Nacelle Aerodynamic Optimization and Inlet Compatibility

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Chen ◽  
Yadong Wu ◽  
Zhonglin Wang ◽  
Anjenq Wang
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Aerodynamic Optimization ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Induction System ◽  
Air Intake ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion ◽  
The Impact

The design of air induction system is targeting to balance the internal and external flow characteristics as well as the structure and aerodynamic integrity. An optimized air intake design that providing velocity and pressure distributions with least drag and maximum pressure recovery could end up at the expense of higher inlet flow distortion and lower stability margin. Indeed, design requirements and considerations at different operating conditions, such as takeoff, and high AOA maneuvers, could be significantly different from that of cruise and level flight. One of the most challenged operating conditions to be certified for FAR33 & FAR25 requirements is ground crosswind condition, when “Engine” is operating statically on the ground with high crosswind presented. It could accommodate inlet separation or distortion resulted from crosswind, and triggers fan or core stall, as well as induces high fan and/or engine vibrations. Studies of engine inlet compatibility become one of the major tasks required during the engine developing phase. This research is a parametric study of using CFD to evaluate operational characteristics of the air induction system. Comparisons of various inlet designs are made and characterized into four categories, i.e., i) Inlet pressure loss, ii) Nacelle drag, iii) Inlet flow distortion, and iv) Inlet Mach distribution. The objective is to assess the impact of air induction design of turbofan upon inlet compatibility. The research introduces the Kriging model and weighting coefficients to optimize internal total pressure loss and external drag using the isolated nacelle model. Bezier equation was used to fit the optimized curves obtained by changing several control points of the baseline configuration of nacelle. To study the impact of asymmetric lip on flow separation in ground crosswind condition, the paper built crosswind model which introduce a inlet boundary as fan face. Comparisons are then made between the original and optimal nacelle, to show correlation between inlet compatibility and air intake profile.

Nacelle: Air Intake Aerodynamic Design and Inlet Compatibility

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjing Chen ◽  
Yadong Wu ◽  
Zhonglin Wang ◽  
Anjenq Wang
Keyword(s):  
Research Work ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pressure Recovery ◽  
Weighting Coefficient ◽  
Maximum Pressure ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Induction System ◽  
Air Intake ◽  
The Impact

One of the most challenging operating conditions to be certified for FAR33 & FAR25 requirements is ground crosswind condition. When “Engine” is operated using the designed inlet and nacelle, within the flight envelope, could accommodate inlet separation/distortion resulted from crosswind and high angle-of-attack operating conditions. Inlet flow separation and distortion could trigger fan or core stall, as well as induce high fan and/or engine vibrations. The air induction system or inlet of the engine is designed to provide velocity and pressure distributions with minimum distortion and maximum pressure recovery to the propulsion system. Engine-inlet-airframe compatibility is one of the major tasks required to be evaluated in detail during the engine developing phase. This research is a parametric study of using CFD to evaluate operational characteristics of the air induction system. Comparisons of various inlet designs are made and characterized into three categories, i.e., i) Inlet flow recovery, ii) Inlet flow distortion, iii) Inlet Mach distribution. The objective is to assess the impact of air induction design of turbofan upon inlet compatibility. The current research work includes four parts, i.e., i) A geometry modeling process of nacelle, inlet, wing and fuselage, ii) A meshes generator ICEM, iii) The ANSYS CFX CFD software which could achieves numerical simulation and post-processing, iv) The Matlab platform with the function of coupling all considerations listed above for inlet compatibility optimization, based on genetic algorithm and Kriging agent model. The research introduces the Kriging model and weighting coefficient to optimize total pressure loss coefficient and static pressure recovery coefficient, with the external nacelle flow ignored. Bezier equation was used to fit the optimized curves obtained by changing two control points at the inter surface of nacelle. The wing-mounted model coupled with the nacelles, fuselage and wings was then built to make the assessment of inlet compatibility of air intake system relative to the isolate model. Comparison of aerodynamic performance was then made between the original and optimal nacelle, to show correlation between inlet compatibility and air intake profile.

Effects of Inlet Flow Distortion on the Performance of Aircraft Gas Turbines

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Kurzke
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
System Simulation ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Thermodynamic Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion ◽  
The Impact

This paper describes how the fundamental effects of inlet flow distortion on the performance of gas turbines can be evaluated with any engine performance program that employs an integrated parallel compressor model. In this simulation method, both pressure and temperature distortions are quantified with coefficients, which relate the pressure (respectively temperature) in the spoiled sector to the value in the clean sector. In single spool compressor engines, the static pressure at the exit of the clean sector equals that of the distorted sector. This hypothesis does not hold true with multispool compressor engines because the short intercompressor ducts, which often contain struts or vanes, do not allow the mass flow transfer over the sector borders, which would be required for balancing the static pressures. The degree of aerodynamic coupling of compressors in series can be described in the performance simulation program by the simple coupling factor introduced in this paper. There are two fundamentally different reasons for the change in engine performance: First, there is the impact of the flow distortion on the component efficiencies and thus the thermodynamic cycle and second there are performance changes due to the actions of the control system. From the engine system simulation results, it becomes clear why inlet flow distortion has only a minor impact on the thermodynamic cycle if the comparison of the two operating conditions (with clean and distorted inlet flow) is made at the properly averaged engine inlet conditions. For each compressor, the parallel compressor theory yields two operating points in the map, one for the clean sector and one for the spoiled sector. The performance loss due to the distortion is small since the efficiency values in the two sectors are only a bit lower than the efficiency at a comparable operating point with clean inlet flow. However, the control system of the engine can react to the inlet flow distortion in such a way that the thrust delivered changes significantly. This is particularly true if a compressor bleed valve or a variable area nozzle is opened to counteract compressor stability problems. Especially, using recirculating bleed air for increasing the surge margin of a compressor affects the performance of the engine negatively. Two examples show clearly that the pros and cons of recirculating bleed can only be judged with a full system simulation; looking at the surge line improvement alone can be misleading.

Effects of Inlet Flow Distortion on the Performance of Aircraft Gas Turbines

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Kurzke
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
System Simulation ◽  
Thermodynamic Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion ◽  
The Impact

The main problem with aircraft engine inlet flow distortion is its effect on the stability of the compression system. However, distortion does also influence the performance delivered by the propulsion system. There are two fundamentally different reasons for the change in performance: First there is the impact of the flow distortion on the component efficiencies and thus the thermodynamic cycle and second there are performance changes due to actions of the control system. This paper describes how the fundamental effects of inlet flow distortion on the performance of gas turbines can be evaluated with any engine performance program that employs an integrated parallel compressor model. This sort of simulation is a valuable tool for evaluating the basic effects of complex flow phenomena on the performance of a gas turbine. It delivers fundamentally correct answers since even the most complex flow structures obey the laws of mass and energy conservation and that’s all what the overall system simulation is about. In the parallel compressor model both pressure and temperature distortions are quantified with coefficients which relate the pressure (respectively temperature) in the spoiled sector to the value in the clean sector. In single compressor engines the static pressure at the exit of the clean sector equals that of the distorted sector. This hypothesis does not hold true with multi-compressor engines because the short inter-compressor ducts, which often contain struts or vanes, do not allow the mass flow transfer over the sector borders which would be required for balancing the static pressures. The degree of aerodynamic coupling of compressors in series can be described in the performance simulation program by a coupling factor. From the engine system simulation results it becomes clear why inlet flow distortion has only a minor impact on the thermodynamic cycle if the comparison of the two operating conditions (with clean and distorted inlet flow) is made at the properly averaged engine inlet conditions. For each compressor the parallel compressor theory yields two operating points in the map, one for the clean sector and one for the spoiled sector. The performance loss due to distortion is small since the efficiency values in the two sectors are only a bit lower than the efficiency at a comparable operating point with clean inlet flow. However, the control system of the engine can react to the inlet flow distortion in such a way that the thrust delivered changes significantly. This is particularly true if a compressor bleed valve or a variable area nozzle is opened to counteract compressor stability problems. Especially using re-circulating bleed air to increase the surge margin of a compressor affects the performance of the engine negatively. Two examples show clearly that the pro and cons of re-circulating bleed can only be judged with a full system simulation, looking at the surge line improvement alone can be misleading.

Meanline Calculation of Surge Margin Loss due to Inlet Flow Distortion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Menegozzo ◽  
Ernesto Benini
Keyword(s):  
Cfd Simulation ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Axial Compressors ◽  
Surge Margin ◽  
Compressor Surge ◽  
Surge Line ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In the present work, a methodology for the preliminary analysis of axial compressors operating under clean and distorted inflow conditions is discussed. A 1D mean-line solver has been developed, and the validation has been carried out under clean conditions considering the datasets of the subsonic Rolls-Royce HP9, as well as the transonic NASA Rotor 37 and NASA Rotor 67. Numerical results have been reported together with experimental data in terms of performance maps and spanwise distributions. The ARP1420 procedure and the parallel compressor theory have been implemented for the impact assessment of inlet flow distortion on the compressor surge line. A full-annulus CFD simulation of the NASA Rotor 37 has been carried out, in order to generate high-fidelity benchmark results. A 180° circumferential distortion has been considered as inlet boundary condition, and the surge line has been calculated using the two numerical models.

scholarly journals Investigation of Flows in Rectangular Diffusers With Inlet Flow Distortion

1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Al-Mudhafar ◽  
M. Ilyas ◽  
F. S. Bhinder
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Velocity Profiles ◽  
Pressure Recovery ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Inlet Velocity ◽  
Inlet Distortion ◽  
Mach Numbers ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion

The results of an experimental study on the influence of severely distorted velocity profiles on the performance of a straight two-dimensional diffuser are reported. The data cover entry Mach numbers ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 and several inlet distortion levels. The pressure recovery progressively deteriorates as the inlet velocity is distorted.

The Effect of Non-Uniform Aerodynamic Loading on the Blade Responses

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelgadir M. Mahmoud ◽  
Mohd S. Leong
Keyword(s):  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Forced Response ◽  
Flow Section ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Bladed Disk ◽  
Aerodynamic Loading ◽  
Bladed Disk Assembly ◽  
Flow Generator ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion

Turbine blades are always subjected to severe aerodynamic loading. The aerodynamic loading is uniform and Of harmonic nature. The harmonic nature depends on the rotor speed and number of nozzles (vanes counts). This harmonic loading is the main sources responsible for blade excitation. In some circumstances, the aerodynamic loading is not uniform and varies circumferentially. This paper discussed the effect of the non-uniform aerodynamic loading on the blade vibrational responses. The work involved the experimental study of forced response amplitude of model blades due to inlet flow distortion in the presence of airflow. This controlled inlet flow distortion therefore represents a nearly realistic environment involving rotating blades in the presence of airflow. A test rig was fabricated consisting of a rotating bladed disk assembly, an inlet flow section (where flow could be controlled or distorted in an incremental manner), flow conditioning module and an aerodynamic flow generator (air suction module with an intake fan) for investigations under laboratory conditions. Tests were undertaken for a combination of different air-flow velocities and blade rotational speeds. The experimental results showed that when the blades were subjected to unsteady aerodynamic loading, the responses of the blades increased and new frequencies were excited. The magnitude of the responses and the responses that corresponding to these new excited frequencies increased with the increase in the airflow velocity. Moreover, as the flow velocity increased the number of the newly excited frequency increased.

Lip Separation and Inlet Flow Distortion Control in Ducted Fans Used in VTOL Systems

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Akturk ◽  
Cengiz Camcı
Keyword(s):  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
High Angle ◽  
Flow Distortion ◽  
High Angle Of Attack ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Flight Velocity ◽  
Ducted Fan ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion

This paper describes a novel ducted fan inlet flow conditioning concept that will significantly improve the performance and controllability of ducted fan systems operating at high angle of attack. High angle of attack operation of ducted fans is very common in VTOL (vertical take off and landing) UAV systems. The new concept that will significantly reduce the inlet lip separation related performance penalties in the edgewise/forward flight zone is named DOUBLE DUCTED FAN (DDF). The current concept uses a secondary stationary duct system to control inlet lip separation related momentum deficit at the inlet of the fan rotor occurring at elevated edgewise flight velocities. The DDF is self-adjusting in a wide edgewise flight velocity range and its corrective aerodynamic effect becomes more pronounced with increasing flight velocity due to its inherent design properties. Most axial flow fans are designed for an axial inlet flow with zero or minimal inlet flow distortion. The DDF concept is proven to be an effective way of dealing with inlet flow distortions occurring near the lip section of any axial flow fan system, especially at high angle of attack. In this present paper, a conventional baseline duct without any lip separation control feature is compared to two different double ducted fans named DDF CASE-A and DDF CASE-B via 3D, viscous and turbulent flow computational analysis. Both hover and edgewise flight conditions are considered. Significant relative improvements from DDF CASE-A and DDF CASE-B are in the areas of vertical force (thrust) enhancement, nose-up pitching moment control and recovery of fan through-flow mass flow rate in a wide horizontal flight range.

Inlet Flow Distortion

2018 ◽  
pp. 249-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Kurzke ◽  
Ian Halliwell
Keyword(s):  
Flow Distortion ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Inlet Flow Distortion
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