The Influence of Non-Equilibrium Wet Steam Effects on the Aeroelastic Properties of a Turbine Blade Row

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Fuhrer ◽  
Marius Grübel ◽  
Damian M. Vogt ◽  
Paul Petrie-Repar
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Ideal Gas ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Wet Steam ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Flutter Analysis ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Non Equilibrium

Turbine blade flutter is a concern for the manufacturers of steam turbines. Typically, the length of last stage blades of large steam turbines is over one meter. These long blades are susceptible to flutter because of their low structural frequency and supersonic tip speeds with oblique shocks and their reflections. Although steam condensation has usually occurred by the last stage, ideal gas is mostly assumed when performing flutter analysis for steam turbines. The results of a flutter analysis of a 2D steam turbine test case which examine the influence of non-equilibrium wet steam are presented. The geometry and flow conditions of the test case are supposed to be similar to the flow near the tip in a steam turbine as this is where most of the unsteady aerodynamic work contributing to flutter is done. The unsteady flow simulations required for the flutter analysis are performed by ANSYS CFX. Three fluid models are examined: ideal gas, equilibrium wet steam (EQS) and non-equilibrium wet steam (NES), of which NES reflects the reality most. Previous studies have shown that a good agreement between ideal gas and EQS simulations can be achieved if the prescribed ratio of specific heats is equal to the equilibrium polytropic index of the wet steam flow through the turbine. In this paper the results of a flutter analysis are presented for the 2D test case at flow conditions with wet steam at the inlet. The investigated plunge mode normal to chord is similar to a bending mode around the turbine axis for a freestanding blade in 3D. The influence of the overall wetness fraction and the size of the water droplets at the inlet are examined. The results show an increase of aerodynamic damping for all investigated interblade phase angles with a reduction of droplet size. The influence of the wetness fraction is in comparison of less importance.

The Effect of Stage-Diffuser Interaction on the Aerodynamic Performance and Design of LP Steam Turbine Exhaust Systems

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bowen Ding ◽  
Liping Xu ◽  
Jiandao Yang ◽  
Rui Yang ◽  
Yuejin Dai
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Part Load ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Load Conditions ◽  
Turbine Exhaust ◽  
Exhaust Systems

Modern large steam turbines for power generation are required to operate much more flexibly than ever before, due to the increasing use of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. This has posed great challenges to the design of LP steam turbine exhaust systems, which are critical to recovering the leaving energy that is otherwise lost. In previous studies, the design had been focused on the exhaust diffuser with or without the collector. Although the interaction between the last stage and the exhaust hood has been identified for a long time, little attention has been paid to the last stage blading in the exhaust system’s design process, when the machine frequently operates at part-load conditions. This study focuses on the design of LP exhaust systems considering both the last stage and the exhaust diffuser, over a wide operating range. A 1/10th scale air test rig was built to validate the CFD tool for flow conditions representative of an actual machine at part-load conditions, characterised by highly swirling flows entering the diffuser. A numerical parametric study was performed to investigate the effect of both the diffuser geometry variation and restaggering the last stage rotor blades. Restaggering the rotor blades was found to be an effective way to control the level of leaving energy, as well as the flow conditions at the diffuser inlet, which influence the diffuser’s capability to recover the leaving energy. The benefits from diffuser resizing and rotor blade restaggering were shown to be relatively independent of each other, which suggests the two components can be designed separately. Last, the potentials of performance improvement by considering both the last stage rotor restaggering and the diffuser resizing were demonstrated by an exemplary design, which predicted an increase in the last stage power output of at least 1.5% for a typical 1000MW plant that mostly operates at part-load conditions.

Performance Evaluation of Last Stage Bucket Tip Section Using Non-Equilibrium Wet Steam CFD Tool

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sai S. Sreedharan ◽  
Hiteshkumar Mistry ◽  
Vsevolod Ostrovskiy ◽  
Tao Guo
Keyword(s):  
Design Feature ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Wet Steam ◽  
Grid Topology ◽  
Blade Tip ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Wet Steam Flow ◽  
Non Equilibrium

In order to develop the next generation of low pressure steam turbines, it is imperative to understand the moisture effects and their impact on performance. The objective of the current study is to apply the recently developed in-house multiphase CFD code to the analysis of the tip section of the last stage bucket (LSB), and propose design improvements based on insights gained into wet steam flow physics. 2D simulations were first carried out with equilibrium and non-equilibrium condensation models, showing significant differences in losses which were attributed to non-equilibrium condensation. Details of the shock structures in the transonic blade tip passage under equilibrium and non-equilibrium condensation models were captured with best in class split blade grid topology. Sensitivity studies of major airfoil design parameters such as un-guided turning and trailing edge angle were carried out and their impact quantified on the basis of wetness losses. Based on the detailed investigation of the flow field, a new design feature on the suction side of the LSB was proposed. Numerical results show higher performance benefit of the new design at design point operation.

Towards Scale Resolving Computations of Condensing Wet Steam Flows

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Post ◽  
Marwick Sembritzky ◽  
Francesca di Mare
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Two Phase Flow ◽  
Ideal Gas ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Wet Steam ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Upwind Schemes ◽  
Computational Speed ◽  
Euler Model ◽  
Non Equilibrium

Abstract In this paper we present a turbomachinery density-based CFD solver optimized for CPUs as well as GPUs, which accounts for complex thermodynamics including non-equilibrium condensation and two-phase flow, making extensive use of tabulation techniques. The two-phase flow is treated by means of the mono-dispersed Source-Term Euler-Euler model. The non-equilibrium wet-steam model is validated in classical nozzle test cases and its application in turbomachinery configuration is demonstrated in a well-documented steam turbine cascade in the context of classic RANS modeling. Finally, the LES-solver performance and scalability, together with its accuracy, are assessed and discussed on the basis of the well-known and theoretically relevant experiment by Comte-Bellot and Corrsin. For both, standard RANS computations, where an upwind schemes has been adopted, as well as for the LES computations, where a central scheme in skew-symmetric form has been employed, the solver shows remarkable computational speed and accuracy for non-ideal gas applications, rendering it suitable for more complex LES computations in steam turbine flows.

scholarly journals Flutter Analysis of a Transonic Steam Turbine Blade with Frequency and Time-Domain Solvers

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Christian Frey ◽  
Graham Ashcroft ◽  
Hans-Peter Kersken ◽  
Daniel Schlüß
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Nonlinear Frequency ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Bending Mode ◽  
Flutter Analysis ◽  
Steam Turbine Blade ◽  
Time Marching

The aim of this study was to assess the capabilities of different simulation approaches to predict the flutter stability of a steam turbine rotor. The focus here was on linear and nonlinear frequency domain solvers in combination with the energy method, which is widely used for the prediction of flutter onset. Whereas a GMRES solver was used for the linear problem, the nonlinear methods employed a time-marching procedure. The solvers were applied to the flutter analysis of the first rotor bending mode of the open Durham Steam Turbine test case. This test case is representative of the last stage of modern industrial steam turbines. We compared our results to those published by other researchers in terms of aerodynamic damping and local work per cycle coefficients. Time-domain, harmonic balance, and time-linearised methods were compared to each other in terms of CPU efficiency and accuracy.

Paper 31: An Experiment on Erosion Control, Using a 60-Mw Steam Turbine

1967 ◽  
Vol 182 (8) ◽  
pp. 297-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. W. Todd ◽  
B. Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Erosion Control ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Wet Steam ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Erosion Rates ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Trailing Edges ◽  
Last Stage

A twin-exhaust steam turbine of 60-MW output was used for a field study of a method of wet steam erosion control which had been examined previously under laboratory conditions. The last stage of one exhaust was modified so that measured quantities of steam and water could be extracted, or steam injected through slots in the trailing edges of the diaphragm blades. Variations in erosion rates of the last-stage moving blades in both exhausts were compared by recording continuously the changes in emissivity of radio-active labels attached to sample blades. An introscope was used to study flow conditions during the experiment, and after some five months' operation the set was opened up for inspection, which confirmed the estimates that water extraction reduced erosion by a factor of 5.

scholarly journals Influence of the Tip Clearance on the Aeroelastic Characteristics of a Last Stage Steam Turbine

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1213
Author(s):  
Tianrui Sun ◽  
Anping Hou ◽  
Mingming Zhang ◽  
Paul Petrie-Repar
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Aeroelastic Stability ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Aerodynamic Damping ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Gap Height

In this paper, the tip clearance effects on the aeroelastic stability of a last-stage steam turbine model are investigated. Most of the unsteady aerodynamic work contributing to flutter of the long blades of the last-stage of a steam turbine is done near the tip of the blade. The flow in this region is transonic and sensitive to geometric parameters such as the tip clearance height. The KTH Steam Turbine Flutter Test Case was chosen as the test case, which is an open geometry with similar parameters to modern free-standing last-stage steam turbines. The energy method based on 3D URANS simulation was applied to investigate the flutter characteristics of the rotor blade with five tip gap height varying from 0–5% of the chord length. The numerical results show that the global aerodynamic damping for the least stable inter-blade phase angle (IBPA) increases with the tip gap height. Three physical mechanisms are found to cause this phenomenon. The primary cause of the variation in total aerodynamic damping is the interaction between tip clearance vortex and the trailing edge shock from the adjacent blade. Another mechanism is the acceleration of the flow near the aft side of the suction surface in the tip region due to the well-developed tip leakage vortex when the tip clearance height is greater than 2.5% of chord. This causes a stabilizing effect at the least stable IBPA. The third mechanism is the oscillation of the tip leakage vortex due to the blade vibration. This has a negative influence on the aeroelastic stability.

Advanced Flutter Analysis of a Long Shrouded Steam Turbine Blade

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Petrie-Repar ◽  
Vasily Makhnov ◽  
Nikolay Shabrov ◽  
Evgueni Smirnov ◽  
Sergey Galaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Saturated Vapor ◽  
Pressure Profile ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Flow Simulations ◽  
Flutter Analysis ◽  
Steam Turbine Blade ◽  
Last Stage

An advanced flutter analysis of a final stage turbine row with a new 1.2 meter long shrouded blade is presented. The three-dimensional (3D) unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations with the Spalart and Allmaras turbulence model were employed to model the flow. The flow entering the last stage is a mixture of saturated vapor and liquid. An equilibrium wet-steam equation of state was used to model the properties of the mixture. Multi-row steady state simulations of the upstream stator row, the turbine row and the extended exhaust section were performed. It was considered important to include the exhaust section in the steady-state simulations in order to accurately predict the pressure profile at the exit of the turbine. The flow simulations were relatively high resolution and the single passage turbine mesh had 798 208 cells. Linearized flow simulations for the turbine row were performed to determine the unsteady aerodynamic work on the blades for the possible aeroelastic modes. An exact 3D non-reflecting boundary condition (3D-NRBC) was applied at the inlet and outlet for the linearized flow simulations to eliminate non-physical reflections at these boundaries. The calculated logarithmic decrement values for the new turbine blade are compared with a reference case for a similar steam turbine blade at a condition known to have a long and safe working history. The new last stage was found to be more stable than the reference case at the flow condition examined.

scholarly journals Failure Analysis in Lacing Wire Of Last Stage Low Pressure Steam Turbine Blade

2021 ◽  
Vol 1096 (1) ◽  
pp. 012097
Author(s):  
A M Kongkong ◽  
H Setiawan ◽  
J Miftahul ◽  
A R Laksana ◽  
I Djunaedi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Failure Analysis ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Pressure Steam ◽  
Steam Turbine Blade ◽  
Last Stage

Some Experiments on Wet Steam Flow Visualization in Large Steam Turbine Blading

1976 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Krzyz˙anowski ◽  
B. Weigle
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Steam Flow ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Wet Steam ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Primary Droplet ◽  
Last Stage ◽  
Wet Steam Flow

In a series of experiments aimed at the visualization of the wet steam flow in the exhaust part of a 200 MW condensing steam turbine a set of periscopes and light sources was used. The aim of the experiment was: 1 – The investigation of the liquid-phase flow over the last stage stator blading of the turbine mentioned. 2 – The investigation of the gaseous-phase flow through the last stage blading at full and part load. The first part of the program partially failed due to the opaqueness of the wet steam atmosphere for the turbine load higher than 10–20 MW. The detailed experimental conditions will be described. An assessment of the primary droplet size will also be given. The preliminary results of the second part of the program will be outlined. The advantages and disadvantages of the equipment used will be discussed.

Modeling of a Steam Turbine Including Partial Arc Admission for Use in a Process Simulation Software Environment

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Liese
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Process Simulation ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Constant Pressure ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Software Environment ◽  
Last Stage

A dynamic process model of a steam turbine, including partial arc admission operation, is presented. Models were made for the first stage and last stage, with the middle stages presently assumed to have a constant pressure ratio and efficiency. A condenser model is also presented. The paper discusses the function and importance of the steam turbines entrance design and the first stage. The results for steam turbines with a partial arc entrance are shown, and compare well with experimental data available in the literature, in particular, the “valve loop” behavior as the steam flow rate is reduced. This is important to model correctly since it significantly influences the downstream state variables of the steam, and thus the characteristic of the entire steam turbine, e.g., state conditions at extractions, overall turbine flow, and condenser behavior. The importance of the last stage (the stage just upstream of the condenser) in determining the overall flowrate and exhaust conditions to the condenser is described and shown via results.

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