The Tip Leakage Vortex Breakdown and its Possible Relationship With Rotating Instability in a Subsonic Compressor Rotor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Yang ◽  
Yanhui Wu
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Tangential Velocity ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Back Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Rotating Instability ◽  
Flow Vortex

Abstract The unsteady flow in the compressor at small mass flow rate has an important impact on the safety and efficiency of the compressor. Rotating instability was found in the experiment at near stall condition. Through URANS simulation, the origin of unsteady flow in an isolated subsonic rotor is studied. And the relationship between unsteadiness of tip leakage flow and rotating instability is revealed. With the deepening of the throttle, the flow field in the rotor changes from steady to unsteady. The intermittent spiral type breakdown of tip leakage vortex is considered to be the origin of the unsteady flow. Quantitative analysis of the tip leakage vortex shows the breakdown cycle caused by the interaction of the tip leaked vortex with the adjacent blade. When the tangential velocity and axial velocity of the leakage vortex reach a critical value, the tip leakage vortex will break. A radial vortex called back flow vortex will appear periodically after breakdown happens, which plays an important in rotating instability. The back flow vortex at upstream causes an overflow at adjacent blade leading edge, which results the next breakdown happens at downstream. Due to such feedback, the tip leakage vortex breakdown at two location alternately. A possible cause of RI was proposed: The spiral breakdown of the tip leakage vortex at different positions resulted in a cross-passage structure, which propagates into circumferential direction.

Rotor-Tip Flow Fields Near Inception Point of Rotating Instability in an Axial-Flow Fan

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Nishioka ◽  
Toshio Kanno ◽  
Kiyotaka Hiradate
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Rotor Blades ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Stall Inception ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Rotating Instability ◽  
End Wall ◽  
Stagger Angle

Stall inception patterns at three stagger-angle settings for the highly loaded rotor blades were experimentally investigated in a low-speed axial-flow fan. Rotor-tip flow fields were also numerically investigated to clarify the mechanism behind the stall inception from a rotating instability. The rotating instability is confirmed near stall condition at the high stagger-angle settings for the highly loaded rotor blades as same as that for the moderate loaded rotor blades. The rotating instability is induced by an interaction between the incoming flow, the reversed tip-leakage flow, and the end-wall backflow from the trailing edge. At the high stagger-angle settings for the rotor blades, the interface between the incoming flow and the reversed tip leakage flow becomes parallel to the leading edge plane near and at the stall condition. Moreover, the tip leakage flow spills from the leading edge of the adjacent blade at the stall condition. The changes in the end-wall flow at the rotor tip are consistent with the criteria for the spike initiation suggested by Vo et al. and Hah et al. However, the short length-scale stall cell is not observed at the high stagger-angle settings. The tip-leakage vortex breakdown is confirmed at the three stagger-angle settings. The end-wall blockage induced by the tip-leakage vortex breakdown influences the development of the stall cell. Moreover, the development of the three-dimensional separation vortex induced by the tip-leakage vortex breakdown seems to be one of the criteria for spike-type stall inception.

Unsteady Three-Dimensional Flow Phenomena Due to Breakdown of Tip Leakage Vortex in a Transonic Axial Compressor Rotor

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yamada ◽  
M. Furukawa ◽  
T. Nakano ◽  
M. Inoue ◽  
K. Funazaki
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Compressor Rotor

Unsteady three-dimensional flow fields in a transonic axial compressor rotor (NASA Rotor 37) have been investigated by unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations. The simulations show that the breakdown of the tip leakage vortex occurs in the compressor rotor because of the interaction of the vortex with the shock wave. At near-peak efficiency condition small bubble-type breakdown of the tip leakage vortex happens periodically and causes the loading of the adjacent blade to fluctuate periodically near the leading edge. Since the blade loading near the leading edge is closely linked to the swirl intensity of the tip leakage vortex, the periodic fluctuation of the blade loading leads to the periodic breakdown of the tip leakage vortex, resulting in self-sustained flow oscillation in the tip leakage flow field. However, the tip leakage vortex breakdown is so weak and small that it is not observed in the time-averaged flow field at near-peak efficiency condition. On the other hand, spiral-type breakdown of the tip leakage vortex is caused by the interaction between the vortex and the shock wave at near-stall operating condition. The vortex breakdown is found continuously since the swirl intensity of tip leakage vortex keeps strong at near-stall condition. The spiral-type vortex breakdown has the nature of self-sustained flow oscillation and gives rise to the large fluctuation of the tip leakage flow field, in terms of shock wave location, blockage near the rotor tip and three-dimensional separation structure on the suction surface. It is found that the breakdown of the tip leakage vortex leads to the unsteady flow phenomena near the rotor tip, accompanying large blockage effect in the transonic compressor rotor at the near-stall condition.

Numerical Investigation of Relation Between Unsteady Behavior of Tip Leakage Vortex and Rotating Disturbance in a Transonic Axial Compressor Rotor

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yamada ◽  
K. Funazaki ◽  
H. Sasaki
Keyword(s):  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Transonic Axial Compressor ◽  
Rotating Instability

The purpose of this study is to have a better understanding of the unsteady behavior of tip clearance flow at near-stall condition from a multi-passage simulation and to clarify the relation between such unsteadiness and rotating disturbance. This study is motivated by the following concern. A single passage simulation has revealed the occurrence of the tip leakage vortex breakdown at near-stall condition in a transonic axial compressor rotor, leading to the unsteadiness of the tip clearance flow field in the rotor passage. These unsteady flow phenomena were similar to those in the rotating instability, which is classified in one of the rotating disturbances. In other words it is possible that the tip leakage vortex breakdown produces a rotating disturbance such as the rotating instability. Three-dimensional unsteady RANS calculation was conducted to simulate the rotating disturbance in a transonic axial compressor rotor (NASA Rotor 37). The four-passage simulation was performed so as to capture a short length scale disturbance like the rotating instability and the spike-type stall inception. The simulation demonstrated that the unsteadiness of tip leakage vortex, which was derived from the vortex breakdown at near-stall condition, invoked the rotating disturbance in the rotor, which is similar to the rotating instability.

Numerical investigations on tip leakage flow characteristics and vortex trajectory prediction model in centrifugal compressor

2016 ◽  
Vol 230 (8) ◽  
pp. 757-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijing Zhao ◽  
Zhiheng Wang ◽  
Shubo Ye ◽  
Guang Xi
Keyword(s):  
Prediction Model ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Centrifugal Impeller ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Blade Tip

To better understand the characteristics of tip leakage flow and interpret the correlation between flow instability and tip leakage flow, the flow in the tip region of a centrifugal impeller is investigated by using the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes solver technique. With the decrease of mass flow rate, both the tip leakage vortex trajectory and the mainflow/tip leakage flow interface are shifted towards upstream. The mainflow/tip leakage flow interface finally reaches the leading edge of main blade at the near-stall condition. A prediction model is proposed to track the tip leakage vortex trajectory. The blade loading at blade tip and the averaged streamwise velocity of main flow within tip clearance height are adopted to determine the tip leakage vortex trajectory in the proposed model. The coefficient k in Chen’s model is found to be not a constant. Actually, it is correlated with h/b (the ratio of blade tip clearance height to blade tip thickness), because h/b will significantly influence the flow structure across the tip clearance. The effectiveness of the proposed prediction model is further demonstrated by tracking the tip leakage vortex trajectories in another three centrifugal impellers characterized with different h/b (s).

Effects of tip clearance size on the unsteady flow behaviors and performance in a counter-rotating axial flow compressor

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (3) ◽  
pp. 1059-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Mao ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Hang Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Flow Compressor

This paper presents the studies performed to better understand the effects of increased tip clearance size on the unsteady flow behaviors and overall performance under the rotor–rotor interaction environment in a counter-rotating axial flow compressor. The investigation method is based on the three-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations. The results show that the intensified tip leakage flow in front rotor (R1) caused by the increased tip clearance size will lead to the growth of incoming incidence angle near the tip of the rear rotor (R2). The increasing of double leakage flow range plays a significant role in the sensitivity of the efficiency to tip clearance size and its extent is enlarged gradually with the increase of tip clearance size. As the tip clearance size is increased to 1.5τ (τ represents the designed tip clearance size) from 0.5τ, the results of the fast Fourier transform for the static pressure near blade tip show that two other new fluctuating frequency components appear due to the happening of tip leakage flow self-unsteadiness in R1 and R2, respectively. Additionally, the fluctuating strength near the tip in R2 is significantly increased. However, both the overall fluctuation in R1 caused by the potential effect from downstream and the oscillation in the hub corner on the pressure side of R2 are decreased obviously. The relative inflow angle tends to increase when the incoming wakes and tip leakage flow from R1 encounter the blade leading edge of R2, which leads to the result that the trajectory of tip leakage flow is shifted more upstream.

J051054 Effects of Tip Leakage Vortex Breakdown on Unsteady Flow Fields in an Axial Flow Compressor Rotor at Near-Stall Condition

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 (0) ◽  
pp. _J051054-1-_J051054-5
Author(s):  
Hiroaki KIKUTA ◽  
Kazutoyo YAMADA ◽  
Satoshi Gunjishima ◽  
Goki OKADA ◽  
Yasunori HARA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Unsteady Flow ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Compressor Rotor ◽  
Flow Compressor

Study of Shock/Blade Tip Leakage Vortex/Boundary Layer Interaction in a Transonic Rotor With IDDES Method

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Shi ◽  
Song Fu
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Shock Wave ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Wave Surface ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Layer Interaction ◽  
Boundary Layer Interaction ◽  
Blade Tip

In the present study, Improved Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (IDDES) based on k-ω-SST turbulence model is applied to study the unsteady phenomenon in a transonic compressor rotor. Particular emphasis is on the understanding of the complex underlying mechanisms for the flow unsteadiness caused by the interaction of passage shock, blade tip leakage vortex (BTLV) and the blade boundary layer. The sources of the significant unsteadiness of the flow are shown. At the lower span height, where the BTLV is far away, the shock wave ahead of the blade leading edge impinges on the suction surface boundary layer of the adjacent blade, causing the shock wave/boundary layer interaction (SWBLI). Boundary layer thickness grows, while flow separates after the interaction. Predicted by IDDES calculation, this shock-induced separation exists as a separation bubble. The flow reattaches very soon after separation. At the near tip region, the shock wave surface deforms due to the strong interaction between the shock and the BTLV. Oscillation of the shock wave surface near the vortex core infers an unsteady contend between the shock and the vortex. Iso-surfaces of the Q parameter are applied to identify the vortex and its structure. Normally, the vortex breakdown in the rotor passage will lead to stall. However, in the present transonic case, the vortex breakdown was observed even at the near peak efficiency point. While the mass flow rate decreases, the shock waves formed ahead of the rotor blade leading edge were pushed upstream, causing earlier casing wall boundary layer separation. Upstream moving behavior of the shock is considered a new stall process.

Effects of Stream Surface Inclination on Tip Leakage Flow Fields in Compressor Rotors

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Furukawa ◽  
K. Saiki ◽  
K. Nagayoshi ◽  
M. Kuroumaru ◽  
M. Inoue
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Flow Fields ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Wall Boundary Layer ◽  
Wall Boundary

Experimental and computational results of tip leakage flow fields in a diagonal flow rotor at the design flow rate are compared with those in an axial flow rotor. In the diagonal flow rotor, the casing and hub walls are inclined at 25 deg and 45 deg, respectively, to the axis of rotation, and the blade has airfoil sections with almost the same tip solidity as that of the axial flow rotor. It is found out that “breakdown” of the tip leakage vortex occurs at the aft part of the passage in the diagonal flow rotor. The “vortex breakdown” causes significant changes in the nature of the tip leakage vortex: disappearance of the vortex core, large expansion of the vortex, and appearance of low relative velocity region in the vortex. These changes result in a behavior of the tip leakage flow that is substantially different from that in the axial flow rotor: no rolling-up of the leakage vortex downstream of the rotor, disappearance of the casing pressure trough at the aft part of the rotor passage, large spread of the low-energy fluid due to the leakage flow, much larger growth of the casing wall boundary layer, and considerable increase in the absolute tangential velocity in the casing wall boundary layer. The vortex breakdown influences the overall performance, also: large reduction of efficiency with the tip clearance, and low level of noise.

An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Grooved Tip Geometry on the Flow Field in a Turbine Cascade Passage Using Stereoscopic PIV

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangtao Tian ◽  
Hongwei Ma ◽  
Lixiang Wang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Tracer Particle ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Turbine Efficiency

In the unshrouded axial turbine, the tip clearance gap can cause the losses of turbine efficiency and the penalty of turbine performance. Based on previous investigations, changing the blade tip geometry plays an important role in improving the turbine efficiency and performance. In this paper, the Stereoscopic Particle Imaging Velocimetry (SPIV) measurements were conducted to study the effects of grooved tip geometry on the flow field inside a turbine cascade passage. During the measurements, the double-frame CCD cameras were configured at different sides of the laser light sheet. Additionally, the Diisooctyl Sebacate (DEHS) was treated as the tracer particle. The tip clearance gap of both grooved tip and flat tip was set to 1.18% of the blade chord. The groove height was specified as 2.94% of the blade chord. In this study, the flow field results of eight measured planes were presented. Some typical features of the complicated flow structures, such as tip leakage vortex formation, development, breakdown and the dissipation, the variations of turbulence intensity and Reynolds stress, the blockage characteristic, were discussed as well. The experimental results show that the tip leakage flow/vortex is weakened by the grooved tip. The blockage effect and the flow capacity of the turbine passage are also improved. The tip leakage vortex breaks down at about 70% camber line, but the pattern of leakage vortex has changed into an ellipse at 60% camber line, which is an indication of the vortex breakdown. As for the decomposed and reconstructed flow, the first modal flow is the most similar to the original flow field. And it can capture the dominant flow features in flow field. And the flow of mode 2 and mode 3 generates many eddies with small scale.

scholarly journals Influence of Shock Wave on Loss and Breakdown of Tip-Leakage Vortex in Turbine Rotor with Varying Backpressure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4991
Author(s):  
Zuojun Wei ◽  
Guangming Ren ◽  
Xiaohua Gan ◽  
Ming Ni ◽  
Weijie Chen
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Vortex Breakdown ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Turbine Rotor ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Tip Leakage ◽  
Centrifugal Instability

In modern turbine rotors, tip-leakage flow is a common phenomenon that accounts for about 1/3 of the stage loss. Studies show that as the imposed load increases, a shock wave appears in the tip region, which causes a significant interference on the leakage vortex. In the present study, numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the influence of the shock wave on the loss and breakdown of the tip-leakage vortex. The obtained results indicate that with no effective control on the flow, the loss of the leakage vortex has an approximate exponential growth up to about 10 times as the outlet Mach number increases from 0.67 to 1.15 and the corresponding proportion in the total loss increases sharply to 30.2%. It is found that the stagnation position of the breakdown changes with the backpressure and the amplitude of variation along the axial direction is up to 0.13 Cx. It is inferred that the breakdown of the leakage vortex core may be affected by the periodical passing of downstream blade and the induced pressure fluctuation may result in additional vibration in this rotor blade. The leakage vortex is unstable in supersonic flow with a shock wave and it may transfer to a flow with a low-velocity bubble in its core region. It is concluded that the leakage vortex breakdown mainly originates from interferences of the shock wave, while the internal cause of such breakdown is the centrifugal instability of the vortex.

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