Vortex Tracking of Purge-Mainstream Interactions in a Rotating Turbine Stage

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex W. Mesny ◽  
Mark A. Glozier ◽  
Oliver J. Pountney ◽  
James A. Scobie ◽  
Yan Sheng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Optical Measurement ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Vortex Filaments ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Purge Flow

Abstract The use of purge flow in gas turbines allows for high turbine entry temperatures, which are essential to produce high cycle efficiency. Purge air is bled from the compressor and reintroduced in the turbine to cool vulnerable components. Wheel-spaces are formed between adjacent rotating and stationary discs, with purge air supplied at low radius before exiting into the mainstream gas-path through a rim-seal at the disc periphery. An aerodynamic penalty is incurred as the purge flow egress interacts with the mainstream. This study presents unparalleled three-dimensional velocity data from a single-stage turbine test rig, specifically designed to investigate egress-mainstream interaction using optical measurement techniques. Volumetric Velocimetry is applied to the rotating environment with phase-locked measurements used to identify and track the vortical secondary flow features through the blade passage. A baseline case without purge flow is compared to experiments with a 1.7% purge mass fraction; the latter was chosen to ensure a fully sealed wheel-space. A non-localised vortex tracking function is applied to the data to identify the position of the core centroids. The strength of the secondary-flow vortices was determined by using a circulation criterion on rotated planes aligned to the vortex filaments. The pressure-side leg of the horseshoe vortex and a second vortex associated with the egress flow were identified by the experimental campaign. In the absence of purge flow the two vortices merged, forming the passage vortex. With the addition of purge flow, the two cores remained independent to 40% of the blade axial chord, while also demonstrating an increased radial migration and intensification of the passage vortex. The egress core was shown to remain closer to the suction-surface with purge flow. Importantly, where the vortex filaments demonstrated strong radial or tangential components of velocity, the circulation level calculated from axial planes underpredicted the true circulation by up to 50%.

VORTEX TRACKING OF PURGE-MAINSTREAM INTERACTIONS IN A ROTATING TURBINE STAGE

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Alex Mesny ◽  
Mark Glozier ◽  
Oliver J Pountney ◽  
James Scobie ◽  
Yansheng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Optical Measurement ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Baseline Case ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Purge Flow ◽  
Cycle Efficiency

Abstract The use of purge flow in gas turbines allows for high turbine entry temperatures, which are essential to produce high cycle efficiency. Purge air is bled from the compressor and reintroduced in the turbine to cool vulnerable components. Wheel-spaces are formed between adjacent rotating and stationary discs, with purge air supplied at low radius before exiting into the mainstream gas-path through a rim-seal at the disc periphery. An aerodynamic penalty is incurred as the purge flow egress interacts with the mainstream. This study presents unparalleled three-dimensional velocity data from a single-stage turbine test rig, specifically designed to investigate egressmainstream interaction using optical measurement techniques. Volumetric Velocimetry is applied to the rotating environment with phase-locked measurements used to identify and track the vortical secondary flow features through the blade passage. A baseline case without purge flow is compared to experiments with a 1.7% purge mass fraction; the latter was chosen to ensure a fully sealed wheel-space. A non-localised vortex tracking function is applied to the data to identify the position of the core centroids. The strength of the secondary-flow vortices was determined by using a circulation criterion on rotated planes aligned to the vortex filaments........[abridged]

Volumetric Velocimetry Measurements of Purge–Mainstream Interaction in a One-Stage Turbine

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Carvalho Figueiredo ◽  
B. D. J. Schreiner ◽  
A. W. Mesny ◽  
O. J. Pountney ◽  
J. A. Scobie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
One Stage ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Purge Flow ◽  
Secondary Flow Field

Abstract Air-cooled gas turbines employ bleed air from the compressor to cool vulnerable components in the turbine. The cooling flow, commonly known as purge air, is introduced at low radius, before exiting through the rim-seal at the periphery of the turbine discs. The purge flow interacts with the mainstream gas path, creating an unsteady and complex flowfield. Of particular interest to the designer is the effect of purge on the secondary-flow structures within the blade passage, the extent of which directly affects the aerodynamic loss in the stage. This paper presents a combined experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) investigation into the effect of purge flow on the secondary flows in the blade passage of an optically accessible one-stage turbine rig. The experimental campaign was conducted using volumetric velocimetry (VV) measurements to assess the three-dimensional inter-blade velocity field; the complementary CFD campaign was carried out using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) computations. The implementation of VV within a rotating environment is a world first and offers an unparalleled level of experimental detail. The baseline flow-field, in the absence of purge flow, demonstrated a classical secondary flow-field: the rollup of a horseshoe vortex, with subsequent downstream convection of a pressure-side and suction-side leg, the former transitioning in to the passage vortex. The introduction of purge, at 1.7% of the mainstream flowrate, was shown to modify the secondary flow-field by enhancing the passage vortex, in both strength and span-wise migration. The computational predictions were in agreement with the enhancement revealed by the experiments.

Three-Dimensional Flow Near the Blade/Endwall Junction of a Gas Turbine: Application of a Boundary Layer Fence

1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Chung ◽  
T. W. Simon ◽  
J. Buddhavarapu
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Film Cooling ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Management Technique ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Cooling Flow ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Cooling Function

A flow management technique designed to reduce some harmful effects of secondary flow in the endwall region of a turbine passage is introduced. A boundary layer fence in the gas turbine passage is shown to improve the likelihood of efficient film cooling on the suction surface near the endwall. The fence prevents the pressure side leg of the horseshoe vortex from crossing to the suction surface and impinging on the wall. The vortex is weakened and decreased in size after being deflected by the fence. Such diversion of the vortex will prevent it from removing the film cooling flow allowing the flow to perform its cooling function. Flow visualization on the suction surface and through the passage shows the behavior of the passage vortex with and without the fence. Laser Doppler velocimetry is employed to quantify these observations.

Volumetric Velocimetry Measurements of Purge-Mainstream Interaction in a 1-Stage Turbine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Carvalho Figueiredo ◽  
B. D. J. Schreiner ◽  
A. W. Mesny ◽  
O. J. Pountney ◽  
J. A. Scobie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Purge Flow ◽  
Secondary Flow Field

Abstract Air-cooled gas turbines employ bleed air from the compressor to cool vulnerable components in the turbine. The cooling flow, commonly known as purge air, is introduced at low radius, before exiting through the rim-seal at the periphery of the turbine discs. The purge flow interacts with the mainstream gas path, creating an unsteady and complex flow-field. Of particular interest to the designer is the effect of purge on the secondary flow structures within the blade passage, the extent of which directly affects the aerodynamic loss in the stage. This paper presents a combined experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) investigation into the effect of purge flow on the secondary flows in the blade passage of an optically-accessible 1-stage turbine rig. The experimental campaign was conducted using Volumetric Velocimetry (VV) measurements to assess the three-dimensional inter-blade velocity field; the complementary CFD campaign was carried out using URANS computations. The implementation of VV within a rotating environment is a world first and offers an unparalleled level of experimental detail. The baseline flow-field, in the absence of purge flow, demonstrated a classical secondary flow-field: the roll-up of a horseshoe-vortex, with subsequent downstream convection of a pressure-side and suction-side leg, the former transitioning in to the passage vortex. The introduction of purge, at 1.7% of the mainstream flow-rate, was shown to modify the secondary flow field by enhancing the passage vortex, both in strength and span-wise migration. The computational predictions were in agreement with the enhancement revealed by the experiments.

Numerical Study of the Effect of Secondary Vortex on Three-Dimensional Corner Separation in a Compressor Cascade

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangwei Liu ◽  
Hao Yan ◽  
Lipeng Lu
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Detached Eddy Simulation ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Complex Flow ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Corner Separation ◽  
Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation ◽  
Passage Vortex

AbstractThe complex flow structures in a linear compressor cascade have been investigated under different incidences using both the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) and delayed detached eddy simulation (DDES) methods. The current study analyzes the development of horseshoe vortex and passage vortex in a compressor cascade based on DDES results and explores the effect of the passage vortex on corner separation using the RANS method. Results show that the effect of horseshoe vortex on three-dimensional corner separation is weak, whereas the effect of passage vortex is dominant. A large vortex breaks into many small vortices in the corner separation region, thereby resulting in strong turbulence fluctuation. The passage vortex transports the low-energetic flow near the endwall to the blade suction surface and enlarges corner separation in the cascade. Hence, total pressure loss increases in the cascade.

Numerical Simulation of Endwall Fence on the Secondary Flow in Compressor Cascade

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingjun Zhong ◽  
Ji-Ang Han ◽  
Yanming Liu ◽  
Fu Tian
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Side Branch ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Rotation Direction ◽  
Pressure Surface ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Blockage Effect

In this paper, based on the experimental data, a detailed numerical simulation has been carried out for the compressor cascade composed of CDA blades with fences on the endwall. There are several different configurations of the endwall fences, such as length, height, and pitch-wise location for the endwall fence. The optimum lengths, height, pitch-wise or span-wise location of the fences on the cascade end walls are obtained. The process of endwall fence’s controlling secondary flow in the compressor cascade mainly lies in two ways: hindering crosswise flow from pressure surface to suction surface near the endwall of the cascade; forming and developing of fence vortex, in which the fence blockage effect is more important. Endwall fences has a significant effect on the vortices distribution, in which the formation and development of fence vortex is important. Its formation has a close relationship with the strength of the crossflow at the region between the pressure surface and fence, which is mainly due to the relative airflow movement when the pressure side branch of the horseshoe vortex rolls up and lift along the fence. For the fence vortex and passage vortex have the different rotation direction, it plays an important role in decreasing the secondary flow loss, furthermore, reducing the strength of the passage vortex. In general, stronger crosswise flow induces stronger fence vortex. As height and length of the fence increased, the blockage effect is more obvious, but the additional fence losses increased at the same time. Numerical results show that the fences, with one third of height of the inlet boundary layer thickness and the length of 75 percent axial chord, are most effective when they are located 30 percent of pitch far from the pressure surface of the blade. For all the computational cases, they reduce the cascade loss furthest respectively.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of Purge and Secondary Flows in a Low Pressure Turbine

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cui ◽  
P. G. Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
Angle Deviation ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Purge Flow

The secondary flow increases the loss and changes the flow incidence in the downstream blade row. To prevent hot gases from entering disk cavities, purge flows are injected into the mainstream in a real aero-engine. The interaction between purge flows and the mainstream usually induces aerodynamic losses. The endwall loss is also affected by shedding wakes and secondary flow from upstream rows. Using a series of eddy-resolving simulations, this paper aims to improve the understanding of the interaction between purge flows, incoming secondary flows along with shedding wakes and mainstream flows on the endwall within a stator passage. It is found that for a blade with an aspect ratio of 2.2, a purge flow with a 1% leakage rate increases loss generation within the blade passage by around 10%. The incoming wakes and secondary flows increase the loss generation further by around 20%. The purge flow pushes the passage vortex further away from the endwall and increases the exit flow angle deviation. However, the maximum exit flow angle deviation is reduced after introducing incoming wakes and secondary flows. The loss generation rate is calculated using the mean flow kinetic energy equation. Two regions with high loss generation rate are identified within the blade passage: the corner region and the region where passage vortex interacts with the boundary layer on the suction surface. Loss generation rate increases dramatically after the separated boundary layer transitions. Since the endwall flow energizes the boundary layer and triggers earlier transition on the suction surface, the loss generation rate close to the endwall at the trailing edge is suppressed.

scholarly journals Numerical Study of Purge and Secondary Flows in a Low-Pressure Turbine

2016 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiahuan Cui ◽  
Paul Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Secondary Flows ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Blade Passage ◽  
Angle Deviation ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Purge Flow

The secondary flow increases the loss and changes the flow incidence in the downstream blade row. To prevent hot gases from entering disk cavities, purge flows are injected into the mainstream in a real aero-engine. The interaction between purge flows and the mainstream usually induces aerodynamic losses. The endwall loss is also affected by shedding wakes and secondary flow from upstream rows. Using a series of eddy-resolving simulations, this paper aims to improve the understanding of the interaction between purge flows, incoming secondary flows along with shedding wakes, and mainstream flows on the endwall within a stator passage. It is found that for a blade with an aspect ratio of 2.2, a purge flow with a 1% leakage rate increases loss generation within the blade passage by around 10%. The incoming wakes and secondary flows increase the loss generation further by around 20%. The purge flow pushes the passage vortex further away from the endwall and increases the exit flow angle deviation. However, the maximum exit flow angle deviation is reduced after introducing incoming wakes and secondary flows. The loss generation rate is calculated using the mean flow kinetic energy equation. Two regions with high loss generation rate are identified within the blade passage: the corner region and the region where passage vortex interacts with the boundary layer on the suction surface. Loss generation rate increases dramatically after the separated boundary layer transitions. Since the endwall flow energizes the boundary layer and triggers earlier transition on the suction surface, the loss generation rate close to the endwall at the trailing edge (TE) is suppressed.

Influence of Blade Profile on Secondary Flow in Ultra-Highly Loaded Turbine Cascades at Off-Design Incidence

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoshio Tsujita
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Horseshoe Vortex ◽  
Blade Profile ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Turbine Efficiency ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Highly Loaded

An increase of aerodynamic loading of turbine blade leads to the reductions of the numbers of blade and stage. As a result, the size and the weight of gas turbines could be reduced. However, the secondary flow becomes much stronger because of the steeper pressure gradient across the cascade passage, and consequently deteriorates the turbine efficiency. Therefore, it is very important to minimize the loss generation increased by the increase of loading. In the present study, the influences of blade profile on the secondary flow structure in a linear ultra-highly loaded turbine cascade (UHLTC) at off-design incidence were investigated in detail by using a numerical method. The computations were performed for the flow in three types of UHLTC at zero and off-design incidences. The present three types of turbine blade are same in the inlet and the outlet metal angles but different in the length of the blade suction surface. The verification of the computed results was performed by comparing with the experimental oil flow visualizations and the measured static pressure on the blade surface. The decrease of the length of blade suction surface increased both the profile loss and the secondary loss according to the increase of incidence angle in the positive range. The positive incidence not only strengthened the horseshoe and the passage vortices but also induced a new vortex along the blade suction surface on the end-wall. The incidence angle at which the newly formed vortex appeared was influenced by the blade profile. Moreover, the newly formed vortex affected the strength of the pressure side leg of horseshoe vortex.

Effects of Shock Wave Development on Secondary Flow Behavior in Linear Turbine Cascade at Transonic Condition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoshio Tsujita ◽  
Masanao Kaneko
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Secondary Flow ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Turbine Cascade ◽  
Blade Loading ◽  
Passage Vortex ◽  
Exit Mach Number

Abstract Gas turbines widely applied to power generation and aerospace propulsion systems are continuously enhanced in efficiency for the reduction of environmental load. The energy recovery efficiency from working fluid in a turbine component constituting gas turbines can be enhanced by the increase of turbine blade loading. However, the increase of turbine blade loading inevitably intensifies the secondary flows, and consequently increases the associated loss generation. The development of the passage vortex is strongly influenced by the pitchwise pressure gradient on the endwall in the cascade passage. In addition, a practical high pressure turbine stage is generally driven under transonic flow conditions where the shock wave strongly influences the pressure distribution on the endwall. Therefore, it becomes very important to clarify the effects of the shock wave formation on the secondary flow behavior in order to increase the turbine blade loading without the deterioration of efficiency. In this study, the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional transonic flows in the HS1A linear turbine cascade at the design incidence angle were analyzed numerically by using the commercial CFD code with the assumption of steady compressible flow. The isentropic exit Mach number was varied from the subsonic to the supersonic conditions in order to examine the effects of development of shock wave caused by the increase of exit Mach number on the secondary flow behavior. The increase of exit Mach number induced the shock across the passage and increased its obliqueness. The increase of obliqueness reduced the cross flow on the endwall by moving the local minimum point of static pressure along the suction surface toward the trailing edge. As a consequence, the increase of exit Mach number attenuated the passage vortex.

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