An Investigation of Wake-Shock Interactions in a Transonic Compressor With DPIV and Time-Accurate CFD

Author(s):  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
David Car ◽  
Steven L. Puterbaugh ◽  
Jordi Estevadeordal ◽  
Theodore H. Okiishi

The effects of varying axial gap on the unsteady flow field between the stator and rotor of a transonic compressor stage are important because they can result in significant changes in stage mass flow rate, pressure rise and efficiency. Some of these effects are analyzed with measurements using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) and with time-accurate simulations using the 3D unsteady Navier-Stokes CFD solver TURBO. Generally there is excellent agreement between the measurements and simulations, instilling confidence in both. Strong vortices of the wake can break up the rotor bow shock and contribute to loss. At close spacing vortices are shed from the trailing edge of the upstream stationary blade row in response to the unsteady, discontinuous pressure field generated by the downstream rotor bow shock. Shed vortices increase in size and strength and generate more loss as spacing decreases, a consequence of the effective increase in rotor bow shock strength at the stationary blade row trailing edge. A relationship for the change in shed vorticity as a function of rotor bow shock strength is presented that predicts the difference between close and far spacing TURBO simulations.

Author(s):  
Scott B. Reynolds ◽  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
Jordi Estevadeordal

Experiments have been performed to investigate interactions between a loaded stator and transonic rotor. The Blade Row Interaction (BRI) rig is used to simulate an embedded transonic fan stage with realistic geometry (thin trailing edge) which produces a wake through diffusion. Details of the unsteady flow field between the stator and rotor were obtained using PIV. Flow-visualization images and PIV data that facilitate analysis of vortex shedding, wake motion, and wake-shock-interaction phenomena are presented. Stator wake and rotor-bow-shock interactions are analyzed for three stator/rotor axial spacings, and two stator loadings. Specific shed vortices and wake topological features are isolated for each configuration. The data analysis focuses on measuring the vortex size, strength, and location as it forms on the stator trailing edge and propagates downstream into the rotor passage. It was observed that vortex shedding is synchronized to the passing of a rotor bow shock. Results show that the circulation of a vortex increased by 19 to 23% from far to close spacing due to the increased strength of the rotor bow shock impacting the stator trailing edge. Reduction in stator loading decreased shed vortex circulation for the same stator/rotor axial spacing by 20 to 25%. Pitchwise radius of vortices also decreased by 13 to 19% from far to close spacing. Such changes in vortex size and strength should be accounted for to predict the effect of unsteady blade-row interactions on transonic compressor performance.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott B. Reynolds ◽  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
Jordi Estevadeordal

Experiments were performed to investigate interactions between a loaded stator and transonic rotor. The blade row interaction (BRI) rig was used to simulate an embedded transonic fan stage with realistic geometry (thin trailing edge), which produces a wake through diffusion. Details of the unsteady flow field between the stator and rotor were obtained using PIV. Flow-visualization images and PIV data that facilitate analysis of vortex shedding, wake motion, and wake-shock-interaction phenomena are presented. Stator wake and rotor-bow-shock interactions were analyzed for three stator/rotor axial spacings and two stator loadings. Specific shed vortices and wake topological features were isolated for each configuration. The data analysis focuses on measuring the vortex size, strength, and location as it forms on the stator trailing edge and propagates downstream into the rotor passage. It was observed that vortex shedding is synchronized to the passing of a rotor bow shock. Results show that the circulation of a vortex increased by 19% to 23% from far to close spacing due to the increased strength of the rotor bow shock impacting the stator trailing edge. Reduction in stator loading decreased shed vortex circulation for the same stator/rotor axial spacing by 20% to 25%. Pitchwise radius of vortices also decreased by 13% to 19% from far to close spacing. Such changes in vortex size and strength should be accounted for to predict the effect of unsteady blade-row interactions on transonic compressor performance.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (4) ◽  
pp. 616-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
David Car ◽  
Steven L. Puterbaugh ◽  
Jordi Estevadeordal ◽  
Theodore H. Okiishi

The effects of varying axial gap on the unsteady flow field between the stator and rotor of a transonic compressor stage are important because they can result in significant changes in stage mass flow rate, pressure rise, and efficiency. Some of these effects are analyzed with measurements using digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and with time-accurate simulations using the 3D unsteady Navier-Stokes computational fluid dynamics solver TURBO. Generally there is excellent agreement between the measurements and simulations, instilling confidence in both. Strong vortices of the wake can break up the rotor bow shock and contribute to loss. At close spacing vortices are shed from the trailing edge of the upstream stationary blade row in response to the unsteady, discontinuous pressure field generated by the downstream rotor bow shock. Shed vortices increase in size and strength and generate more loss as spacing decreases, a consequence of the effective increase in rotor bow shock strength at the stationary blade row trailing edge. A relationship for the change in shed vorticity as a function of rotor bow shock strength is presented that predicts the difference between close and far spacing TURBO simulations.


Author(s):  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
Theodore H. Okiishi ◽  
William W. Copenhaver

A previously unidentified loss producing mechanism resulting from the interaction of a transonic rotor blade-row with an upstream stator blade-row is described. This additional loss occurs only when the two blade rows are spaced closer together axially. Time-accurate simulations of the flow and high-response static pressure measurements acquired on the stator blade surface reveal important aspects of the fluid dynamics of the production of this additional loss. At close spacing the rotor bow shock is chopped by the stator trailing edge. The chopped bow shock becomes a pressure wave on the upper surface of the stator that is nearly normal to the flow and that propagates upstream. In the reference frame relative to this pressure wave, the flow is supersonic and thus a moving shock wave that produces an entropy rise and loss is experienced. The effect of this outcome of blade-row interaction is to lower the efficiency, pressure ratio, and mass flow rate observed as blade-row axial spacing is reduced from far to close. The magnitude of loss production is affected by the strength of the bow shock and how much it turns as it interacts with the trailing edge of the stator. At far spacing the rotor bow shock degenerates into a bow wave before it interacts with the stator trailing edge and no significant pressure wave forms on the stator upper surface. For this condition, no additional loss is produced.


2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 336-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Gorrell ◽  
Theodore H. Okiishi ◽  
William W. Copenhaver

A previously unidentified loss producing mechanism resulting from the interaction of a transonic rotor blade row with an upstream stator blade row is described. This additional loss occurs only when the two blade rows are spaced closer together axially. Time-accurate simulations of the flow and high-response static pressure measurements acquired on the stator blade surface reveal important aspects of the fluid dynamics of the production of this additional loss. At close spacing the rotor bow shock is chopped by the stator trailing edge. The chopped bow shock becomes a pressure wave on the upper surface of the stator that is nearly normal to the flow and that propagates upstream. In the reference frame relative to this pressure wave, the flow is supersonic and thus a moving shock wave that produces an entropy rise and loss is experienced. The effect of this outcome of blade-row interaction is to lower the efficiency, pressure ratio, and mass flow rate observed as blade-row axial spacing is reduced from far to close. The magnitude of loss production is affected by the strength of the bow shock and how much it turns as it interacts with the trailing edge of the stator. At far spacing the rotor bow shock degenerates into a bow wave before it interacts with the stator trailing edge and no significant pressure wave forms on the stator upper surface. For this condition, no additional loss is produced.


Author(s):  
W. N. Dawes

A methodology is presented for simulating turbomachinery blade rows in a multistage environment by deploying a standard 3D Navier-Stokes solver simultaneously on a number of blade rows. The principle assumptions are that the flow is steady relative to each blade row individually and that the rows can communicate via inter-row mixing planes. These mixing planes introduce circumferential averaging of flow properties but preserve quite general radial variations. Additionally, each blade can be simulated in 3D or axisymmetrically (in the spirit of throughflow analysis) and a series of axisymmetric rows can be considered together with one 3D row to provide, cheaply, a machine environment for that row. Two applications are presented: a transonic compressor rotor and a steam turbine nozzle guide vane simulated both isolated and as part of a stage. In both cases the behaviour of the blade considered in isolation was different to when considered as part of a stage and in both cases was in much closer agreement with the experimental evidence.


1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. Dawes

A methodology is presented for simulating turbomachinery blade rows in a multistage environment by deploying a standard three-dimensional Navier–Stokes solver simultaneously on a number of blade rows. The principal assumptions are that the flow is steady relative to each blade row individually and that the rows can communicate via inter-row mixing planes. These mixing planes introduce circumferential averaging of flow properties but preserve quite general radial variations. Additionally, each blade can be simulated in three-dimensional or axisymmetrically (in the spirit of throughflow analysis) and a series of axisymmetric rows can be considered together with one three-dimensional row to provide, cheaply, a machine environment for that row. Two applications are presented: a transonic compressor rotor and a steam turbine nozzle guide vane simulated both isolated and as part of a stage. In both cases the behavior of the blade considered in isolation was different to when considered as part of a stage and in both cases was in much closer agreement with the experimental evidence.


Author(s):  
Gregory Bloch ◽  
James Loellbach ◽  
Chunill Hah

A numerical investigation of unsteady blade row interaction in a transonic axial compressor was performed. The compressor consists of an upstream wake generator (WG) blade row followed by a rotor blade row. Blade row interaction consists of two main effects: the downstream influence on the rotor flowfield of wakes and unsteady vortices shed from the wake generator, and the upstream influence on the wake generator of the rotor bow shock waves. An unsteady, two-dimensional, Navier-Stokes simulation was performed at the 75% span location of the compressor. Results from the numerical simulation are compared to previously reported numerical results and to experimental measurements from a similar case.


1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 304-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. R. Kirtley ◽  
T. A. Beach

The three-dimensional viscous flow in a low-speed centrifugal compressor stage is simulated using an average passage Navier–Stokes analysis. The impeller discharge flow is of the jet/wake type with low-momentum fluid in the shroud-pressure side corner coincident with the tip leakage vortex. This nonuniformity introduces periodic unsteadiness in the vane frame of reference. The effect of such deterministic unsteadiness on the time mean is included in the analysis through the average passage stress, which allows the analysis of blade row interactions. The magnitude of the divergence of the deterministic unsteady stress is of the order of the divergence of the Reynolds stress over most of the span from the impeller trailing edge to the vane throat. Although the potential effects on the blade trailing edge from the diffuser vane are small, strong secondary flows generated by the impeller degrade the performance of the diffuser vanes.


1998 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas P. Probasco ◽  
Tim J. Leger ◽  
J. Mitch Wolff ◽  
William W. Copenhaver ◽  
Randall M. Chriss

Dynamic loading of an inlet guide vane (IGV) in a transonic compressor is characterized by unsteady IGV surface pressures. These pressure data were acquired for two spanwise locations at a 105 percent speed operating condition, which produces supersonic relative Mach numbers over the majority of the rotor blade span. The back pressure of the compressor was varied to determine the effects from such changes. Strong bow shock interaction was evident in both experimental and computational results. Variations in the back pressure have significant influence on the magnitude and phase of the upstream pressure fluctuations. The largest unsteady surface pressure magnitude, 40 kPa, was obtained for the near-stall mass flow condition at 75 percent span and 95 percent chord. Radial variation effects caused by the spanwise variation in relative Mach number were measured. Comparisons to a two-dimensional nonlinear unsteady blade/vane Navier–Stokes analysis show good agreement for the 50 percent span results in terms of IGV unsteady surface pressure. The results of the study indicate that significant nonlinear bow shock influences exist on the IGV trailing edge due to the downstream rotor shock system. [S0889-504X(00)00303-2]


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