Numerical Investigations on Aerodynamic Design Criteria for Low Speed Mixed Flow Compressor

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hemant Kumar ◽  
Chetan S. Mistry
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Flow Structure ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Cone Angle ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Flow Compressor

Abstract A surge in the small jet engine market due to aero-propulsion purposes generates a requirement to develop compact and robust high-performance compressors. Mixed flow compressors can provide a comparatively higher pressure ratio compared to axial compressors and have less frontal area than centrifugal compressors. Rapid progress in manufacturing and computational capabilities has resulted in the successful design of mixed flow compressors in recent decades. In the present study, the mixed flow compressor was designed to operate at 3,000 rpm with a small total-to-total pressure ratio of 1.03 and a mass flow rate = 1.98 kg/s to carry at low-speed testing for university-level research. Meanline design for the compressor with air as working fluid was done. The blade geometry was developed using commercial Ansys® Bladegen module. The flow domain mesh was generated by the TurboGrid module. Ansys CFX was used as a solver and post-processing tool for the present numerical study. The present work describes the detailed design procedure, overall performance, and flow field features of a low-speed mixed-flow compressor with the special requirement of axial flow exit. The parametric analysis was carried out on splitter blade placement, wrap angle (10°, 20°, 30°, and 50°), and exit cone angle (30°, 40°, 50°, 60°, and 65°), at constant tip clearance and keeping the other parameters constant to observe their effect on performance and flow structure. The use of splitter blades smoothen the flow structure along both stream-wise and span-wise direction, which minimizes flow the separation issue and thereby helping in extending the overall operating range. Comparing the flow field characteristic and performance of each parametric variable, the optimum range of design values is exhibited. The numerical observation and analysis done on parametric variations in this paper can be used for the design of such a future low-speed mixed flow compressor for different performance expectations and installation requirements.

Experimental Investigations on Mixed Flow Impeller and Vane Diffuser Under Various Operating Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ramesh Rajakumar ◽  
S. Ramamurthy ◽  
M. Govardhan
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Compressor Stage ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Tip Clearance Flow ◽  
Clearance Flow ◽  
Flow Compressor ◽  
Vane Diffuser

Experimental Investigations are carried out to study the effect of tip clearance flow in a mixed flow compressor stage. Two configurations, namely; constant and variable clearance gaps between impeller and stationary shroud are considered. For the purpose of the present investigations, a mixed flow compressor stage is designed and fabricated. The flow investigations were carried out in a closed circuit compressor rig. Detailed steady and unsteady measurements were carried out for three clearance gaps, namely; 0.5 mm, 0.75 mm, 0.9 mm. From the experimental investigations it is shown that constant tip clearance configurations show better performance in terms of pressure ratio and efficiency compared to variable clearance configurations. For a given configuration the pressure ratio and efficiency of the stage decrease with increase in the tip gap without indicating any optimum value. Tip clearance flow has considerable effect on the flow through the diffuser and the unsteady flow gets amplified and carried away into the vane diffuser.

Numerical Studies on Effect of Stepped Tip Clearance Height on the Performance of Single Stage Transonic Axial Flow Compressor

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pritam Batabyal ◽  
Dilipkumar B. Alone ◽  
S. K. Maharana
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Baseline Model ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Flow Compressor

This paper presents a numerical case study of various stepped tip clearances and their effect on the performance of a single stage transonic axial flow compressor, using commercially available software ANSYS FLUENT 14.0. A steady state, implicit, three dimensional, pressure based flow solver with SST k-Ω turbulence model has been selected for the numerical study. The stepped tip clearances have been compared with the baseline model of zero tip clearance at 70% and 100 % design speed. It has been observed that the compressor peak stage efficiency and maximum stage pressure ratio decreases as the tip clearances in the rear part are increased. The stall margin also increases with increase in tip clearance compared to the baseline model. An ‘optimum’ value of stepped tip clearance has been obtained giving peak stage compressor performance. The CFD results have been validated with the earlier published experimental data on the same compressor at 70% design speed.

FLOW FIELD ANALYSIS OF AN AUTOMOTIVE MIXED FLOW TURBOCHARGER TURBINE

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Padzillah ◽  
S. Rajoo ◽  
R. F. Martinez-Botas
Keyword(s):  
Optimum Condition ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Field Analysis ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Geometrical Properties

Traditionally, the turbocharger has been an essential tool to boost the engine power especially the diesel engine. However, in recent years it is seen as an enabling technology for engine downsizing of all internal combustion engines. The use of mixed flow turbine as replacement for radial turbine in an automotive turbocharger has been proven to deliver better efficiency at high loading conditions. Furthermore, the use vanes that match the geometrical properties at the turbine leading edge could further increase its performance. However, improvement on the overall turbocharger performance is currently limited due to lack of understanding on the flow feature within the turbine stage. Therefore, the use of validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in resolving this issue is necessary. This research attempts to provide description of flow field within the turbocharger turbine stage by plotting velocity and pressure contours at different planes. To achieve this aim, a numerical model of a full stage turbocharger turbine operating at 30000rpm under its optimum condition (pressure ratio of 1.3) is developed and validated. Results indicated strong tip-clearance flow downstream of the turbine mid-chord. Evidence of flow separations at the turbine leading edge are also seen despite turbine operating at its optimum condition.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Centrifugal Compressor and Numerical Study of the Area Ratio and Tip Clearance Effects on the Performance Characteristic

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Nili-Ahmadabadi ◽  
Ali Hajilouy-Benisi ◽  
Mohammad Durali ◽  
Sayyed Mostafa Motavalli
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Centrifugal Compressor ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Area Ratio ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Sst Turbulence Model

In this research, the centrifugal compressor of a turbocharger is investigated experimentally and numerically. Performance characteristics of the compressor were obtained experimentally by measurements of rotor speed and flow parameters at the inlet and outlet of the compressor. Three dimensional flow field in the impeller and diffuser was analyzed numerically using a full Navier-Stokes program with SST turbulence model. The performance characteristics of the compressor were obtained numerically, which were then compared with the experimental results. The comparison shows good agreement. Furthermore, the effect of area ratio and tip clearance on the performance parameters and flow field was studied numerically. The impeller area ratio was changed by cutting the impeller exit axial width from an initial value of 4.1 mm to a final value of 5.1 mm, resulting in an area ratio from 0.792 to 0.965. For the rotor with exit axial width of 4.6 mm, performance was investigated for tip clearance of 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 mm. Results of this simulation at design point showed that the compressor pressure ratio peaked at an area ratio of 0.792 while the efficiency peaked at a higher value of area ratio of 0.878. Also the increment of the tip clearance from 0 to 1 mm resulted in 20 percent efficiency decrease.

Effect of hub clearance of cantilever stator on aerodynamic performance and flow field of a transonic axial-flow compressor

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441002199370
Author(s):  
Botao Zhang ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Xiaochen Mao ◽  
Hejian Wang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Axial Flow ◽  
Aerodynamic Performance ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Stall Margin ◽  
Axial Flow Compressor ◽  
Stator Blade ◽  
Flow Compressor

To investigate the effect of hub clearance of cantilever stator on the aerodynamic performance and the flow field of the transonic axial-flow compressor, the performance of single-stage compressors with the shrouded stator and cantilever stator was studied numerically. It is found that the hub corner separation on the stator blade suction surface (SS) was modified by introducing the hub leakage flow. The separation vortex on the SS of the stator blade root at about 10% axial chord length caused by the interaction of the shock wave and boundary layer was also controlled. Compared with the tip clearance size of the rotor blade, the stator hub clearance size (HCS) has a much less effect on the overall aerodynamic performance of the compressor, and there is no obvious effect on the flow field in the upstream blade row. With the increase of HCS, the leakage loss and the blockage degree in the flow field near the stator hub are increased and further make the adiabatic efficiency and the total pressure ratio of the compressor gradually decrease. Meanwhile, the stall margin of the compressor was changed slightly, but the response of the stall margin to the change of the HCS is nonlinear and insensitive. The stator hub leakage flow (HLF) can not only change the flow field near the hub but also redistribute the flow law within the range of the entire blade span. It will contribute to further understand the mechanism of the HLF and provide supports for the design of the cantilever stator of transonic compressors.

Numerical Study on Tip Leakage Flow Structure of an Axial Flow Compressor Rotor

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenkai Zhang ◽  
Jun Hu ◽  
Zhiqiang Wang ◽  
Wei Yan ◽  
Chao Yin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Flow ◽  
Tip Leakage Vortex ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Tip Leakage

To deepen the knowledge of tip leakage flow/vortex flow structure in the tip clearance of axial compressor rotors, this paper presents steady numerical studies on a subsonic rotor. The rotor and its related low-speed large-scale repeating-stage axial compressor are used for low-speed model testing of a modern high-pressure compressor. Results were first compared with available experimental data to validate adopted numerical method. Then complex endwall flow structure and flow loss mechanism at design operating point were studied. At last, comparisons were made for tip leakage vortex structure, interface of the leakage flow/main flow, endwall blockage and loss between design and near-stall operating points. Results show that only the spilled flows below 62.5% clearance height at the leading edge will roll into tip leakage vortex for this rotor. In addition, tip leakage vortex plays a secondary important role for higher positions, where secondary leakage flow occurs and occupies broader chordwise range. Although tip leakage vortex would expand and strongly mix with the mainflow when it propagates downstream, which leads to a rapid reduction of the normalized streamwise vorticity, the value of the normalized helicity shows that concentrated vortex feature is still maintained.

Numerical Study of the Internal Flow Field Characteristics in Mixed Flow Turbines

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Palfreyman ◽  
R. F. Martinez-Botas
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Cell Density ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Meridional Plane ◽  
Mixed Flow ◽  
Radial Turbine

Presented is a numerical investigation of the characteristics of the internal flow field of a high-speed low-pressure ratio mixed flow turbine of 95.14 mm tip diameter. A commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code has been successfully employed. This has been carefully validated to experimental data taken from a turbine test facility at this institution. A comparison to gated (in phase with the turbine rotation) Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements at the turbine trailing edge and total to static efficiencies at various operating conditions, was made showing good agreement. Details of the internal flow field from a numerical study using a 393,872 cell density model are presented. These details have been compared to a radial turbine of similar geometry and performance characteristics, also analyzed using the same cell density and analysis and boundary conditions. The flow field was found to be highly three-dimensional with the tip leakage vortex as the dominant secondary flow feature. The tip clearance flow was found to be significantly influenced by the relative motion of the shroud wall, which suppressed the development of a vortex within the mainstream passage particularly in the inducer region. Comparison to the radial turbine has shown noticeable differences concentrated in the inducer region where the greater Coriolis acceleration in the radial turbine is more influential in the development of secondary flows. Considerable loss is observed localized at the blade leading edge tip region along the full length of the blade pitch; this is associated with the increased streamline curvature in the meridional plane.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Circumferential Groove Casing Treatment in a Low Speed Axial Research Compressor at Different Tip Clearances

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Rolfes ◽  
Martin Lange ◽  
Konrad Vogeler ◽  
Ronald Mailach
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
Solid Wall ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Axial Compressor ◽  
Chord Length ◽  
Single Stage ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Operating Range ◽  
Circumferential Groove

The demand of increasing pressure ratios for modern high pressure compressors leads to decreasing blade heights in the last stages. As tip clearances cannot be reduced to any amount and minimum values might be necessary for safety reasons, the tip clearance ratios of the last stages can reach values notably higher than current norms. This can be intensified by a compressor running in transient operations where thermal differences can lead to further growing clearances. For decades, the detrimental effects of large clearances on an axial compressor’s operating range and efficiency are known and investigated. The ability of circumferential casing grooves in the rotor casing to improve the compressor’s operating range has also been in the focus of research for many years. Their simplicity and ease of installation are one reason for their continuing popularity nowadays, where advanced methods to increase the operating range of an axial compressor are known. In a previous paper [1], three different circumferential groove casing treatments were investigated in a single stage environment in the Low Speed Axial Research Compressor at TU Dresden. One of these grooves was able to notably improve the operating range and the efficiency of the single stage compressor at very large rotor tip clearances (5% of chord length). In this paper, the results of tests with this particular groove type in a three stage environment in the Low Speed Axial Research Compressor are presented. Two different rotor tip clearance sizes of 1.2% and 5% of tip chord length were investigated. At the small tip clearance, the grooves are almost neutral. Only small reductions in total pressure ratio and efficiency compared to the solid wall can be observed. If the compressor runs with large tip clearances it notably benefits from the casing grooves. Both, total pressure and efficiency can be improved by the grooves in a similar extent as in single stage tests. Five-hole probe measurements and unsteady wall pressure measurements show the influence of the groove on the flow field. With the help of numerical investigations the different behavior of the grooves at the two tip clearance sizes will be discussed.

Effects of Circumferential Nonuniform Tip Clearance on Flow Field and Performance of a Transonic Turbine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Zheng ◽  
Xiubo Jin ◽  
Hui Yang ◽  
Qingzhe Gao ◽  
Kang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Circumferential Direction ◽  
Tip Clearance ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Aerodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Aerodynamic Loss ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Downstream Flow

Abstract The numerical study is performed by means of an in-house CFD code to investigate the effect of circumferential nonuniform tip clearance due to the casing ovalization on flow field and performance of a turbine stage. A method called fast-moving mesh is used to synchronize the non-circular computational domain with the rotation of the rotor row. Four different layouts of the circumferential nonuniform clearance are calculated and evaluated in this paper. The results show that, the circumferential nonuniform clearance could reduce the aerodynamic performance of the turbine. When the circumferential nonuniformity δ reaches 0.4, the aerodynamic efficiency decreases by 0.58 percentage points. Through the analysis of the flow field, it is found that the casing ovalization leads to the difference of the size of the tip clearance in the circumferential direction, and the aerodynamic loss of the position of large tip clearance is greater than that of small tip clearance, which is related to the scale of leakage vortex. In addition, the flow field will become nonuniform in the circumferential direction, especially at the rotor exit, which will adversely affect the downstream flow field.

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