Combined Effects of Wakes and Pulsed Vortex Generator Jet Flow Control on Boundary Layer Separation on a Very High Lift Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Adverse Pressure Gradient ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Freestream Velocity ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wake Passing ◽  
Very High

Boundary layer separation control with pulsed vortex generator jets (VGJs) has been studied on a very high lift, low-pressure turbine airfoil in the presence of unsteady wakes. Experiments were done under low (0.6%) and high (4%) freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) of 25,000 and 50,000. Wakes were produced from moving rods upstream of the cascade with flow coefficient 1.13 and rod spacing equal 2 blade pitches, resulting in a dimensionless wake passing frequency F = fLj-te/Uave = 0.14, where f is the frequency, Lj-te is the length of the adverse pressure gradient region on the suction surface, and Uave is the average freestream velocity. The VGJs were injected at the beginning of the adverse pressure gradient region on the suction surface with maximum jet velocity in each pulse equal to the local freestream velocity and a jet duty cycle of 10%. Several different timings of the VGJs with respect to the wakes were considered. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Instantaneous velocity profile measurements were acquired in the suction surface boundary layer and downstream of the cascade. In cases without VGJs, the boundary layer momentarily reattached in response to the wake passing, but separated between wakes. The VGJs also caused reattachment, and if the VGJ pulsing frequency was sufficiently high, separation was largely suppressed for the full wake passing cycle. The timing of the VGJs with respect to the wakes was not very important. The jet pulsing frequency needed for separation control was about the same as found previously in cases without wakes. The background freestream turbulence effect was negligible in the presence of the larger wake and VGJ disturbances.

Effect of Unsteady Wakes on Boundary Layer Separation on a Very High Lift Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wake Passing ◽  
Very High

Boundary layer separation has been studied on a very high lift, low-pressure turbine airfoil in the presence of unsteady wakes. Experiments were done under low (0.6%) and high (4%) freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Wakes were produced from moving rods upstream of the cascade. Flow coefficients were varied from 0.35 to 1.4 and wake spacing was varied from 1 to 2 blade spacings, resulting in dimensionless wake passing frequencies F = fLj-te/Uave (f is the frequency, Lj-te is the length of the adverse pressure gradient region on the suction surface of the airfoils, and Uave is the average freestream velocity) ranging from 0.14 to 0.56. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Instantaneous velocity profile measurements were acquired in the suction surface boundary layer and downstream of the cascade. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) of 25,000 and 50,000. In cases without wakes, the boundary layer separated and did not reattach. With wakes, separation was largely suppressed, particularly if the wake passing frequency was sufficiently high. At lower frequencies the boundary layer separated between wakes. Background freestream turbulence had some effect on separation, but its role was secondary to the wake effect.

Effect of Unsteady Wakes on Boundary Layer Separation on a Very High Lift Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil

2011 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wake Passing ◽  
Very High

Boundary layer separation has been studied on a very high lift, low pressure turbine airfoil in the presence of unsteady wakes. Experiments were done under low (0.6%) and high (4%) freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Wakes were produced from moving rods upstream of the cascade. Flow coefficients were varied from 0.35 to 1.4 and wake spacing was varied from one to two blade spacings, resulting in dimensionless wake passing frequencies F=fLj-te/Uave (f is the frequency, Lj-te is the length of the adverse pressure gradient region on the suction surface of the airfoils, and Uave is the average freestream velocity) ranging from 0.14 to 0.56. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Instantaneous velocity profile measurements were acquired in the suction surface boundary layer and downstream of the cascade. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) of 25,000 and 50,000. In cases without wakes, the boundary layer separated and did not reattach. With wakes, separation was largely suppressed, particularly if the wake passing frequency was sufficiently high. At lower frequencies the boundary layer separated between wakes. Background freestream turbulence had some effect on separation, but its role was secondary to the wake effect.

Separation Control on a Very High Lift Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil Using Pulsed Vortex Generator Jets

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Olga Kartuzova ◽  
Mounir B. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Very High

Boundary layer separation control has been studied using vortex generator jets (VGJs) on a very high lift, low-pressure turbine airfoil. Experiments were done under high (4%) freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Instantaneous velocity profile measurements were acquired in the suction surface boundary layer. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) of 25,000 and 50,000. Jet pulsing frequency, duty cycle, and blowing ratio were all varied. Computational results from a large eddy simulation of one case showed reattachment in agreement with the experiment. In cases without flow control, the boundary layer separated and did not reattach. With the VGJs, separation control was possible even at the lowest Reynolds number. Pulsed VGJs were more effective than steady jets. At sufficiently high pulsing frequencies, separation control was possible even with low jet velocities and low duty cycles. At lower frequencies, higher jet velocity was required, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. Effective separation control resulted in an increase in lift and a reduction in total pressure losses. Phase averaged velocity profiles and wavelet spectra of the velocity show the VGJ disturbance causes the boundary layer to reattach, but that it can reseparate between disturbances. When the disturbances occur at high enough frequency, the time available for separation is reduced, and the separation bubble remains closed at all times.

Separation Control on a Very High Lift Low Pressure Turbine Airfoil Using Pulsed Vortex Generator Jets

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino ◽  
Olga Kartuzova ◽  
Mounir B. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Separation Control ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Very High

Boundary layer separation control has been studied using vortex generator jets (VGJs) on a very high lift, low-pressure turbine airfoil. Experiments were done under high (4%) freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Instantaneous velocity profile measurements were acquired in the suction surface boundary layer. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) of 25,000 and 50,000. Jet pulsing frequency, duty cycle, and blowing ratio were all varied. Computational results from a large eddy simulation of one case showed reattachment in agreement with the experiment. In cases without flow control, the boundary layer separated and did not reattach. With the VGJs, separation control was possible even at the lowest Reynolds number. Pulsed VGJs were more effective than steady jets. At sufficiently high pulsing frequencies, separation control was possible even with low jet velocities and low duty cycles. At lower frequencies, higher jet velocity was required, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. Effective separation control resulted in an increase in lift and a reduction in total pressure losses. Phase averaged velocity profiles and wavelet spectra of the velocity show the VGJ disturbance causes the boundary layer to reattach, but that it can re-separate between disturbances. When the disturbances occur at high enough frequency, the time available for separation is reduced, and the separation bubble remains closed at all times.

The Effect of FSTI to the Combined Separation Control Strategy of Surface Roughness With Upstream Wakes

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Shuang ◽  
Lei Zhi-jun ◽  
Lu Xin-gen ◽  
Zhang Yan-feng ◽  
Zhu Jun-qiang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Transition Region ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
High Lift ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

Boundary layer separation can lead to partial loss of lift and higher aerodynamic losses on low-pressure turbine airfoils at low Reynolds number in high bypass ratio engines. The combined effects of upstream wakes and surface roughness on boundary layer development have been investigated experimentally to improve the performance of ultra-high-lift low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades. The measurement was performed on a linear cascade with an ultra-high-lift aft-loaded LP turbine profile named IET-LPTA with Zweifel loading coefficient of about 1.37. The wakes were simulated by the moving cylindrical bars upstream of the cascade. The time-mean aerodynamic performance and the boundary layer behavior on suction surface had been measured with two 3-hole probes and a hot-wire probe. Three roughness heights ranging from 8.8–20.9μm combined with three roughness deposit positions ranging from 5.2%–39.5% suction surface length formed a large measurement matrix. The roughness with height of 8.8μm (1.05×10−4 chord length) covering 5.2% suction surface reduced the profile loss across the whole Reynolds number range. Under the effect of roughness associated with upstream wakes, the freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI) is responsible in part for the development of the wake-induced transition region, calmed region and natural transition region of the boundary layer. The transition length and the transition onset of the boundary layer were also affected by the FSTI.

The Fluid Dynamics of LPT Blade Separation Control Using Pulsed Jets

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Bons ◽  
Rolf Sondergaard ◽  
Richard B. Rivir
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Duty Cycle ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Skew Angle ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Duty Cycles ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vortex Generator Jets

The effects of pulsed vortex generator jets on a naturally separating low pressure turbine boundary layer have been investigated experimentally. Blade Reynolds numbers in the linear turbine cascade match those for high altitude aircraft engines and industrial turbine engines with elevated turbine inlet temperatures. The vortex generator jets (30 degree pitch and 90 degree skew angle) are pulsed over a wide range of frequency at constant amplitude and selected duty cycles. The resulting wake loss coefficient vs. pulsing frequency data add to previously presented work by the authors documenting the loss dependency on amplitude and duty cycle. As in the previous studies, vortex generator jets are shown to be highly effective in controlling laminar boundary layer separation. This is found to be true at dimensionless forcing frequencies (F+) well below unity and with low (10%) duty cycles. This unexpected low frequency effectiveness is due to the relatively long relaxation time of the boundary layer as it resumes its separated state. Extensive phase-locked velocity measurements taken in the blade wake at an F+ of 0.01 with 50% duty cycle (a condition at which the flow is essentially quasi-steady) document the ejection of bound vorticity associated with a low momentum fluid packet at the beginning of each jet pulse. Once this initial fluid event has swept down the suction surface of the blade, a reduced wake signature indicates the presence of an attached boundary layer until just after the jet termination. The boundary layer subsequently relaxes back to its naturally separated state. This relaxation occurs on a timescale which is 5–6 times longer than the original attachment due to the starting vortex. Phase-locked boundary layer measurements taken at various stations along the blade chord illustrate this slow relaxation phenomenon. This behavior suggests that some economy of jet flow may be possible by optimizing the pulse duty cycle and frequency for a particular application. At higher pulsing frequencies, for which the flow is fully dynamic, the boundary layer is dominated by periodic shedding and separation bubble migration, never recovering its fully separated (uncontrolled) state.

Turbine Separation Control Using Pulsed Vortex Generator Jets

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey P. Bons ◽  
Rolf Sondergaard ◽  
Richard B. Rivir
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Flow Oscillations ◽  
Vortex Generator Jets

The application of pulsed vortex generator jets to control separation on the suction surface of a low pressure turbine blade is reported. Blade Reynolds numbers in the experimental, linear turbine cascade match those for high altitude aircraft engines and aft stages of industrial turbine engines with elevated turbine inlet temperatures. The vortex generator jets have a 30 degree pitch and a 90 degree skew to the freestream direction. Jet flow oscillations up to 100 Hz are produced using a high frequency solenoid feed valve. Results are compared to steady blowing at jet blowing ratios less than 4 and at two chordwise positions upstream of the nominal separation zone. Results show that pulsed vortex generator jets produce a bulk flow effect comparable to that of steady jets with an order of magnitude less massflow. Boundary layer traverses and blade static pressure distributions show that separation is almost completely eliminated with the application of unsteady blowing. Reductions of over 50% in the wake loss profile of the controlled blade were measured. Experimental evidence suggests that the mechanism for unsteady control lies in the starting and ending transitions of the pulsing cycle rather than the injected jet stream itself. Boundary layer spectra support this conclusion and highlight significant differences between the steady and unsteady control techniques. The pulsed vortex generator jets are effective at both chordwise injection locations tested (45% and 63% axial chord) covering a substantial portion of the blade suction surface. This insensitivity to injection location bodes well for practical application of pulsed VGJ control where the separation location may not be accurately known a priori.

Separation Control on Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoils Using Synthetic Vortex Generator Jets

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vortex Generator ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Local Skin ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vortex Generator Jets

Oscillating vortex generator jets have been used to control boundary layer separation from the suction side of a low-pressure turbine airfoil. A low Reynolds number (Re = 25,000) case with low free-stream turbulence has been investigated with detailed measurements including profiles of mean and fluctuating velocity and turbulent shear stress. Ensemble averaged profiles are computed for times within the jet pulsing cycle, and integral parameters and local skin friction coefficients are computed from these profiles. The jets are injected into the mainflow at a compound angle through a spanwise row of holes in the suction surface. Preliminary tests showed that the jets were effective over a wide range of frequencies and amplitudes. Detailed tests were conducted with a maximum blowing ratio of 4.7 and a dimensionless oscillation frequency of 0.65. The outward pulse from the jets in each oscillation cycle causes a disturbance to move down the airfoil surface. The leading and trailing edge celerities for the disturbance match those expected for a turbulent spot. The disturbance is followed by a calmed region. Following the calmed region, the boundary layer does separate, but the separation bubble remains very thin. Results are compared to an uncontrolled baseline case in which the boundary layer separated and did not reattach, and a case controlled passively with a rectangular bar on the suction surface. The comparison indicates that losses will be substantially lower with the jets than in the baseline or passively controlled cases.

Separated Flow Measurements on a Highly Loaded Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph J. Volino
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Boundary Layer Separation ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Transition To Turbulence ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Airfoil Surface ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

Boundary layer separation, transition and reattachment have been studied on a new, very high lift, low-pressure turbine airfoil. Experiments were done under low freestream turbulence conditions on a linear cascade in a low speed wind tunnel. Pressure surveys on the airfoil surface and downstream total pressure loss surveys were documented. Velocity profiles were acquired in the suction side boundary layer at several streamwise locations using hot-wire anemometry. Cases were considered at Reynolds numbers (based on the suction surface length and the nominal exit velocity from the cascade) ranging from 25,000 to 330,000. In all cases the boundary layer separated, but at high Reynolds number the separation bubble remained very thin and quickly reattached after transition to turbulence. In the low Reynolds number cases, the boundary layer separated and did not reattach, even when transition occurred. This behavior contrasts with previous research on other airfoils, in which transition, if it occurred, always induced reattachment, regardless of Reynolds number.

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