Influence of a Shroud Axisymmetric Slot Injection on a High Pressure Turbine Flow

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Tang ◽  
Mickaël Philit ◽  
Gilles Leroy ◽  
Isabelle Trebinjac ◽  
Ghislaine Ngo Boum
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Unsteady Rans ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Ideal Process ◽  
Mixing Losses

This paper focuses on an axisymmetric slot injecting cooling air at the casing between the stator and the rotor in a one-stage unshrouded transonic high pressure turbine. This configuration has been studied with the help of unsteady RANS computations with and without the slot. Special care has been taken to model and describe the interaction induced unsteady mechanisms. It has been found that the cooling air is ejected from the axisymmetric slot at a fixed position with respect to the stator vanes, with a much lower incidence angle than the main stream. The flow through the rotor passage is highly modified and reveals an unsteady behaviour which highlights the necessity of using unsteady simulations in order to accurately model such a configuration. The effect on the efficiency and on the repartition of loss generation has been determined. As several different definitions of the efficiency can be used for cooled turbine cases, this choice is discussed. In particular, Young & Horlock’s “Weighted Pressure” definition, which takes into account some unavoidable mixing losses in the definition of the ideal process, is evaluated. With this definition, the slot does not yield any significant decrease in overall efficiency.

Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High-Pressure Turbine Stage: Part II — Aerodynamic Measurements in the Rotational Frame

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Coolant Injection ◽  
Cooling Air

The current paper deals with the aerodynamic measurements in the rotational frame of reference of the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) at the Pennsylvania State University. Stationary frame measurements of “Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High Pressure Turbine Stage” were presented in part-I of this paper. The relative aerodynamic effects associated with rotor – nozzle guide vane (NGV) gap coolant injections were investigated in the rotating frame. Three-dimensional velocity vectors including exit flow angles were measured at the rotor exit. This study quantifies the secondary effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic and performance character of the stage main stream flow for root injection, radial cooling and impingement cooling. Current measurements show that even a small quantity (1%) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance and exit conditions of the high pressure turbine stage. Parameters such as the total pressure coefficient, wake width, and three-dimensional velocity field show significant local changes. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions. Effects are the strongest from the hub to midspan. Negligible effect of the cooling flow can be seen in the tip region.

Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High-Pressure Turbine Stage: Part II—Aerodynamic Measurements in the Rotational Frame

2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McLean ◽  
Cengiz Camci ◽  
Boris Glezer
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Pressure Coefficient ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Coolant Injection ◽  
Cooling Air

The current paper deals with the aerodynamic measurements in the rotational frame of reference of the Axial Flow Turbine Research Facility (AFTRF) at the Pennsylvania State University. Stationary frame measurements of “Mainstream Aerodynamic Effects Due to Wheelspace Coolant Injection in a High Pressure Turbine Stage” were presented in Part I of this paper. The relative aerodynamic effects associated with rotor–nozzle guide vane (NGV) gap coolant injections were investigated in the rotating frame. Three-dimensional velocity vectors including exit flow angles were measured at the rotor exit. This study quantifies the secondary effects of the coolant injection on the aerodynamic and performance character of the stage main stream flow for root injection, radial cooling, and impingement cooling. Current measurements show that even a small quantity (1 percent) of cooling air can have significant effects on the performance and exit conditions of the high-pressure turbine stage. Parameters such as the total pressure coefficient, wake width, and three-dimensional velocity field show significant local changes. It is clear that the cooling air disturbs the inlet end-wall boundary layer to the rotor and modifies secondary flow development thereby resulting in large changes in turbine exit conditions. Effects are the strongest from the hub to midspan. Negligible effect of the cooling flow can be seen in the tip region.

Investigation of Trailing Edge Cooling Concepts in a High Pressure Turbine Cascade—Aerodynamic Experiments and Loss Analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Ju¨rgen Rehder
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Coolant Flow ◽  
Coolant Fluid ◽  
Pressure Side ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Number Range ◽  
Mixing Losses

As part of a European research project, the aerodynamic and thermodynamic performance of a high pressure turbine cascade with different trailing edge cooling configurations was investigated in the wind tunnel for linear cascades at DLR in Go¨ttingen. A transonic rotor profile with a relative thick trailing edge was chosen for the experiments. Three trailing edge cooling configurations were applied, first central trailing edge ejection, second a trailing edge shape with a pressure side cut-back and slot equipped with a diffuser rib array, and third pressure side film cooling through a row of cylindrical holes. For comparison, aerodynamic investigations on a reference cascade with solid blades (no cooling holes or slots) were performed. The experiments covered the subsonic, transonic and supersonic exit Mach number range of the cascade while varying cooling mass flow ratios up to 2 %. This paper analyzes the effect of coolant ejection on the airfoil losses. Emphasis was given on separating the different loss contributions due to shocks, pressure, and suction side boundary layer, trailing edge, and mixing of the coolant flow. Employed measurement techniques are schlieren visualization, blade surface pressure measurements, and traverses by pneumatic probes in the cascade exit flow field and around the trailing edge. The results show that central trailing edge ejection significantly reduces the mixing losses and therefore decreases the overall loss. Higher loss levels are obtained when applying the configurations with pressure side blowing. In particular, the cut-back geometry reveals strong mixing losses due to the low momentum coolant fluid, which is decelerated by the diffuser rib array inside the slot. The influence of coolant flow rate on the trailing edge loss is tremendous, too. Shock and boundary layer losses are major contributions to the overall loss but are less affected by the coolant. Finally a parameter variation changing the temperature ratio of coolant to main flow was performed, resulting in increasing losses with decreasing coolant temperature.

Adiabatic Effectiveness Measurements and Predictions of Leakage Flows Along a Blade Endwall

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Ranson ◽  
K. A. Thole ◽  
F. J. Cunha
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
High Pressure Compressor ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Low Speed Wind Tunnel ◽  
Paper Address ◽  
Good Agreement

Traditional cooling schemes have been developed to cool turbine blades using high-pressure compressor air that bypasses the combustor. This high-pressure forces cooling air into the hot main gas path through seal slots. While parasitic leakages can provide a cooling benefit, they also represent aerodynamic losses. The results from the combined experimental and computational studies reported in this paper address the cooling benefit from leakage flows that occur along the platform of a first stage turbine blade. A scaled-up, blade geometry with an upstream slot, a mid-passage slot, and a downstream slot was tested in a linear cascade placed in a low-speed wind tunnel. Results show that the leakage flow through the mid-passage gap provides only a small cooling benefit to the platform. There is little to no benefit to the blade platform that results by increasing the coolant flow through the mid-passage gap. Unlike the mid-passage gap, leakage flow from the upstream slot provides good cooling to the platform surface, particularly in certain regions of the platform. Relatively good agreement was observed between the computational and experimental results, although computations overpredicted the cooling.

Effect of Low-NOX Combustor Swirl Clocking on Intermediate Turbine Duct Vane Aerodynamics With an Upstream High Pressure Turbine Stage—An Experimental and Computational Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Johansson ◽  
Thomas Povey ◽  
Kam Chana ◽  
Hans Abrahamsson
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Flow Structures ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Inlet Condition ◽  
Intermediate Turbine Duct ◽  
Turbine Vane ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Inlet Conditions

Flow in an intermediate turbine duct (ITD) is highly complex, influenced by the upstream turbine stage flow structures, which include tip leakage flow and nonuniformities originating from the upstream high pressure turbine (HPT) vane and rotor. The complexity of the flow structures makes predicting them using numerical methods difficult, hence there exists a need for experimental validation. To evaluate the flow through an intermediate turbine duct including a turning vane, experiments were conducted in the Oxford Turbine Research Facility (OTRF). This is a short duration high speed test facility with a 3/4 engine-sized turbine, operating at the correct nondimensional parameters for aerodynamic and heat transfer measurements. The current configuration consists of a high pressure turbine stage and a downstream duct including a turning vane, for use in a counter-rotating turbine configuration. The facility has the ability to simulate low-NOx combustor swirl at the inlet to the turbine stage. This paper presents experimental aerodynamic results taken with three different turbine stage inlet conditions: a uniform inlet flow and two low-NOx swirl profiles (different clocking positions relative to the high pressure turbine vane). To further explain the flow through the 1.5 stage turbine, results from unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are included. The effect of varying the high pressure turbine vane inlet condition on the total pressure field through the 1.5 stage turbine, the intermediate turbine duct vane loading, and intermediate turbine duct exit condition are discussed and CFD results are compared with experimental data. The different inlet conditions are found to alter the flow exiting the high pressure turbine rotor. This is seen to have local effects on the intermediate turbine duct vane. With the current stator–stator vane count of 32-24, the effect of relative clocking between the two is found to have a larger effect on the aerodynamics in the intermediate turbine duct than the change in the high pressure turbine stage inlet condition. Given the severity of the low-NOx swirl profiles, this is perhaps surprising.

The Behavior of Turbine Center Frames Under the Presence of Purge Flows

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Zerobin ◽  
A. Peters ◽  
S. Bauinger ◽  
A. Ramesh ◽  
M. Steiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Pressure Loss ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Purge Flow ◽  
Cooling Air

This paper deals with the influence of high-pressure turbine purge flows on the aerodynamic performance of turbine center frames. Measurements were carried out in a product-representative one and a half stage turbine test setup, installed in the Transonic Test Turbine Facility at Graz University of Technology. The rig allows testing at engine-relevant flow conditions, matching Mach, Reynolds, and Strouhal number at the inlet of the turbine center frame. Four individual purge mass flows differing in flow rate, pressure, and temperature were injected through the hub and tip, forward and aft cavities of the unshrouded high-pressure turbine rotor. Two turbine center frame designs (differing in area distribution and inlet-to-exit radial offset), equipped with non-turning struts, were tested and compared. For both configurations, aerodynamic measurements at the duct inlet and outlet as well as oil flow visualizations through the turbine center frame were performed. The acquired measurement data illustrate that the interaction of the ejected purge flow with the main flow enhances the secondary flow structures through the turbine center frame duct. Depending on the purge flow rates, the radial migration of purge air onto the strut surfaces directly impacts the loss behavior of the duct. While the duct loss is demonstrated to be primarily driven by the core flow between two duct struts, the losses associated with the flow close to the struts and in the strut wakes are highly dependent on the relative position between the high-pressure turbine vane and the strut leading edge, as well as the interaction between vane wake and ejected purge flow. Hence, while the turbine center frame duct pressure loss depends on the duct geometric characteristics it is also influenced by the presence and rate of the high-pressure turbine purge flows. This first-time experimental assessment demonstrates that a reduction in the high-pressure turbine purge and cooling air requirement not only benefits the engine system performance by decreasing the secondary flow taken from the high-pressure compressor but also by lowering the turbine center frame total pressure loss.

High-Pressure Turbine Rim Seal Design for Increased Efficiency

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Chilla ◽  
H. P. Hodson ◽  
G. Pullan ◽  
D. Newman
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Mass Flow Rate ◽  
Mass Flow ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Main Stream ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Disc Space ◽  
Seal Design

In high-pressure turbines, compressor air is used to purge the disc space in an effort to protect the blade roots and the turbine disc from overheating and failure. The purge air exits the disc space through a rim seal at the hub of the main annulus and is subsequently entrained in the rotor hub endwall flows. The introduction of the purge air into the turbine main stream causes additional losses and therefore reduced turbine efficiency. For a given rim sealing mass flow rate, the rim seal geometry has to be designed in a way that reduces the detrimental impact of the sealing flow on turbine performance. In this study, the rim seal of a generic high-pressure turbine, representative of modern large civil aero-engines, is redesigned under consideration of the pressure field upstream of the rotor. Unsteady numerical simulations of the turbine stage are used to compare the aerodynamic impact of three different rim seal designs. The numerical simulations predict an increase in the time-averaged turbine stage efficiency of over 0.2% for the stage configuration with the final redesigned rim seal compared to the configuration with the original baseline rim seal geometry at the nominal sealing mass flow rate.

Disc Design and Air System Comparison Between a Single and a Two Stage High Pressure Turbine Aero Engine

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fathi Ahmad ◽  
Alexander V. Mirzamoghadam
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Cover Plate ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Two Stage ◽  
Know How ◽  
Aero Engine ◽  
Structural Tests ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Effective Design

The design of the high pressure turbine (HPT) module of an aero engine and the method used to predict disc life and burst margin are different among the manufactures. In this paper, two different disc design methods are presented and compared, namely, the strain instability and the Chambers methods. The results of the disc study show that the strain instability method introduces low disc weight compared to the Chambers method. Both methods satisfy the burst speed requirement of 125% of the red line limit speed. The strain instability method was applied to design the disc of a single stage (SS) and of a two stage (TS) HPT configuration. The design philosophy of the SS is to run the HPT with a high rpm and a low SOT, whereas the TS design is based on low rpm and high SOT. The disc preliminary design considered the mechanical boundary conditions only without a temperature gradient. The total boundary conditions (thermal and mechanical) were then applied to the detailed disc design. A comparison between the two applied air systems of the SS and the TS design configuration was also performed. In comparing the two, the SS presents a design with low cooling air consumption, and it is also found that a cover plate is necessary for the front side of the SS configuration. The results of this study could be useful for the design engineer to know how and what is needed to accomplish a safe and effective design. Complementary thermal and structural tests should be performed to identify the limits and benefits of each approach.

Adiabatic Effectiveness Measurements and Predictions of Leakage Flows Along a Blade Endwall

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Ranson ◽  
K. A. Thole ◽  
F. J. Cunha
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Turbine Blades ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Leakage Flows ◽  
High Pressure Compressor ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Cooling Air ◽  
Low Speed Wind Tunnel ◽  
Paper Address ◽  
Good Agreement

Traditional cooling schemes have been developed to cool turbine blades using high-pressure compressor air that bypasses the combustor. This high pressure forces cooling air into the hot main gas path through seal slots. While parasitic leakages can provide a cooling benefit, they also represent aerodynamic losses. The results from the combined experimental and computational studies reported in this paper address the cooling benefit from leakage flows that occur along the platform of a first stage turbine blade. A scaled-up, blade geometry with an upstream slot, a mid-passage slot, and a downstream slot was tested in a linear cascade placed in a low speed wind tunnel. Results show that the leakage flow through the mid-passage gap provides only a small cooling benefit to the platform. There is little to no benefit to the blade platform that results by increasing the coolant flow through the mid-passage gap. Unlike the mid-passage gap, leakage flow from the upstream slot provides good cooling to the platform surface, particularly in certain regions of the platform. Relatively good agreement was observed between the computational and experimental results although computations overpredicted the cooling.

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