficient in the wheel-space cavity is also illustrated to analyze the flow dynamics of radial rim seal at different axial outer fin gaps.

scholarly journals The Development of Fast Response Aerodynamic Probes for Flow Measurements in Turbomachinery

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger W. Ainsworth ◽  
John L. Allen ◽  
J. Julian M. Batt
Keyword(s):  
Mach Number ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hot Wire ◽  
Flow Measurements

The advent of a new generation of transient rotating turbine simulation facilities, where engine values of Reynolds and Mach number are matched simultaneously together with the relevant rotational parameters for dimensional similitude (Dunn et al [1988], Epstein et al [1984]. Ainsworth et al [1988]), has provided the stimulus for developing improved instrumentation for investigating the aerodynamic flows in these stages. Much useful work has been conducted in the past using hot-wire and laser anemometers. However, hot-wire anemometers are prone to breakage in the high pressure flows required for correct Reynolds numbers, Furthermore some laser techniques require a longer runtime than these transient facilites permit, and generally yield velocity information only, giving no data on loss production. Advances in semiconductor aerodynamic probes are beginning to fulfil this perceived need. This paper describes advances made in the design, construction, and testing of two and three dimensional fast response aerodynamic probes, where semiconductor pressure sensors are mounted directly on the surface of the probes, using techniques which have previously been successfully used on the surface of rotor blades (Ainsworth, Dietz and Nunn [1991]). These are to be used to measure Mach number and flow direction in compressible unsteady flow regimes. In the first section, a brief review is made of the sensor and associated technology which has been developed to permit a flexible design of fast response aerodynamic probe. Following this, an extensive programme of testing large scale aerodynamic models of candidate geometries for suitable semiconductor scale probes is described, and the results of these discussed. The conclusions of these experiments, conducted for turbine representative mean and unsteady flows, yielded new information for optimising the design of the small scale semiconductor probes, in terms of probe geometry, sensor placement, and aerodynamic performance. Details are given of a range of wedge and pyramid semiconductor probes constructed, and the procedures used in calibrating and making measurements with them. Differences in performance are discussed, allowing the experimenter to choose an appropriate probe for the particular measurement required. Finally, the application of prototype semiconductor probes in a transient rotor experiment at HP turbine representative conditions is described, and the data so obtained is compared with (PD solutions of the unsteady viscous flow-field.

The Effect of Vanes and Blades on Ingress in Gas Turbines

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian P. Hualca ◽  
Joshua T. M. Horwood ◽  
Carl M. Sangan ◽  
Gary D. Lock ◽  
James A. Scobie
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Pressure Measurements ◽  
Computational Results ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Rotor Disk ◽  
Unsteady Pressure Measurements ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This paper presents experimental and computational results using a 1.5-stage test rig designed to investigate the effects of ingress through a double radial overlap rim-seal. The effect of the vanes and blades on ingress was investigated by a series of carefully controlled experiments: first, the position of the vane relative to the rim seal was varied; second, the effect of the rotor blades was isolated using a disk with and without blades. Measurements of steady pressure in the annulus show a strong influence of the vane position. The relationship between sealing effectiveness and purge flowrate exhibited a pronounced inflection for intermediate levels of purge; the inflection did not occur for experiments with a bladeless rotor. Shifting the vane closer to the rim-seal, and therefore the blade, caused a local increase in ingress in the inflection region; again, this effect was not observed for the bladeless experiments. Unsteady pressure measurements at the periphery of the wheel-space revealed the existence of large-scale pressure structures (or instabilities) which depended weakly on the vane position and sealing flowrate. These were measured with and without the blades on the rotor disk. In all cases, these structures rotated close to the disk speed.

An Experimentally Derived Model to Predict the Water Film in a Compressor Cascade With Droplet Laden Flow

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Neupert ◽  
Janneck Christoph Harbeck ◽  
Franz Joos
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Water Film ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Compressor Blades ◽  
Transonic Compressor ◽  
System A ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbines ◽  
Measured Flow

In recent years, overspray fogging has become a powerful means for power augmentation of industrial gas turbines. Despite the positive thermodynamic effect on the cycle, droplets entering the compressor increase the risk of water droplet erosion and deposition of water on the blades leading to an increase of required torque and profile loss. Due to this, detailed information about the structure and the amount of water on the surface is key for compressor performance. Experiments were conducted with a droplet laden flow in a transonic compressor cascade focusing on the film formed by the deposited water. Two approaches were taken. In the first approach, the film thickness on the blade was directly measured using white light interferometry. Due to significant distortion of the flow caused by the measurement system, a transfer of the measured film thickness to the undisturbed case is not possible. Therefore, a film model is adapted to describe the film flow in terms of height averaged film parameters. In the second approach, experiments were conducted in an undisturbed cascade setup and the water film pattern was measured using a nonintrusive quantitative image processing tool. Utilizing the measured flow pattern in combination with findings from the literature, the rivulet flow structure is resolved. From continuity of the water flow, a film thickness is derived showing good agreement with the previously calculated results. Using both approaches, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the water film pattern is created giving first experimental results of the film forming on stationary compressor blades under overspray fogging conditions.

Prediction of Ingestion Through Turbine Rim Seals—Part II: Externally Induced and Combined Ingress

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Swirling Flows ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Good Agreement

Ingress of hot gas through the rim seals of gas turbines can be modeled theoretically using the so-called orifice equations. In Part I of this two-part paper, the orifice equations were derived for compressible and incompressible swirling flows, and the incompressible equations were solved for axisymmetric rotationally induced (RI) ingress. In Part II, the incompressible equations are solved for nonaxisymmetric externally induced (EI) ingress and for combined EI and RI ingress. The solutions show how the nondimensional ingress and egress flow rates vary with Θ0, the ratio of the flow rate of sealing air to the flow rate necessary to prevent ingress. For EI ingress, a “saw-tooth model” is used for the circumferential variation of pressure in the external annulus, and it is shown that ε, the sealing effectiveness, depends principally on Θ0; the theoretical variation of ε with Θ0 is similar to that found in Part I for RI ingress. For combined ingress, the solution of the orifice equations shows the transition from RI to EI ingress as the amplitude of the circumferential variation of pressure increases. The predicted values of ε for EI ingress are in good agreement with the available experimental data, but there are insufficient published data to validate the theory for combined ingress.

Prediction of Ingestion Through Turbine Rim Seals—Part 2: Externally-Induced and Combined Ingress

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Michael Owen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Swirling Flow ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Hot Gas ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Good Agreement

Ingress of hot gas through the rim seals of gas turbines can be modelled theoretically using the so-called orifice equations. In Part 1 (ASME GT 2009-59121) of this two-part paper, the orifice equations were derived for compressible and incompressible swirling flow, and the incompressible equations were solved for axisymmetric rotationally-induced (RI) ingress. In Part 2, the incompressible equations are solved for non-axisymmetric externally-induced (EI) ingress and for combined EI and RI ingress. The solutions show how the nondimensional ingress and egress flow rates vary with Θ0, the ratio of the flow rate of sealing air to the flow rate necessary to prevent ingress. For EI ingress, a ‘saw-tooth model’ is used for the circumferential variation of pressure in the external annulus, and it is shown that ε, the sealing effectiveness, depends principally on Θ0; the theoretical variation of ε with Θ0 is similar to that found in Part 1 for RI ingress. For combined ingress, the solution of the orifice equations shows the transition from RI to EI ingress as the amplitude of the circumferential variation of pressure increases. The predicted values of ε for EI ingress are in good agreement with available experimental data, but there are insufficient published data to validate the theory for combined ingress.

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