Investigation of Variated Unsteady Inflow Boundary Conditions on the Transition Behavior of a Low Pressure Turbine Cascade Family

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz F. Blaim ◽  
Roland E. Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Transport Equation ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Transition Behavior

The objective of this paper is to analyze the influence of incoming periodic wakes, considering the variable width, on the integral total pressure loss for two low pressure turbine (LPT) airfoils. In order to reduce the overall weight of a LPT, the pitch to chord ratio was continuously increased, during the past decades. However, this increase encourages the development of the transition phenomena or even flow separation on the suction side of the blade. At low Reynolds numbers, large separation bubbles can occur there, which are linked with high total pressure losses. The incoming wakes of the upstream blades are known to trigger early transition, leading to a reduced risk of flow separation and hence minor integral total pressure losses caused by separation. For the further investigation of these effects, different widths of the incoming wakes will be examined in detail, here. This variation is carried out by using the numerical Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Solver TRACE developed by the DLR Cologne in collaboration with MTU Aero Engines AG. For the variation of the width of the wakes, a variable boundary condition was modeled, which includes the wake vorticity parameters. The width of the incoming wakes was used as the relevant variable parameter. The implemented boundary condition models the unsteady behavior of the incoming wakes by the variation of the velocity profile, using a prescribed frequenc. TRACE can use two different transition models; the main focus here is set to the γ–Reθt transition model, which uses local variables in a transport equation, to trigger the transition within the turbulence transport equation system. The experimental results were conducted at the high speed cascade open loop test facility at the Institute for Jet Propulsion at the University of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich. For the investigation presented here, two LPT profiles — which were designed with a similar inlet angle, turning, and pitch are analyzed. However, with a common exit Mach number and a similar Reynolds number range between 40k and 400k, one profile is front loaded and the other one is aft loaded. Numerical unsteady results are in good agreement with the conducted measurements. The influence of the width of the wake on the time resolved transition behavior, represented by friction coefficient plots and momentum loss thickness will be analyzed in this paper.

Mach Number Distribution and Profile Losses for Low-Pressure Turbine Profiles With High Diffusion Factors

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
High Diffusion ◽  
Mach Numbers

The results of this investigation come from two linear cascades at high diffusion factors (DFs). The measurements presented for each low-pressure turbine (LPT) profile were conducted at midspan under a range of Reynolds- and exit Mach numbers. The exit Mach number was varied in a range covering low subsonic up to values where a transonic flow regime on the suction side of the blade could be expected. This work focuses on two profiles with a diffusion factor in a range of 0.18≤DF≤0.22, where values in this range are considered as a comparable for the two cascades. Profile A is a front-loaded design and has shown no obvious flow separation on the suction side of the blade. Compared to the design A, design B is a more aft-loaded profile which exhibits flow separation on the suction side for all Reynolds numbers investigated. The integral total pressure losses were evaluated by wake traverses downstream of the airfoil. To determine the isentropic Mach numbers and the character of the boundary layer along the suction side of the profile, the static pressure measurements and traverses with a flattened Pitot probe were carried out. A correlation between the position of maximum Mach number on the suction side and the integral total pressure losses has been successfully established. The results show that the optimum location of peak Mach number to minimize integral total pressure losses is significantly dependent on the Reynolds number. However, the correlation presented in this paper, which is based on the data of the integral total pressure losses of an attached boundary layer, is not able to predict the integral total pressure loss or the location of the maximum Mach number on the suction side of the blade when an open separation bubble occurs.

Experimental Study on the Effect of Clocking on the Propagation of Inflow Pressure Distortions in a Low Pressure Turbine Stage

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Simonassi ◽  
M. Zenz ◽  
P. Bruckner ◽  
S. Pramstrahler ◽  
F. Heitmeir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Vibration Characteristics ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Rotor Vibration ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The design of modern aero engines enhances the interaction between components and facilitates the propagation of circumferential distortions of total pressure and temperature. As a consequence, the inlet conditions of a real turbine have significant spatial non-uniformities, which have direct consequences on both its aerodynamic and vibration characteristics. This work presents the results of an experimental study on the effects of different inlet total pressure distortion-stator clocking positions on the propagation of total pressure inflow disturbances through a low pressure turbine stage, with a particular focus on both the aerodynamic and aeroelastic performance. Measurements at a stable engine relevant operating condition and during transient operation were carried out in a one and a half stage subsonic turbine test facility at the Institute of Thermal Turbomachinery and Machine Dynamics at Graz University of Technology. A localised total pressure distortion was generated upstream of the stage in three different azimuthal positions relative to the stator vanes. The locations were chosen in order to align the distortion directly with a vane leading edge, suction side and pressure side. Additionally, a setup with clean inflow was used as reference. Steady and unsteady aerodynamic measurements were taken downstream of the investigated stage by means of a five-hole-probe (5HP) and a fast response aerodynamic pressure probe (FRAPP) respectively. Strain gauges applied on different blades were used in combination with a telemetry system to acquire the rotor vibration data. The aerodynamic interactions between the stator and rotor rows and the circumferential perturbation were studied through the identification of the main structures constituting the flow field. This showed that the steady and unsteady alterations created by the distortion in the flow field lead to modifications of the rotor vibration characteristics. Moreover, the importance of the impact that the pressure distortion azimuthal position has on the LPT stage aerodynamics and vibrations was highlighted.

Transition Modelling for Vortex Generating Jets on Low-Pressure Turbine Profiles

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Dragan Kozˇulovic´ ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Transition Model ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Local Transition

Steady blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) on highly-loaded low-pressure turbine profiles have shown to be a promising way to decrease total pressure losses at low Reynolds-numbers by reducing laminar separation. In the present paper, the state of the art turbomachinery design code TRACE with RANS turbulence closure and coupled γ-ReΘ transition model is applied to the prediction of typical aerodynamic design parameters of various VGJ configurations in steady simulations. High-speed cascade wind tunnel experiments for a wide range of Reynolds-numbers, two VGJ positions, and three jet blowing ratios are used for validation. Since the original transition model overpredicts separation and losses at Re2is ≤ 100·103 an extra mode for VGJ induced transition is introduced. Whereas the criterion for transition is modelled by a filtered Q vortex criterion the transition development itself is modelled by a reduction of the local transition-onset momentum-thickness Reynolds number. The new model significantly improves the quality of the computational results by capturing the corresponding local transition process in a physically reasonable way. This is shown to yield an improved quantitative prediction of surface pressure distributions and total pressure losses.

About the Distribution of the Mach Number and Losses Under Consideration of the Diffusion Factor: Profile Distribution and Losses for Low Pressure Turbine Profiles With High Diffusion Factors Under Steady Flow Conditions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Brachmanski ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Diffusion Factor ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Exit Mach Number

The results of this investigation consist of two linear cascades at high diffusion factors. The present measurements for each low pressure turbine profile were conducted at midspan under a range of Reynolds- and exit Mach numbers. The exit Mach number was varied in a range covering low subsonic up to values where a transonic flow regime on the suction side of the blade could be expected. The variation of the exit Mach number was also used to create different locations of the maximum Mach number and to evaluate the resulting total pressure losses. This work focuses on two profiles with a diffusion factor in a range of 0.18 ≤ DF ≤ 0.22, which is considered as a comparable level for the two cascades. The profile A is a front-loaded design and has shown no obvious flow separation on the suction side of the blade. Compared to the profile A the design B is a more aft-loaded profile which indicates flow separation on the suction side for all investigated Reynolds numbers. The integral total pressure losses were evaluated by wake traverses downstream of the profile. To determine the isentropic Mach numbers and the character of the boundary layer along the suction side of the profile, static pressure tappings and measurements with a flattened Pitot probe were carried out. Numerical studies were also conducted to investigate further the influence of a reduced turbulence intensity on the boundary layer of the suction side of design B. The results show that the optimum of the integral total pressure losses are significantly dependent on the Reynolds number. Therefore a correlation between the maximum Mach number on the suction side and the integral total pressure losses has been successfully established. A significant change of the turbulence intensity at the inlet of the cascade leads to shift of the location of the maximum Mach number. It also results in an equivalent change of the total pressure losses, which has been predicted by the trend line. However, the trend lines, which are based on the data of the integral total pressure losses of an attached boundary layer, are not able to predict the integral total pressure loss or the location of the maximum Mach number on the suction side of the blade since an open separation bubble occurs.

A Comparison of Three Low Pressure Turbine Designs

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian T. Wakelam ◽  
Martin Hoeger ◽  
Reinhard Niehuis
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Total Pressure ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

As part of the current research, three low pressure turbine (LPT) geometries—which were designed with a common pitch, axial chord, inlet angle, and exit Mach number and to create the same nominal level of turning—are compared. Each of the LPT cascades was investigated under a range of Reynolds numbers, exit Mach numbers, and under the influence of a moving bar wake generator. Profile static pressure distributions, wake traverses at 5% and 40% axial chord downstream of the trailing edge, and suction side boundary layer traverses were used to compare the performance of the three designs. The total pressure losses are strongly dependent on both the maximum velocity location as well as the diffusion on the suction surface. The importance of the behavior of the pressure surface boundary layer turned out to be negligible in comparison. Cases with equivalent operating Reynolds number and suction side diffusion level are compared in terms of the total pressure losses that are generated. It is shown that a relationship between loss and suction side maximum velocity location exists. An optimum suction side maximum velocity location depends on the Reynolds number, diffusion factor, and wake passing frequency.

Transition Modeling for Vortex Generating Jets on Low-Pressure Turbine Profiles

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Herbst ◽  
Dragan Kožulović ◽  
Joerg R. Seume
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Quantitative Prediction ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Transition Model ◽  
Pressure Losses ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Local Transition

Steady blowing vortex generating jets (VGJ) on highly-loaded low-pressure turbine profiles have shown to be a promising way to decrease total pressure losses at low Reynolds-numbers by reducing laminar separation. In the present paper, the state of the art turbomachinery design code TRACE with RANS turbulence closure and coupled γ-ReΘ transition model is applied to the prediction of typical aerodynamic design parameters of various VGJ configurations in steady simulations. High-speed cascade wind tunnel experiments for a wide range of Reynolds-numbers, two VGJ positions, and three jet blowing ratios are used for validation. Since the original transition model overpredicts separation and losses at Re2is≤100·103, an extra mode for VGJ induced transition is introduced. Whereas the criterion for transition is modeled by a filtered Q vortex criterion the transition development itself is modeled by a reduction of the local transition-onset momentum-thickness Reynolds number. The new model significantly improves the quality of the computational results by capturing the corresponding local transition process in a physically reasonable way. This is shown to yield an improved quantitative prediction of surface pressure distributions and total pressure losses.

Transition Mechanisms in Laminar Separated Flow Under Simulated Low Pressure Turbine Aerofoil Conditions

2012 ◽  
Vol 135 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerrit Dähnert ◽  
Christoph Lyko ◽  
Dieter Peitsch
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Separation Bubble ◽  
Separated Flow ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Main Flow ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Laminar Separation ◽  
Free Stream Turbulence ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

Based on detailed experimental work conducted at a low speed test facility, this paper describes the transition process in the presence of a separation bubble with low Reynolds number, low free-stream turbulence, and steady main flow conditions. A pressure distribution has been created on a long flat plate by means of a contoured wall opposite of the plate, matching the suction side of a modern low-pressure turbine aerofoil. The main flow conditions for four Reynolds numbers, based on suction surface length and nominal exit velocity, were varied from 80,000 to 300,000, which covers the typical range of flight conditions. Velocity profiles and the overall flow field were acquired in the boundary layer at several streamwise locations using hot-wire anemometry. The data given is in the form of contours for velocity, turbulence intensity, and turbulent intermittency. The results highlight the effects of Reynolds number, the mechanisms of separation, transition, and reattachment, which feature laminar separation-long bubble and laminar separation-short bubble modes. For each Reynolds number, the onset of transition, the transition length, and the general characteristics of separated flow are determined. These findings are compared to the measurement results found in the literature. Furthermore, the experimental data is compared with two categories of correlation functions also given in the literature: (1) correlations predicting the onset of transition and (2) correlations predicting the mode of separated flow transition. Moreover, it is shown that the type of instability involved corresponds to the inviscid Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mode at a dominant frequency that is in agreement with the typical ranges occurring in published studies of separated and free-shear layers.

Using Turbulence Intensity and Reynolds Number to Predict Flow Separation on a Highly Loaded, Low-Pressure Gas Turbine Blade at Low Reynolds Numbers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Van Treuren ◽  
Tyler Pharris ◽  
Olivia Hirst
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Flow Separation ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
High Altitudes ◽  
Low Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine

The low-pressure turbine has become more important in the last few decades because of the increased emphasis on higher overall pressure and bypass ratios. The desire is to increase blade loading to reduce blade counts and stages in the low-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine. Increased turbine inlet temperatures for newer cycles results in higher temperatures in the low-pressure turbine, especially the latter stages, where cooling technologies are not used. These higher temperatures lead to higher work from the turbine and this, combined with the high loadings, can lead to flow separation. Separation is more likely in engines operating at high altitudes and reduced throttle setting. At the high Reynolds numbers found at takeoff, the flow over a low-pressure turbine blade tends to stay attached. At lower blade Reynolds numbers (25,000 to 200,000), found during cruise at high altitudes, the flow on the suction surface of the low-pressure turbine blades is inclined to separate. This paper is a study on the flow characteristics of the L1A turbine blade at three low Reynolds numbers (60,000, 108,000, and 165,000) and 15 turbulence intensities (1.89% to 19.87%) in a steady flow cascade wind tunnel. With this data, it is possible to examine the impact of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity on the location of the initiation of flow separation, the flow separation zone, and the reattachment location. Quantifying the change in separated flow as a result of varying Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities will help to characterize the low momentum flow environments in which the low-pressure turbine must operate and how this might impact the operation of the engine. Based on the data presented, it is possible to predict the location and size of the separation as a function of both the Reynolds number and upstream freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI). Being able to predict this flow behavior can lead to more effective blade designs using either passive or active flow control to reduce or eliminate flow separation.

scholarly journals Predictions of Separated and Transitional Boundary Layers Under Low-Pressure Turbine Airfoil Conditions Using an Intermittency Transport Equation

2003 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. B. Suzen ◽  
P. G. Huang ◽  
Lennart S. Hultgren ◽  
David E. Ashpis
Keyword(s):  
Transport Equation ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Eddy Viscosity ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Intermittent Behavior ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Transitional Boundary Layer ◽  
Intermittency Factor

A new transport equation for the intermittency factor was proposed to predict separated and transitional boundary layers under low-pressure turbine airfoil conditions. 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 not only can reproduce the experimentally observed streamwise variation of the intermittency in the transition zone, but also can provide a realistic cross-stream variation of the intermittency profile. In this paper, the intermittency model is used to predict a recent separated and transitional boundary layer experiment under low pressure turbine airfoil conditions. The experiment provides detailed measurements of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and intermittency profiles for a number of Reynolds numbers and freestream turbulent intensity conditions and is suitable for validation purposes. Detailed comparisons of computational results with experimental data are presented and good agreements between the experiments and predictions are obtained.

scholarly journals Characterization of Periodic Incoming Wakes in a Low-Pressure Turbine Cascade Test Section by Means of a Fast-Response Single Sensor Virtual Three-Hole Probe

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Julien Clinckemaillie ◽  
Tony Arts
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Control Volume ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Fast Response ◽  
Pressure Probe ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Low Pressure Turbine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Good Agreement

This paper aims at evaluating the characteristics of the wakes periodically shed by the rotating bars of a spoked-wheel type wake generator installed upstream of a high-speed low Reynolds linear low-pressure turbine blade cascade. Due to the very high bar passing frequency obtained with the rotating wake generator (fbar = 2.4−5.6 kHz), a fast-response pressure probe equipped with a single 350 mbar absolute Kulite sensor has been used. In order to measure the inlet flow angle fluctuations, an angular aerodynamic calibration of the probe allowed the use of the virtual three-hole mode; additionally, yielding yaw corrected periodic total pressure, static pressure and Mach number fluctuations. The results are presented for four bar passing frequencies (fbar = 2.4/3.2/4.6/5.6 kHz), each tested at three isentropic inlet Mach numbers M1,is = 0.26/0.34/0.41 and for Reynolds numbers varying between Re1,is = 40,000 and 58,000, thus covering a wide range of engine representative flow coefficients (ϕ = 0.44−1.60). The measured wake characteristics show fairly good agreement with the theory of fixed cylinders in a cross-flow and the evaluated total pressure losses and flow angle variations generated by the rotating bars show fairly good agreement with theoretical results obtained from a control volume analysis.

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