Interaction of Rim Seal and Main Annulus Flow in a Low-Speed Turbine Rig

Author(s):  
Jesus Pueblas ◽  
Roque Corral ◽  
Sebastian Schrewe

The influence of the sealing flows on the secondary flows of a low-pressure turbine has been assessed numerically using multi-row steady and unsteady simulations. The experimental data obtained at the Large Scale Turbine Rig (LSTR) at Technische Universität Darmstadt have been used to validate the numerical method and complement the simulations. Steady and unsteady state solutions and experiments are compared to understand the importance of the unsteadiness in the accuracy of numerical simulations. It is concluded that unsteady rotor/stator simulations enhance the prediction of the stator secondary flows, especially in the tip region. The effect of the sealing air is analysed, varying the cooling mass flow for two operating conditions. The penetration of the sealing flow in the main stream increases withthe cooling flow, displacing the horseshoe and passage vortices towards the mid-span.

Author(s):  
S. Friedrichs ◽  
H. P. Hodson ◽  
W. N. Dawes

The endwall film-cooling cooling configuration investigated by Friedrichs et al. (1996, 1997) had in principle sufficient cooling flow for the endwall, but in practice, the redistribution of this coolant by secondary flows left large endwall areas uncooled. This paper describes the attempt to improve upon this datum cooling configuration by redistributing the available coolant to provide a better coolant coverage on the endwall surface, whilst keeping the associated aerodynamic losses small. The design of the new, improved cooling configuration was based on the understanding of endwall film-cooling described by Friedrichs et al. (1996, 1997). Computational fluid dynamics were used to predict the basic flow and pressure field without coolant ejection. Using this as a basis, the above described understanding was used to place cooling holes so that they would provide the necessary cooling coverage at minimal aerodynamic penalty. The simple analytical modelling developed in Friedrichs et al. (1997) was then used to check that the coolant consumption and the increase in aerodynamic loss lay within the limits of the design goal. The improved cooling configuration was tested experimentally in a large scale, low speed linear cascade. An analysis of the results shows that the redesign of the cooling configuration has been successful in achieving an improved coolant coverage with lower aerodynamic losses, whilst using the same amount of coolant as in the datum cooling configuration. The improved cooling configuration has reconfirmed conclusions from Friedrichs et al. (1996, 1997); firstly, coolant ejection downstream of the three-dimensional separation lines on the endwall does not change the secondary flow structures; secondly, placement of holes in regions of high static pressure helps reduce the aerodynamic penalties of platform coolant ejection; finally, taking account of secondary flow can improve the design of endwall film-cooling configurations.


Author(s):  
Martin Aubé ◽  
Charles Hirsch

The analysis and design methods used for turbomachinery components are mostly based on steady aerodynamics, neglecting the important unsteady nature of the flow field. An improvement in performance can however be achieved with a prior understanding, evaluation and modeling of the main unsteady loss sources generated in rotor/stator interactions, through new advanced experimental data coupled to systematic and controlled numerical simulations performed at the full unsteady level of approximation. But such calculations are even nowadays challenges to the CFD community, due to their high requirement in computer resources. To investigate the importance of unsteady loss mechanisms, a 1-1/2 axial turbine stage has been resolved at both quasi-steady and fully unsteady levels of approximation. In order to reduce the demand on computer resources, a scaling procedure can be applied to retrieve equal pitch distance on both sides of each rotor/stator interface. The space and time flow periodicity are then uncoupled and the unsteady flowfield may be resolved on a reduced number of blade passages per row without having to consider any time periodicity in the boundary treatment. The grid scaling however affects the turbine total pressure ratio and the position and strength of secondary flows, as the pitch-to-chord ratio is not kept constant. This effect is analyzed in the paper, with the objective to assess the associated approximation errors. Steady and unsteady numerical simulations are compared with the experimental data along three measuring stations placed downstream of each blade row. Even if steady results are in good agreement and allow capturing the main flow structures of the turbine stage, only the fully unsteady calculation resolves the complex loss mechanisms encountered mainly in the rotor and downstream stator components. These unsteady interactions are observed through time variations of the entropy, absolute flow angle and static pressure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 142 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Biagiotti ◽  
Juri Bellucci ◽  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Gino Baldi ◽  
...  

Abstract In this work, the effects of turbine center frame (TCF) wakes on the aeromechanical behavior of the downstream low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades are numerically investigated and compared with the experimental data. A small industrial gas turbine has been selected as a test case, composed of a TCF followed by the two low-pressure stages and a turbine rear frame (TRF) before the exhaust plenum. Full annulus unsteady computations of the whole low-pressure module have been performed. Two operating conditions, full (100%) and partial (50%) load, have been investigated with the aim of highlighting the impact of TCF wakes convection and diffusion through the downstream rows. Attention was paid to the harmonic content of rotors’ blades. The results show a slower decay of the wakes through the downstream rows in off-design conditions compared with the design point. The analysis of the rotors’ frequency spectrum reveals that moving from design to off-design conditions, the effect of the TCF does not change significantly. The harmonic contribution of all turbine components has been extracted, highlighting the effect of statoric parts on the last LPT blade. The TCF harmonic content remains the most relevant from an aeromechanic point of view as per experimental evidence, and it is considered for an forced response analysis (FRA) on the last LPT blade itself. Finally, aerodynamic and aeromechanic predictions have been compared with the experimental data to validate the numerical approach. Some general design solutions aimed at mitigating the TCF wakes impact are discussed.


Author(s):  
Johan Hja¨rne ◽  
Valery Chernoray ◽  
Jonas Larsson ◽  
Lennart Lo¨fdahl

In this paper 3D numerical simulations of turbulent incompressible flows are validated against experimental data from the linear low pressure turbine/outlet guide vane (LPT/OGV) cascade at Chalmers in Sweden. The validation focuses on the secondary flow-fields and loss developments downstream of a highly loaded OGV. The numerical simulations are performed for the same inlet conditions as in the test-facility with engine-like properties in terms of Reynolds number, boundary-layer thickness and inlet flow angles with the goal to validate how accurately and reliably the secondary flow fields and losses for both on- and off-design conditions can be predicted for OGV’s. Results from three different turbulence models as implemented in FLUENT, k-ε Realizable, kω-SST and the RSM are validated against detailed measurements. From these results it can be concluded that the RSM model predicts both the secondary flow field and the losses most accurately.


Author(s):  
Sara Biagiotti ◽  
Juri Bellucci ◽  
Michele Marconcini ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Gino Baldi ◽  
...  

Abstract In this work, the effects of Turbine Center Frame (TCF) wakes on the aeromechanical behavior of the downstream Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) blades are numerically investigated and compared with experimental data. A small industrial gas turbine has been selected as a test case, composed of a TCF followed by the two low pressure stages and a Turbine Rear Frame (TRF) before the exhaust plenum. Full annulus unsteady computations of the whole low-pressure module have been performed. Two operating conditions, full (100%) and partial (50%) load, have been investigated with the aim of highlighting the impact of TCF wakes convection and diffusion through the downstream rows. Attention was paid to the harmonic content of rotors’ blades. From an aerodynamic point of view, the results show a slower decay of the wakes through the downstream rows in off-design conditions as compared to the design point. The wakes generated by the struts at partial load persist throughout the domain outlet, while they are chopped and circumferentially transported by the rotors motion. This is due to the strong incidence variation at which the TCF works, which induces the growth of wide regions of separated flow on the rear part of the struts. Nevertheless, the analysis of the rotors’ frequency spectrum reveals that moving from design to off-design conditions, the effect of the TCF does not change significantly, thanks to the filtering action of the first LPT stage movable Nozzle Guide Vane (NGV). From unsteady calculations the harmonic contribution of all turbine components has been extracted, highlighting the effect of statoric parts on the last LPT blade. Anyhow the TCF harmonic content remains the most relevant from an aeromechanic point of view as per experimental evidence, and it is considered for a Forced Response Analysis (FRA) on the last LPT blade itself. Finally, aerodynamic and aeromechanic predictions have been compared with the experimental data to validate the numerical approach. In the last part of this paper some general design solutions, that can help mitigation of the TCF wakes impact, are discussed.


Author(s):  
Daniele Simoni ◽  
Davide Lengani ◽  
Daniele Petronio ◽  
Francesco Bertini

Abstract A Bayesian method has been used to identify the best model strategy to describe the profile losses of low pressure turbine (LPT) cascades operating under unsteady inflow. The model has been tuned with experimental data measured in a large scale cascade facility, equipped with a moving bar system. Tests have been carried out on two different cascades, investigating three different reduced frequencies, three mass flow coefficients and several Reynolds numbers (up to eight) per condition, accounting for an overall amount of 51 different combinations of these parameters for each cascade. The predictor functions included into the model have been varied starting from a classic polynomial formulation for each influencing parameter, and then with functional relationships mimicking physical constrains and loss tendencies. Different combinations of the predictors, also including different types and orders of the cross-terms, have been evaluated by means of a Bayesian model selection method searching for the maximum probability of the model in fitting the cloud of experimental data. In particular, the evaluation of the Model Evidence (ME) using the Bayesian Information Criterion approximation (BIC) has allowed obtaining sufficient accuracy and avoiding overfitting at the same time. The best model here identified will be shown to be able to well reproduce the loss surface of a third different cascade that does not participate to the model selection. Realistic profile loss evolutions outside of the design space tested are provided, thus also allowing for a generalization of the structure of the model for other applications and future works.


Author(s):  
Steven W. Burd ◽  
Terrence W. Simon

Film cooling and secondary flows are major contributors to aerodynamic losses in turbine passages. This is particularly true in low aspect ratio nozzle guide vanes where secondary flows can occupy a large portion of the passage flow field. To reduce losses, advanced cooling concepts and secondary flow control techniques must be considered. To this end, combustor bleed cooling flows introduced through an inclined slot upstream of the airfoils in a nozzle passage were experimentally investigated. Testing was performed in a large-scale, high-pressure turbine nozzle cascade comprised of three airfoils between one contoured and one flat endwall. Flow was delivered to this cascade with high-level (∼9%), large-scale turbulence at a Reynolds number based on inlet velocity and true chord length of 350,000. Combustor bleed cooling flow was injected through the contoured endwall upstream of the contouring at bleed-to-core mass flow rate ratios ranging from 0 to 6%. Measurements with triple-sensor, hot-film anemometry characterize the flow field distributions within the cascade. Total and static pressure measurements document aerodynamic losses. The influences of bleed mass flow rate on flow field mean streamwise and cross-stream velocities, turbulence distributions, and aerodynamic losses are discussed. Secondary flow features are also described through these measurements. Notably, this study shows that combustor bleed cooling flow imposes no aerodynamic penalty. This is atypical of schemes where coolant is introduced within the passage for the purpose of endwall cooling. Also, instead of being adversely affected by secondary flows, this type of cooling is able to reduce secondary flow effects.


2006 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. B. Suzen ◽  
P. G. Huang ◽  
D. E. Ashpis ◽  
R. J. Volino ◽  
T. C. Corke ◽  
...  

A transport equation for the intermittency factor is employed to predict the transitional flows in low-pressure turbines. The intermittent behavior of the transitional flows is taken into account and incorporated into computations by modifying the eddy viscosity, μt, with the intermittency factor, γ. Turbulent quantities are predicted by using Menter’s two-equation turbulence model (SST). The intermittency factor is obtained from a transport equation model which can produce both the experimentally observed streamwise variation of intermittency and a realistic profile in the cross stream direction. The model had been previously validated against low-pressure turbine experiments with success. In this paper, the model is applied to predictions of three sets of recent low-pressure turbine experiments on the Pack B blade to further validate its predicting capabilities under various flow conditions. Comparisons of computational results with experimental data are provided. Overall, good agreement between the experimental data and computational results is obtained. The new model has been shown to have the capability of accurately predicting transitional flows under a wide range of low-pressure turbine conditions.


Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 663
Author(s):  
Michael Betz ◽  
Hermann Nirschl ◽  
Marco Gleiss

Centrifugal air classifiers are often used for classification of particle gas flows in the mineral industry and various other sectors. In this paper, a new solver based on the multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method, which takes into account an interaction between particles, is presented. This makes it possible to investigate the flow process in the classifier in more detail, especially the influence of solid load on the flow profile and the fish-hook effect that sometimes occurs. Depending on the operating conditions, the fish-hook sometimes occurs in such apparatus and lead to a reduction in classification efficiency. Therefore, a better understanding and a representation of the fish-hook in numerical simulations is of great interest. The results of the simulation method are compared with results of previous simulation method, where particle–particle interactions are neglected. Moreover, a validation of the numerical simulations is carried out by comparing experimental data from a laboratory plant based on characteristic values such as pressure loss and classification efficiency. The comparison with experimental data shows that both methods provide similar good values for the classification efficiency d50; however, the fish-hook effect is only reproduced when particle-particle interaction is taken into account. The particle movement prove that the fish-hook effect is due to a strong concentration accumulation in the outer area of the classifier. These particle accumulations block the radial transport of fine particles into the classifier, which are then entrained by coarser particles into the coarse material.


Author(s):  
Matteo Giovannini ◽  
Filippo Rubechini ◽  
Giorgio Amato ◽  
Andrea Arnone ◽  
Daniele Simoni ◽  
...  

Abstract This paper deals with the design of passive control devices for reducing the impact of secondary flows on the aerodynamics of low-pressure turbine (LPT) stages. A novel kind of device is introduced which consists of shelf-like fences to be added to the blade surface. Such a device is intended to contrast the development of secondary flows, thus reducing losses and flow turning deviation with respect to the straight blade. In this second part, an experimental campaign on a linear cascade is presented which is aimed at proving the beneficial impact of the blade fences. Experiments were carried out on a low-speed test-rig, equipped with a large scale blade representative of the stators of the engine-like environment considered in part I. Measurements are mainly focused on the stator losses and on the flow field at the stator exit. The performance of the blade fences was evaluated by comparing the straight cascade and the fenced ones. The measurements highlighted the impact of the blade fences on the development of the secondary flows, affecting both the stator losses and the non-uniformity of the flow field over the exit plane, which, in the actual stage environment, impacts the operation of the downstream blade row. Moreover, the comparison between CFD and experiments proved the accuracy of the CFD setup, thus suggesting its reliability in predicting the stage performance in the engine-like configuration.


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